Legendary Singer/Songwriter Billy Joe Shaver Celebrates 78th Birthday

Billy Joe Shaver was born August 16th, 1939 in Corsicana, TX. Shaver joined the U.S. Navy on his seventeenth birthday. After being discharged, he was employed at a lumber mill. This was where his right hand got caught in the machinery, and he lost parts of two fingers.

After recovering and taught himself to play the guitar without those missing fingers.

Eventually Shaver made his way to Nashville, where he found a job as a songwriter for $50 per week. It wasn't long that his work caught the attention of Waylon Jennings, who filled most of his album Honky Tonk Heroes with Shaver’s songs.

Soon after Elvis Presley and Kris Kristofferson also recorded Shaver’s music. Thus one of the most legendary country music careers was born.

In 2006, Shaver was inducted in the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. He was later honored by the Americana Music Convention with their Lifetime Achievement Award in Songwriting. He currently lives in Waco, TX.

Happy birthday, Billy Joe!