Living legend Billy Joe Shaver was found “NOT GUILTY” today for his aggravated assault charges stemming from a shooting outside a bar in Waco, Texas in 2007. The 70 year old Shaver, who is best known for writing the songs that appeared on Waylon Jennings “Honky Tonk Heroes” record and other well known hits such as “Old Chunk of Coal” and “Live Forever,” avoids a lengthy possible jail term. Billy Joe is currently working on a new release which may be out later this year. Stay tuned here to Americana Roots for more upcoming info on Shaver, including a potential interview soon. God Bless Billy Joe Shaver….and the state of Texas!!!

Shaver has long wanted to put together a gospel album. In the past, he has included several religious songs, so this is not uncharted territory for him. This is not your typical gospel CD, however. This is gospel done honky tonk style, which only Billy Joe could accomplish. With the help of his friends John Anderson, Marty Stuart, Kris Kristofferson, Tanya Tucker, Bill Miller, and even the late Johnny Cash, Shaver includes seven duets on this hour long 15 song collaboration. Shaver even performs a cover song, something he has seldom, if ever, done before. If you are going to do it, he chose a good artist to cover. Shaver and Kristofferson team up to sing a Johnny Cash song titled �No Earthly Good�. Each song carries a piece of Shaver within it, phrased only the way Billy Joe can pointedly state it. A deeply religious man, Shaver has always stated as he does in the title cut �Everybody�s Brother,� �It is not what goes in which defiles you, but what comes out�. What does come out on this cd is a look into the man himself. The first song �Rolling Stone,� looks at Billy Joe�s humble beginnings being raised by his Grandmother and growing up quickly on his own. The first of 2 duets with John Anderson is the powerful �Get Thee Behind Me Satan.� This is a strong foot tapping song, reminiscent of an old time church revival. One of the many highlights here includes the song �When I Get My Wings.�  This song will remind many Shaver fans of his classic �Live Forever� song, with a similar message and uplifting feel. Shaver sings this with so much passion, that one can not help but see him standing with arms reaching out at his side, joyously flapping away. The acoustic guitar on this song sounds very much like Willie Nelson, complete with the standard Willie chord progression during the solo. Not all songs are as poignant and religious. Shaver adds his own brand of humor in bluesy �The Tough Get Going,� and the duet with Tanya Tucker titled �Played the Game Too Long.�  The song �If You Don�t Love Jesus� is a religious tribute only Billy Joe could do, as he sarcastically states, �If you don�t love Jesus go to hell�.  They could not have chosen a better closing song than what appears here. It is the classic �You Just Can�t Beat Jesus Christ,� recorded in the late 70�s with Johnny Cash. Even late son Eddy appears in this song as the 15 year old guitar master he was.