Editor's Note
One of the most original voices in the world of country music, legendary singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver has penned tunes for the likes of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Patty Loveless, and Bob Dylan. As with fellow Texas troubadour Townes Van Zandt, the power and authenticity of Shaver's songwriting springs from the pain that has informed his life: his mother, son, and wife all died within a year of each other; and his own health problems culminated with a massive heart attack soon after. Director Luciana Pedraza (ASSASSINATION TANGO) chronicles Shaver's often turbulent biography and, as a moving testament to the power of art, explores how the musical legend has translated his often difficult life experiences into transcendent songwriting in her revealing documentary THE PORTRAIT OF BILLY JOE.
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