# Jerry Jeff Walker's Legacy

> Outlaw country legend Jerry Jeff Walker died at 78 after throat cancer, leaving songs covered by Dylan and Nelson.
- Title: Jerry Jeff Walker's Legacy · American Songwriter | Shortify
- Summary: Outlaw country legend Jerry Jeff Walker died at 78 after throat cancer, leaving songs covered by Dylan and Nelson. Jerry Jeff Walker, an outlaw country…
- Keywords: jerry jeff walker, outlaw country, bob dylan, willie nelson, nitty gritty dirt band, throat cancer, music, culture, Jerry, Jeff, Walker's, Legacy
- Source: American Songwriter — https://americansongwriter.com/6-years-ago-today-we-lost-the-outlaw-country-legend-whose-songs-were-covered-by-bob-dylan-willie-nelson-and-the-nitty-gritty-dirt-band
- Author: Clayton Edwards
- Published: 2026-10-23T14:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jerry jeff walker, outlaw country, bob dylan, willie nelson, nitty gritty dirt band, throat cancer, music, culture
## Jerry Jeff Walker's Death
Jerry Jeff Walker died at 78 in an Austin, Texas hospital after a throat cancer battle on October 23, 2020.
## Outlaw Country Legend
Walker was a key figure in the 1970s outlaw country movement, writing songs covered by Dylan, Nelson, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
## Songwriting Legacy
His songs like 'Mr. Bojangles' and 'Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother' were recorded by legends including Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.
## Early Career
Born Ronald Clyde Crosby in Oneonta, New York, he busked in New Orleans before changing his name to Jerry Jeff Walker.
## Key takeaway

Jerry Jeff Walker, an outlaw country songwriter, died at 78 in 2020 after a throat cancer battle.