Jerry Jeff Walker is coming home with the Armadillo.
The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Marcos announced today that the personal collections of the iconic Texas musician have been donated to the Collections, and will go on display at the Alkek Library next Spring.
“Jerry Jeff has been a dear friend to the Collections from its birth in 1986,” said Bill Wittliff, who with his wife Sally founded The Wittliff Collections. “Now his gift is the founding archive of our new collection to preserve and highlight singers and songwriters of Texas. I cannot imagine trying to build a Texas Music Collection without Jerry Jeff.”
Walker, along with Willie Nelson, Doug Sahm, and Asleep at the Wheel, is credited with creating the modern 'Texas sound' and helping establish Austin as the 'live music capital of the world,' (with his trademark song 'London Homesick Blues' as its theme song).
Walker has performed for presidents and has 'inspired a generation of musical artists.
"The Jerry Jeff Walker archive at The Wittliff will provide a valuable resource to students of music and culture from all backgrounds, and it will historically preserve a piece of our culture to be enjoyed, studied and interpreted for decades to come," the Wittliff said.
The exhibition will probably not focus on the fact that Walker's real name is Ronald Crosby and he was born and raised in...wait for it...New York.
PHOTO' WITTLIFF COLLECTIONS