Steve Earle & the Dukes to Record Album of Justin Townes Earle Songs for Early 2021 Release

In early 2021, Steve Earle & the Dukes will release an album of songs written by Justin Townes Earle, the gifted singer/songwriter (and Steve’s son), who passed away in late August at just 38 years of age.

The news of this musical tribute was announced on Wednesday, and it’s an effort of love and support for Justin Townes Earle’s daughter, Etta St. James Earle. Per a news release:

Steve Earle & the Dukes announced today that they will be recording an album of songs written by Justin Townes Earle with 100% of artist advances and royalties going to a trust for Justin’s daughter, Etta St. James Earle. It is expected that the album will be recorded in October and released in January, 2021, around the time of what would have been Justin’s thirty-ninth birthday. More details to be announced shortly. 

Justin spent some time playing alongside his father and the Dukes (on keyboards), beginning his own solo career in 2007 with the album Yuma, the first of eight released by the younger Earle up through his last, 2019’s The Saint of Lost Causes, released in May 2019.

Listen to that record below, via Spotify:

Rolling Stone noted that while their musical careers remained mostly separate in recent years, Steve Earle was a big fan of his son’s music:

“The first time he heard ‘Mama’s Eyes,’ he was standing like the proud father on the edge of the Ryman Auditorium stage years ago, and I played it solo,” Justin told Rolling Stone last year. “I remember walking offstage and he goes, ‘Mama’s Eyes,’ that’s a good song.’”

Stay tuned for more details regarding this special tribute album.