[Daryl Jones]

I have an autographed photo of Don Henley which I treasure.
I used to have a souvenir t-shirt from Colin James <font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>/National Steel which he was also kind enough to sign for me at the ’93 Grey Cup where he was playing (that is another story for another time) outside the stadium. But some fool wore it too often and the felt pen signature faded out…really stupid on my part.</font>
<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>Any of you Canadians out there may recall a certain place kicker for the Edmonton Eskimos football team, Dave Cutler. He is an outstanding cartoonist, and he and I played a few charity golf tournaments together some years back. He was kind enough to draw </font>caricatures<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> of us on our team photo one night after the banquet and signed them. Still have that.</font>

<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>And of course a certain pair of Twins that signed their Scribbles, cards, and calendars!😍</font>

[Daryl Jones]

While I wasn’t really a fan, there is little doubt that David’s passing will leave another void in the music world. Given the era that I grew up in, I am very familiar with CSNY and also their individual accomplishments and work, and like it or not, he was a driving force in the world of music.
As I age, it seems more and more of my idols and familiars “climb that stairway”, that is the way of things.
The “day the music died” is an ongoing process, and more will inevitably follow. But thankfully there are Mona and Lisa and hopefully many more that will come along as well. I’m seeing some great young guitarists and talented young people making themselves known. And a lot of them are young ladies. Feelin’ Groovy came out of my formative/impressionable years: the 60’s, but it’s still happening today some 6 decades later. It’s good to see.

[Daryl Jones]

Well, not to early IMO. But certainly an impossibility for me to choose that’s for sure.
They both spark emotional responses in their very obvious love of music, and it goes far beyond technical prowess and instrument skills. They both offer up such feeling and presence in their playing and vocals, which really is what all great performers do. I have been on an emotional rollercoaster since I started following them less than two years ago, first with the clips on FB and Youtube, and now with the club membership and seeing the work side of their efforts and continually building successes. This Christmas definitely pushed me over the top seeing the early days as young children and re-watching the “Alone” recording. If that doesn’t tug at the heart strings, then one must have no soul at all.
And of course, they are both pictures of loveliness personified. To choose one over the other is a total impossibility I think. They are two halves of the whole: Yin and Yang, Day and night…one cannot exist without the other. But neither can one be without the other. If that sounds too deep and weird, my studies of Eastern philosophy and martial arts are to blame, it’s just a part of me that rises to the surface all the time.

And I thank God for the day I discovered them and their incredible talents. They inspire this old, fumbling guitar player wannabe to reach for loftier heights.

[Daryl Jones]

Happy Birthday Jacki! I hope your day is filled with love and joy.

Diana, my condolences as well. I know first hand the loss of parents, but I was fortunate to have parents that lived very happily into their 90’s.

[Daryl Jones]

Isn’t it amazing how so many different music genres manage to seek and find such common ground?
So often in my (long ago) past we had arguments (myself as a stage and concert band player versus my father and his sisters, all classical piano buffs) about how any form of music beyond big band and classical had zero relevance and lacked any form of skill level regardless of the instruments being played. Naturally me being the ripe old age of 16 I countered with Burt Bacharach, Bob Dylan, Elton John, and yes Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull before they refused to listen to my side any longer. WTH did anyone my age and experience know anyway? I even went so far as to sit them down and make them listen to side one of the Jesus Christ Superstar original stage album, and not even Tim Rice and his haunting lyrics coupled with Andrew LLoyd Weber’s brilliant arranging nor Ian Gillan’s astounding vocal range could sway them away from it’s “sacrilegious” properties. Finally I won one of my Aunts over with Elton John’s Funeral For a Friend, albeit grudgingly.

When my parents attended our stage band’s performance at a music festival on a rather prestigious hall in Edmonton and took second prize, even my father had to give in a bit. Our set of three included nothing but (then) popular compositions of Jimmy Webb, Burt Bacharach and Chicago. Didn’t gain me any time on the living room record player with my Deep Purple and Black Sabbath albums afterward though. At least not when they were home haha.
But it goes to show that all music is related in one way or another. Only our predispositions and prejudices limit the success and popularity of what someone else enjoys.
Staying groovy also means accepting and being able to “hear” Jimmy over and above the revamped chords he made popular with his incredible talents with a guitar.

[Daryl Jones]

Nicely written David!

[Daryl Jones]

So much music on the airwaves from the 60’s (and before) was all mono recording and mono playback. FM wasn’t heard of in my world until well into the 70’s, and later into the 80’s we had a contemporary station that broadcast in AM stereo for a while. The station still exists, but they are a totally different format now, all talk shows and phone-in broadcasts. But they still have a really cool gal as a music director…go figure.
My listening in my pre-teen years was that particular station on a cheap little hand held transistor radio, and all the 60’s Beatles, Stones, Steppenwolf etc songs were played on that feeble little gizmo, unless I was alone in the house and had full control of the big Zenith console in the living room. Then came the 70’s and a driver’s permit and the requisite under-dash 8-track machine…yaaaaassss!
But the old recordings copied into the looped tape format sounded just wild blasting through the rear deck shelf speakers of Dad’s Olds. We didn’t care if it was re-dubbed, re-mastered or original recording format as long as it was ear-bleeding LOUD. Now it’s digital versus analog, and I think maybe (just maybe) some of that old tech magic has fallen away or gotten lost. Something about it was just too good to give up. I would be curious to have some of my old 60’s 45 singles to listen to again, I think it would be rather “enlightening”. But then again, I wouldn’t have anything to play them on either…

[Daryl Jones]

This hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve been a fan since the 60’s (Yardbirds) and followed Jeff’s rise and career constantly. Just hearing the outpouring of condolements from some of the current legends and masters of guitar playing is testament to his incredible style and skills with the instrument. I doubt there is a player alive (amateur and professional) that hasn’t had some influence from his playing, he was that good. The Three “Kings”, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins…all the blues Gods living and deceased that knew him, heard him, played with him have nothing but highest praises for Jeff. That speaks volumes in itself never mind his contemporaries and fellow rock stars.
We are losing all our guitar heroes as time marches inexorably on, and we need the Joe Bonamassa’s and Samantha Fish’s, Sophie Burrell’s, and of course our beloved Twins to carry on the traditions and keep forging new roads in their own right, but legends like Jeff Beck will live on in their music yet to be written and recorded.
My old “Guitar Boogie” album is scratched and noisy, but I’ve played it several times since Wednesday, and I will play it more still.

[Daryl Jones]

I had a whole reply typed and by virtue of a wrong keystroke I lost the darn thing…argh.

Bob influenced John, and John then influenced the rest of the fab four. There is always one “instigator” in a group, and that would be John. Ringo, being the “new guy” after Pete’s departure would be the standard/obvious candidate for the experimental use of Bob’s gift of marijuana. The rest as they say, is history. Paul and John developed their own creative struggles and differences along the way, George and Ringo just went with the flow for the most part, until the final fallout and they all went their separate ways. Tragic, but still an unavoidable eventuality.

I find it interesting the George and Bob made the push in forming the Traveling Wilburys, where Bob sort of slid into the background and let Tom, Jeff, George and Roy take a lot of the limelight in what is (was?) likely the last Supergroup of our era. Bob’s brilliance as a writer may or may not have been overrun by the other members’ vocal abilities, and given their vocal strengths, why not? But sadly, we lost them all but Bob and Jeff tragically, as we do so many of our music idols and heroes.
<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>While they gave us so much more, this is </font>undoubtedly<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> their trademark (as well as my favorite) and I play it often. So poignant with the rocking chair and Roy’s photograph in </font>the<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> video. Perhaps John joins George, Tom and Roy in a loftier place and adds another dimension to the song. Share a puff of an aromatic substance, or maybe they just sip a Heavenly cup of tea, chat about the good times and listen:
</font>The Traveling Wilburys – End Of The Line (Official Video) on Vimeo<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>
</font>

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Daryl Jones.

[Daryl Jones]

I lost a young (just turned 40) niece to leukemia last August. She was so very brave through all of it, but in the end it took her. It was (stoll is) a difficult thing. 4 young daughters left behind and a (thankfully) loving husband. My Brother and his wife are still reeling with the ongoing grief, Christmas was a very painful time wgen it should have been full of joy for them. She wasn’t gifted in the music or artistic sense, but she was a terrific mom, those girls were so lucky to have her. The oldest (17) has taken the role of Alpha without reservation or the need for personal gratification, so much like her mother. Pam would be so proud of her.

It’s so true, live for the day. Never be afraid to tell the ones you care for how much they mean to you. Never stop doing what makes your life full and rich in deeds and accomplishments; it isn’t money that makes success in the long run. It’s in the doing and how you do it that matters. If you can make someone’s day brighter with what you do and who you are as a person, that is the greatest gift you can ever bestow on anyone.

[Daryl Jones]

So many musicians, artists, performers have faced horrible and seemingly insurmountable obstacles to create what they did and share with the world.

In the contemporary world, we’ve lost superstars like Neil Peart, Gord Downy, Jeff Healey, Glenn Frey, Karen Carpenter and so many others to cruel and often self inflicted ills…so heartbreaking.

Still others of great fame go out of their way to try their utmost to make the lives of others inflicted with hardships better and more fulfilling. And I do not mean those that use their fortunes and successes in vain political ventures. That is hypocrisy in the saddest form (my opinion of course).

To see this lady going forward with a full bore attitude is very inspiring indeed. I have lost friends to MS, and have still others fighting daily with it and I feel so helpless and insignificant in their plight. One of my friends (with the disease) wife bought him a guitar a while back (she knew I played a bit) and she has asked for hints to help him out. I’m not skilled enough to offer much in the way of teaching guidance other than some very basic structure and techniques I was taught years ago, but it did give him enough to seek out a seriously qualified instructor so I’ll take that as a win. At least he didn’t give up on it and is still working at it. I’ve been trying to get him to come over and see if he can jam along with me but he’s a proud guy, so he’s understandably nervous about it. A feeling I know all to well.

But many things in life are much like learning to box in a fight school gym, sooner or later you gotta step inside the ropes and take one on the chin to see what you are made of.

[Daryl Jones]

I flew freight and crew changes to remote fields in northern Alberta in Cessna 206 singles and Piper Navajo twins. The occasional executive charter in the C90 King Air (co-pilot only on the turbine). Used my 172 for private use and sight seeing tours. Single engine ops mistlyvsingke pilot and regulated to daylight hours and visual conditions with passengers, and twins were dual pilot (mostly), especially in instrument and night conditions. Unlike the big airliners, we almost never flew auto-pilot, all hands on control. None of the small fields had instrument approaches anyway so it was all visual.

Bush flying you love to hate at times. When it’s good, it’s really good. But when it’s otherwise it can be pretty mind boggling. Certain rules get, shall we say…”customized” out of necessity just to get the job done.

Oh for sure, there are some “interesting stories” I could recount ;>)

[Daryl Jones]

Cool topic! In typical fashion, I’m a tad late to the party and you guys have mentioned so many related compositions, I can’t think of one to add to the list.

But it does tug at the heart strings for me being a former commercial pilot. I never got a seat in any of the big birds, but few many piston twins and larger single engine aircraft in my time. But while the work of flying did replace some of the joy (romance?) of being in the air, moments alone in my little bug smasher were often magical.

A night flight with the Aurora Borealis putting on their display cones to mind. If you have ever seen “Always” with Richard Dryfus and Holly Hunter there is a scene with her in the plane in a rather surreal mystic situation is a lot like that.

I also had another more active experience with some scattered cumulus “puff balls” returning from Edmonton. Now granted, a 150hp Cessna isn’t a high performance plane by any means, but dipping and swooping around between those misty cotton balls was as close to dancing the controls of a fighter jet I’ll ever know. Before anybody goes tattle tail on me, I was alone in uncontrolled airspace during my fantasy ride so no rules or safety parameters were cotravened. But you can rest assured that the strains of John Cay and Steppenwolf’s Magic Carpet Ride were coursing through my brain.

It’s been 15 years since I sold my plane and gave up my active flight status, and I do miss it.

[Daryl Jones]

The things we take for granted indeed. Sight, hearing, dexterity…we often don’t realize what we have until something threatens them. I’ve always been active, strong and fit, not really gifted but athletic. But I found out in 1997 I was far from bullet proof, and the years of sports injuries and accidents are beginning to manifest themselves in undeniable ways. But so far, so good anyway.
I have another 2 maybe 3 years of racing my bike, I can still teach my martial arts classes, and I will play my guitars and sing for as long as I can still handle the instrument and hold a note. Life is good. Damn the torpedoes!

[Daryl Jones]

I both agree and disagree on your response Jeanette. I totally get the pressure thing, but just the mere mention (and play) of it last month was enough to tell me they are (hopefully) interested in doing an updated version of it.

I firmly believe it would be such a wonderful and soulful re-release and I am about two heartbeats away from flying to the UK and begging on my hands and knees at their doorstep for them to do it! OK, maybe not quite that rash (yet), but yeah, I would so love to see that come to fruition.

So if my vote on the subject adds to the process, count me in favor big time. (hint…)