Post by Russell Letson on Jul 27, 2021 13:17:09 GMT -5
Just got word that one of my long-time playing partners died this morning. Dan was a veteran bar-band musician and big-ears music fanatic who would finish a gig at 2 a.m. and then go home and listen to records and play for his own amusement until after dawn. I first ran into him at Al's Music (where the working musicians hung out) and got to know him a bit. He would play any kind of music with anybody, and when he and some friends had a weekly session at our favorite Mexican restaurant (Bravo Burritos--I think Bill's been there), he invited me to sit in. I hadn't played in public for 25 years, so I parked at the edge of the group and tried not to get underfoot. Dan was encouraging and patient and eventually I was part of a floating ensemble with various strange names (e.g., the Mod-o-maniacs) playing for food at up to three different eateries two or three times a week.
Because Dan's ears were enormous, repertory ranged all over the place--country, rock, folk, jazz, pop, kid's nonsense songs. He patiently educated me--I don't recall ever getting anything but encouragement. He also relentlessly encouraged his long-time bassist/vocalist partner, Deanna, to step forward more. (She needed even more pushing than I did, even though she was terrifically gifted to start with.)
Dan did, however, really like beer, and while he wasn't an alcoholic, the amount he drank eventually damaged his liver, which probably contributed to a fungal infection that nearly killed him nearly a decade ago. He survived by the skin of his teeth, went to live in a nursing home, and doggedly relearned guitar. (About not being an alcoholic: the docs told him he could no longer drink, his response was, "OK." And he stopped.)
More than a year later, when he was able to get around again, we did a weekly duo gig at Bo Diddley's until he got tired of lugging around and setting up the PA he insisted on using. But before long, he and Deanna resurrected their duo act and were starting to gig again, until Covid closed down the music scene.
We ran into him at Bravo's a couple months ago, and while he seemed hale, he told us that the docs had found a spot on his throat, that it was malignant, and that he was starting treatment. He characteristically showed no fear. We don't know yet what took him, but the possibilities for a 70-year-old with a compromised system undergoing chemo are pretty obvious.
I've had many good teachers over the last 40-some years, but it was Dan and later Mike (who is no longer able to play but is still hanging on) who did the most to turn me into a performer. I'd hoped that on the other side of Covid I would have a chance to play with him again, but he finally got dealt a hand he couldn't win.
Dan in his native element, a rock trio with Deanna on bass and vocals:
And doing an original tune--he claimed that I inspired him to learn to fingerpick, but I suspect he would have gotten around to it eventually anyway--there's a big dose of Chet in there.
Because Dan's ears were enormous, repertory ranged all over the place--country, rock, folk, jazz, pop, kid's nonsense songs. He patiently educated me--I don't recall ever getting anything but encouragement. He also relentlessly encouraged his long-time bassist/vocalist partner, Deanna, to step forward more. (She needed even more pushing than I did, even though she was terrifically gifted to start with.)
Dan did, however, really like beer, and while he wasn't an alcoholic, the amount he drank eventually damaged his liver, which probably contributed to a fungal infection that nearly killed him nearly a decade ago. He survived by the skin of his teeth, went to live in a nursing home, and doggedly relearned guitar. (About not being an alcoholic: the docs told him he could no longer drink, his response was, "OK." And he stopped.)
More than a year later, when he was able to get around again, we did a weekly duo gig at Bo Diddley's until he got tired of lugging around and setting up the PA he insisted on using. But before long, he and Deanna resurrected their duo act and were starting to gig again, until Covid closed down the music scene.
We ran into him at Bravo's a couple months ago, and while he seemed hale, he told us that the docs had found a spot on his throat, that it was malignant, and that he was starting treatment. He characteristically showed no fear. We don't know yet what took him, but the possibilities for a 70-year-old with a compromised system undergoing chemo are pretty obvious.
I've had many good teachers over the last 40-some years, but it was Dan and later Mike (who is no longer able to play but is still hanging on) who did the most to turn me into a performer. I'd hoped that on the other side of Covid I would have a chance to play with him again, but he finally got dealt a hand he couldn't win.
Dan in his native element, a rock trio with Deanna on bass and vocals:
And doing an original tune--he claimed that I inspired him to learn to fingerpick, but I suspect he would have gotten around to it eventually anyway--there's a big dose of Chet in there.
