The Portrait of Billy Joe
Who is Billy Joe Shaver?  According to Willie Nelson, he is "maybe the best song writer alive today."  The documentary "Billy Joe Shaver: A Portrait" illustrates how the 63 year old country music singer / songwriter uses words and music to reflect the often difficult experiences of his life.  The film chronicles his humble beginnings in Corsicana, Texas, where he survived an abusive father, was raised by his grandmother and worked at his uncle’s cotton farm.  Billy Joe’s talents with words were first recognized at the age of 14 when an English teacher read his poem "Space".  This acknowledgement of what Billy Joe calls his "gift" was a pivotal moment in his life.  He says, "It was like a mustard seed that I kept in my heart.  This also helped me when things didn’t work out."  Billy Joe’s life continued to be full of tragedy, but music provided a place for him to put his pain as well as his triumphs.  Billy Joe speaks of the death of his wife, whom he married three times, as well as the loss of his son who died of a drug overdose shortly after the death of his mother.  As a younger man, Billy Joe also abused drugs and alcohol but cleaned up with the help of his religious convictions.  His life is a journey of survival and transformation.  Turning tragedy into poetry, Billy Joe Shaver has a voice, sound, and message worth listening to.  Just ask Willie Nelson.