Austin roots rock legend legend Jon Dee Graham dead at 67

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I visited Hank Dietle’s, a classic neighborhood bar near my home in Silver Spring, Maryland, last Tuesday. It’s been a local institution since 1950, and I used to go there in the 1980s. It’s changed a bit since then – thankfully, the heavy cigarette smoke is gone, and they’ve removed the pool table.

The atmosphere is consistently welcoming. You’ll find a mix of people – bikers, professionals, those embracing a free spirit, and veterans – all relaxing together, enjoying drinks and great music.

I finally checked out Dan Hovey, a really talented guitarist who plays every Tuesday night. He was fantastic, but honestly, seeing him got me thinking about someone else entirely. It made me realize I’ve never seen Jon Dee Graham live, and that’s a big deal. He was a total Austin legend, and considering I’ve only spent four days in Austin in my whole life, it feels like a missed opportunity!

Jon Dee passed away on Friday at the age of 67. He is survived by his wife and family, and leaves behind a remarkable contribution to American music over the last 45 years. I unfortunately never had the chance to meet him, but I’m thankful for the impact his work had on my own passion for music.

Jon Dee Graham – a Texas legend who reached well beyond the Lone Star State

It’s always tricky for me to describe what kind of music I like. For example, last week I bought both a classic vinyl record of Bob Wills’ Texas swing from the 1940s and a very energetic, modern punk album by the Lambrini Girls – an album with song titles I can’t even repeat here! It’s hard to connect those two very different choices.

Jon Dee Graham has a diverse musical background that helps explain his talent. He started in the Texas punk scene with The Skunks, then broadened his experience by supporting R&B artist Lou Ann Barton. He’s also played with rock bands like the True Believers, alongside the Escovedo brothers, and collaborated with prominent Americana artists such as James McMurtry.

It’s hard for me to fully capture the life and work of Jon Dee Graham, as I never had the chance to see him perform. If you’re interested in learning more about him, I highly recommend this thoughtful piece by Chuck Reece. What I can say is that his final album, Only Dead For a Little While (2023), features some truly outstanding American roots rock, and it’s as good as anything else he ever released.

I realized something while listening to Jon Dee Graham: my love for both punk rock and Americana actually makes a lot of sense. These genres aren’t as different as I once thought. In fact, if you consider how music evolves, punk and bluegrass aren’t so far apart – one can easily lead into the other.

That’s true of pretty much any two kinds of music you can think of. Deep down, they all come from the same basic musical notes. It’s like what some people say about humanity – that despite all our differences, we have much more in common. I believe that same idea holds true for music as well.

Let’s go back to Dan Hovey and Hank Dietle for a second. I hadn’t visited Hank’s place much over the years – it’s only five miles away, but I avoid driving at night, and I always seemed to find an excuse not to go.

I had an evening to spare and had been told Dan Hovey was good, so I took the subway to see him. I grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered a Dogfish IPA.

I’m really glad I went. Dan was amazing – a fantastic storyteller and an incredibly skilled guitarist. He played songs by artists like Norman Blake, Mark Knopfler, Warren Zevon, and Merle Travis, along with some Stones classics and a few original pieces that blended perfectly with the rest of his performance.

A few days later, on a pleasant Thursday evening, I went to a free concert at a local golf course. Cole Larravide, another singer-songwriter from the area, was performing. He played a mix of Beatles songs, other popular rock and roll from the late 20th century, and his own original music.

Similar to my experience with Hovey, it was just a performer with a guitar playing really good music. It wasn’t a life-changing, rock-and-roll epiphany like some Lou Reed experiences, but I definitely felt happier after hearing Hovey and Larravide play last week.

Perhaps this whole thing really is about Hovey. I’m going to start visiting Hank Dielte’s place again – not every week, but whenever I get the chance. Hank will likely be there if he’s around, much like Jon Dee Graham, who usually plays at Austin’s Continental Club on Wednesday nights. I never managed to see him there, but there are similar venues and dedicated artists all across the country, performing for anyone willing to lend an ear.

Begin your search locally. Look for a venue like Hank Dietle’s, Songbyrd Music House, or Jammin’ Java – chances are, there’s at least one nearby!

Don’t forget to check out the unique spots in any town you visit. If you’re ever in Atlanta, Little Five Points is a must-see. I’m not sure if Regi Wooten still plays at Rudy’s in Nashville on Wednesdays, but even if he doesn’t, you’re bound to find something interesting at that little club on Gleaves Street.

If you know anyone in cities like Minneapolis, Phoenix, or Detroit, reach out to them. If not, just visit a local record store and ask around – that’s how I discovered Askew in Providence a while ago.

The music venue Askew has closed, and John Dee Graham has moved on from the Austin music community. I’m getting older, and I want to experience as much live, local music as possible – wherever it may be – while my hearing still allows it.

RIP Jon Dee Graham  

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2026-03-28 15:31