Without Getting Killed or Caught

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

Who is Guy Clark? If you have heard of the Americana music genre, you should know that Guy was one of the first to help to create the classification altogether. But the music is only a part of what makes Guy Clark’s life interesting. And in Without Getting Killed or Caught fans get the whole story of Guy and how the relationships with his wife Susanna and best friend Townes Van Zandt helped to shape Guy’s career and inspired some of his greatest songs.

From the beginning we learn that Susanna was an avid user of a tape recorder, or “T.R.”, as she so affectionately calls it. Guy and Townes had started out on the same music circuit, playing the Sand Mountain Coffee House or The Jester Lounge in Houston, Texas. These two venues were known as the folk circuit for performers at the time. As a 9-5, Guy worked at a local TV Station and fixed guitars. He met and married fellow musician Susan Spaw in June of 1966, shortly after their son Travis Carroll Clark was born. This marriage did not last as Susan left Guy and took Travis with her. But Guy’s story really began when he met Susanna Talley while she was living with her sister Bunny in Oklahoma City, OK. Sadly, Bunny killed herself in May 1970; this incident ended up bringing Guy and Susanna together romantically. And when Susanna and Townes became friends, their friendship was one that Susanna referred to as being “soulmates.”

Eventually, Guy’s career starts to take off a little as “LA Freeway” and “Old Time Feeling” are picked up by Jerry Jeff Walker. Guy becomes known as an “outlaw songwriter,” joining fellow members Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson in those ranks. Yet Guy’s goal wasn’t to be a part of mainstream or famous. As Susanna put it best: “Guy didn’t care about hit songs, he cared about great songs.” And while Guy fought to create his own identity in music, which resulted in record label changes and some album flops, Susanna started to make more of a name for herself in the industry writing for other artists. Her biggest hit was “I’ll Be Your San Antone Rose,” which was sung by Dottsy. The stress of the industry broke Guy and Susanna apart for six years, until they decided to reconcile their differences and reunited. By this time Guy had established the Americana genre and had finally found his calling.

But that separation did not affect Susanna nearly as much as the death of Townes Van Zandt on January 1, 1997. And later that year Susanna complained of pain in her own back and laid down in her bed, never to get up again until her death on June 27, 2012. Shortly after that Guy decided to retire from performing and released his final album My Favorite Picture of You in 2013. The album snags Guy his first Grammy and he never tours again. Sadly, on May 17, 2016, Guy Clark succumbs to his battle with lymphoma while surrounded by his loved ones. To honor his last wishes, his friend Verlon Thompson takes Guy’s ashes to sculptor Terry Allen so he can use them to create a crow. And on that ride to Terry Allen, Thompson is joined by eight to ten others who decide to honor Guy’s memory by playing songs on Guy’s guitar and reminiscing on better times.

Directed by Tamara Saviano and Paul Whitfield and based off of Saviano’s book of the same name, Without Getting Killed or Caught, is an homage to Guy Clark that we never knew we needed to see. Guy wrote some of the most heartfelt, touching songs and didn’t seek fame for his work. His earlier works such as “LA Freeway” are nice, but I preferred more heartfelt songs such as “Randall Knife” in honor of Guy’s father and his tribute to Susanna in “My Favorite Picture of You.” Guy’s music drives the stories from him and those who knew him fill in the rest—his lyrics painting the story of a full life.

What I loved most was the way the relationship between Guy Clark, Susanna Clark and Townes Van Zandt came to be. The love and adoration for one another quite clear through stories and pictures; their camaraderie drives the documentary and reminds us that for Guy to truly succeed, he had one strong, imperfect support system to guide him through it all. And, in the end, Guy honored them both through his music in the most beautiful way.

Guy Clark was known by his friends as a true-blue Texas hero. His music touched the hearts of many, his soul touched those nearest and dearest to him. If you haven’t, give the album My Favorite Picture Of You a good listen and be prepared to shed a few tears—it’s worth it. You can find information on future screenings and merchandise for Without Getting Killed or Caught” by clicking here:  https://www.withoutgettingkilledorcaught.com.