Most of you outside Austin are probably not familiar with the name, but you've probably heard his music. Jesse Taylor was the original guitarist for Joe Ely's band, and has played with Angela Strehli, Delbert McClinton, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Billy Joe Shaver among others. Jesse died last night after a three-year battle with liver disease.

Sorry to hear that about Jesse Taylor. Wasn't he known as the "Texas Tornado" because of his stinging guitar playing? Saw him a number of times with the Joe Ely Band when I lived in Austin from '78 --'83 and he could meld in with the band, and then just step up and rip off some pointed lead that left you slack-jawed. What a loss for the Austin scene.