Townes Van Zandt

Van Zandt recorded 15 albums, none of them chart-busting hits, but his influence among other musicians has been considerable. His songs were recorded by stars such as Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and Emmylou Harris, and artists Lyle Lovett, Neil Young, and Lucinda Williams were inspired by him. His albums include Live and Obscure (1989), The Nashville Sessions (1993), and High, Low, and In Between (1996). His spare tunes often tell tales of hard luck in a melancholy, wistful style.