About the Author

Brian T. Atkinson writes frequently for the Austin American-Statesman and has contributed to American Songwriter, No Depression, Maverick Country, Relix, Paste, Texas Music, and Lone Star Music magazines, among others. He lives in Austin.

Reviews

When I got to Austin in 1973, the songwriter's songwriter was Townes Van Zandt. It's been that way ever since. As each and every songwriter in Brian Atkinson's wonderful book attests to, it's all for the sake of the song.- Joe Nick Patoski, author of Willie Nelson: An Epic Life and Stevie Ray Vaughan: Caught in the Crossfire;

“Atkinson takes testimony from the right people—those close enough to Townes Van Zandt in his best days to be there at the telling moments, and some moved by him later and able to talk about it—and comes away with a memorable, telling, often funny group portrait. Commendably, I’ll Be Here in the Morning celebrates the sporadically brilliant, artful song maker and intellect Van Zandt was at his best, and avoids further romanticizing the driven, sadly self-destructive man lurking behind the songs.”- Barry Mazor, journalist and author, Meeting Jimmie Rodgers;

""My friend and fellow musician, Professor Craig Clifford at Tarleton State University, ranks Townes Van Zandt at the top of his list of 'Ruthlessly Poetic Songwriters.' This insightful phrase truly captures the essence of Townes, his work, and his legacy. Brian Atkinson brilliantly brings the term, 'Ruthlessly Poetic,' to life and into context with his new biography of Townes, I'll Be Here in the Morning: The Songwriting Legacy of Townes Van Zandt.""- Craig Hillis, Austin musician and Musicologist;

""I'll Be Here in the Morning stands as an affectionate look at Van Zandt that doesn't fall into the trap of romanticizing the reason he needs to be remembered posthumously in the first place.""- Andrew Gilstrap, Pop Matters;

""Townes remains endlessly fascinating as we trace his fatalistic plunge into self-destruction, as he all the while leaves great songs in his wake.""- CMT.com;

""Brian T. Atkinson...spent nine years coaxing music veterans to explain why Van Zandt remains revered as one of the best songwriters in country-music history.""- Chuck Yarborough, Cleveland.com;

""...Austin journalist Brian T. Atkinson has compiled an oral history of Van Zandt's life, work and ongoing influence by talking to peers who knew him intimately...""- John T. Davis, Austin 360;

""In the book's pages, Van Zandt emerges as a man of limitless talent and innate curiosity, a man of great kindness, intellect and gentility but also of unfathomable excesses. Those who knew him the best and loved him the most weight in with clear-eyed honesty.""- Peter Cooper, The Tennesean;

""...sharp and interesting profiles of all the musicians interviewed...the result is candid and insightful...""- Martin Chilton, Telegraph.co.uk;

""...fascinating anecdotes and testimonials from 40 individuals, material that attests to Van Zandt's widespread influence and popularity...""- R.D. Cohen, emeritus of Indiana University Northwest, CHOICE;

“Townes Van Zandt got about as deep as you can get. He was an amazing songwriter, so sharp and sophisticated. He could say really hard things in a very simple way that makes you feel connected to him. That’s why there are a lot of comparisons to my grandfather.”- Hank Williams III;

""It does...shed additional light on one of Texas' most baffling but gifted musicians...an interesting work with its own...impact.""- L. Patrick Hughes, East Texas Historical Journal;

""By interviewing such a wide range of singers and songwriters, Atkinson sought to put Van Zandt into context of the evoloving left wing of country music. Atkinson shows how Van Zandt's comtemporaries saw him and felt his influence, as well as the way his unusually literate lyrics influenced new genrations of musicians.""- Chuck Vollan, Department of History and Political Science, South Dakota State University