John Edwin "Eddy" Shaver, whose blistering guitar work enlivened father Billy Joe
Shaver's songs and recordings, died Sunday in Waco, Texas, at the age of 38.
Cause of death has not been released.
"The Waco Police Department is looking into circumstances surrounding the death,"
said public information officer Larry Murphy. "At present, there has been no
determination of foul play."
Eddy Shaver was still a teen-ager when he toured as Guy Clark's lead guitarist. He
also performed with others, including country star Dwight Yoakam, but his reputation was
built on the strength of his work with his dad on albums such as Tramp On Your Street,
Salt of the Earth and Electric Shaver.
After learning of the death, Billy Joe Shaver spent Sunday and Monday out of the
public eye, grieving with old friend Willie Nelson at Nelson's Texas ranch. Shaver
returned to his Waco home today, in time for visitation at a local funeral home.
The elder Shaver is regarded as one of the finest songwriters to come from his
music-rich home state of Texas. His songs have been performed by, among others, Bob
Dylan, Waylon Jennings, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Tom T. Hall and, of course, Nelson.
"Eddy was every bit the guitar player his dad is the songwriter," said R.S. Field,
who produced Tramp On Your Street. "He could combine all sorts of styles and just play
great."
Eddy Shaver spent considerable time in Nashville, living with his dad in Texas and
Tennessee in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The pair often used Nashville-based musicians
on tour and in the studio.
"There's a fraternity of people who went up and down the road with those guys,"
said drummer Jimmy Lester, who drummed for the Shavers and roomed with Eddy Shaver on
the road. Lester recalled all-night Betamax movie viewing sessions and family squabbles
in the van, mixed in with the music.
Bass player Kelly Looney played in a Nashville-based garage band with Eddy Shaver
before either man was 21-years-old.
"He was good, even early on," Looney said. "He understood the melody right off.
Eddy had a force, and he played like a seasoned guy even when he wasn't."
Shaver and his father recently completed a new album with Nashville producer Ray
Kennedy. That album, scheduled for release this year, includes a duet between Eddy and
Billy Joe Shaver titled Blood Is Thicker Than Water.
"In the song, they're talking to each other, summing up their lives, talking about
things they've done wrong," said manager Ben Ewing.
The last few years have been difficult for both Eddy and Billy Joe Shaver. Eddy
Shaver's grandmother died in 1998, his mother died in 1999 after a long bout with
cancer, and he spent time earlier this year in a rehabilitation clinic. But he appeared
healthy and in good spirits at an Exit/In show last month.
In Sunday's early morning hours, an ambulance was called to Eddy Shaver's home. He
was pronounced dead at a Waco hospital at 2:58 a.m.
Eddy Shaver is survived by his father, by other family members and by his wife, Irene
Triola Shaver, whom he married on Oct. 19, 2000.
A funeral service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral
Home, 7537 South IH 35, Waco, Texas, 76706.
