I have a friend from way back. We never spent tons of time together, but friends non-the-less. We haven’t talked in a couple years, he’s back in Chicago, I’m now in Bakersfield. I think of him most when running sound (or just listening to a band). I keep listening for another guitar player like him. I’ve only known one other that comes close. You see, this friend has a gift… a wonderful gift. He can make a guitar sing… I mean really sing. Not leads, riffs, speed, dexterity, or all those other things that most people judge a guitar player by (which he can also do)… but giving the guitar a voice. I remember running sound when he played, and I could never mix his guitar like any other player. I had to mix it with the vocals instead of with the other instruments. It was a breath of sound, carrying a harmony… a background vocal with no words, just emotion. As he played, you could feel your heart and soul singing along in a language that can’t be expressed in mere words. I often had goose bumps when he played.

For me, all guitar players will always be rated against him. Although many other guitar players have great talent and ability, and make wonderful music that many people, including me, enjoy…. he was blessed with the gift of bringing mere strings, wood, and electronics to life. A true rarity.

I’m thinking especially of him now, since he is having major medical problems. Heart, liver, kidneys… they’re all in trouble, and he may not make it. I feel sad, not for him - he’d get to play in a much better band - but for his son, for all the people who love him, for me, and for music in general. I’m just praying that he can stick around and bless more people with his gift, and with his love.

Tracy, I miss hearing you play, and playing with you.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 27th, 2006 at 2:55 am and is filed under Life and Other Oddities..., Sound and Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.