Jerry Jeff Walker Dead: ‘Mr. Bojnagles’ Singer Was 78

Jerry Jeff Walker is the songwriter behind the classic song “Mr. Bojangles” who died on October 23 at the age of 78. Walker is survived by his wife and manager, Susan, and children, Jesse Jane and Django. Walker’s cause of death has not been made public.

Walker wrote his most famous song in 1969. It would later become a hit for Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Neil Diamond, John Denver and Sammy Davis Jr. Walker told Lone Star Music Magazine in 2012 that his favorite cover of the song was by Nina Simone.

Walker was born Ronald Clyde Crosby in Oneonta, New York, in March 1942. He formed his first band, The Tones, while he was a student at Oneonta High School.

Walker spent most of his early years performing in the Greenwich Village folk music scene of the 1960s. Eventually, he settled in the Hill County area close to Austin, Texas.

Walker’s son, Django, is the lead singer of the Django Walker Band in Texas. He was named after Belgian guitarist Django Reinhardt. In a January 2009 interview with Texas Highways, Walker spoke about the one piece of advice he gave his son about the music business saying:

Write a good song. Writing a good song is the foundation of a lot to keep you going. Guy Clark’s advice to young people was “Don’t stand too long on one foot.” But we all did, which gave us back problems.

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Walker told Lone Star Music Magazine in 2012 that he wrote “Mr. Bojangles” after he was jailed in New Orleans for public intoxication in July 1065. Walker said while in jail he “met a down-and-out street dancer who poured out his hardscrabble tale.” That man became the inspiration for “Mr. Bojangles.” In later years, Walker confirmed that “Mr. Bojangles” was a white man as jails in New Orleans were segrated along racial lines in 1965.

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