As the new year has arrived,I miss many friends who have gone on as Etta James used to say.....so many in the last 6 or more years that its hard to keep track of all of these wonderful people..Some were cordial,casual friends,some were very close friends and important musical colleagues,some were very important,life changing mentors and teachers thru music.And some were family....The list is shockingly large.....I guess this is all part of the game...... Strangely,I remember that it all started with a great guitarist that I worked with in my late 20s with Norton Buffalo named Keith Allan....Died suddenly of unknown causes in his late 40s... A clean living guy,as far as I could tell....Left a family behind....Then Norton himself fell ill... One of my mentors,and a guy who kept me working..RIP Phil Jackson,you were one of a kind.....Then my beloved Etta James,my 2nd mother.20 years making music with her,I was a very blessed man.I love you forever Etta...Herman the German Ernest the III.Drummer with Etta James & the Roots Band when I joined up...Seminal Nola drummer,played on the original Lady Marmalade,and Fiyo On The Bayou among other great Nola music.Longtime drummer with Dr. John.My big,tough,friend.... Then Dave Bernstein,super talented guitarist,sports fanatic,Jerky Boys fan....Never smoked or drank or anything.Tongue cancer,late 40s...David Crockett,longtime Santana Stage manager,knew him from the early TOP days....JT,from Sound On Stage..Same,knew him from many shows with TOP when I was a pup...Flip Nunez,Al Zulaica,Don Hass,Al Plank,,master pianists all..Hal Stein,Allan Smith,Master Saxophonist and Trumpeter respectively..I learned so much from both of you.Phil Elwood,music journalist par excellence....... John Seppala, wunderkind,super talented keyboardist.Knew him since I was 22,and he was a precocious 19...Dead at 50....Too soon,he had much more to give... Paul van Wageningen,one of my oldest and dearest friends....Musical inspiration and collaborator,he patiently watched me mature as a musician,when he could(and did) play with much better players....I am forever grateful for EVERYTHING that we experienced together....His infectious laughter,positivity and good spirits were just that....None of us were immune from his beautiful personality..... And now,more recent departures....I am going to put a lot of these folks together,because the nexus of most of them was another dear,dear friend and mentor.TIM KAIHATSU..69 years old,Master guitarist, International Rock Star,Accredited teacher,raconteur,athelete,social commentator,curmudgeon,humanist,man of letters,renaissance man in every way... .....LARRY BLAKES RATHSKELLER at Telegraph & Durant....A music hotbed of learning and innovation,thanks to Tim.....I could list many names from the Larry Blakes alumni since 79 that have left,but that list would be a long whos who of Bay Area musicians.....But,in the last 15 years or so.....Ricky Kellog,Michael Fly Brooks.James Preston,from the Sons Of Champlain....Gaylord Birch,David Bartlett,Eddie Marshall, Ed Kelly,Richard Kermode, Joachim Jym Young,Lance Dickerson,Cool Papa,Mississippi Johnny Waters,Ted Butler,Johnny Hartsman.... Sara Levingston,and many more that I dont remember.....And then theres my Portland Or. musical friends....So suddenly,master pianist JANICE SCROGGINS left us.... And then,beloved vocalist LINDA HORNBUCKLE....She fought the big C hard,but has gone on too.... So many....And last,my stepfather,Philip U Martin...Married to my Mom for 35 years....88 years old,a life well lived......They lived in Portland since 1980,I think.... Im not a God person,but whoever you pray to,send some love to all of these great people if you can.......My heart is broken,but we go on with life,until we go on
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 13:21:27 +0000
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