Legendary country music singer and songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker has died at the age of 78.
Born Ronald Clyde Crosby on March 16, 1942 in Oneonta, N.Y., Walker was brought up in a well-known musical family. His first claim to fame came with a small group of his guy friends when they got together in Oneonta High School and formed the group The Tones. He later gained fame as a performer in New York City, secured several recording contracts, and ended up spending a better part of his life and musical career in the Hill County around Austin, Texas.
Walker is most famous for being the writer of the 1968 classic “Mr. Bojangles.” That song, which was a mega-hit for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band as well as Sammy Davis, Jr., became his signature work
Jerry Jeff Walker is survived by his wife and manager Susan, daughter Jessie Jane, and son and fellow musician Django Walker.
No cause of death has been confirmed.