TCK
Well-known member
<TCK> So Monday I got a text from a fellow I have known since he was a kid. I worked with his Mom, and when his dad passed away his sophomore year, we became pretty close. I was close enough to his age to almost be a peer...and old enough to almost be a dad, or at least a source of advise and grounding. It totally worked. Anyway- he was always a very good guitar player...and certainly one of my inspirations as I struck out to figure out strings (at the time he was building Compass Rose Ukes with Rick Turner). I should get to the text.
"Hey- wanna go to Jerry Douglas?"
"Me and Dad talked about it- but it is standing room only and dad cannot do that I don't think...and its a school night."
"What if you were on the guest list and could meet him?"
"I am sure dad will be interested even more at this prospect. Lemme check."
Christopher was delivering a guitar he had spent a year building to a man who has amassed 14 Grammy's playing the darn things, and he had invited me to go along. I could not be more proud of a friend than I was last night, but I am trying to keep myself on track here. Now...Y'all know dad has played slide forever (though his hiatus did him no good) and Jerry Douglas is kind of a god in our realm...he really is the best and has the cred to support it, but here is the really cool thing. The man is about the nicest guy you would ever want to meet. He played a 2 hour set and after we were having small talk with a few fans...and I looked at him and said "can we just open this damn thing?" pointing to the guitar, because I really wanted to see it and hear it. He looked at me and replied "Well YES!" Off to the green room we went, joking and carrying on as he took delivery of his new instrument, and its builder sat quietly and smiled at the interactions. Reality is talking to Jerry is like talking to your neighbor, but the wheels are faster. He thinks at a rate that is a lot faster than most, and to follow him you have to bring your A Game...but it really was one of the coolest meetings I have had with one of my heroes, and dad was pretty stoked as well.
So I got to thinking...boy do I suck. I suck more than one could ever suck...and I have never played a Jerry Douglas song because he is awesome and intimidating. Like mind-blowing awesome and mind blowing intimidating...but I really reckon now that he would like to see me suck and probably play along with the sucking. So here is the song I first learned of Jerry Douglas from, at dusk on a mountain a 100 years ago-
I really hope everyone knows that song, because it is a beaut. Probably one of the most beautiful pieces of live music I have ever heard.
And now...A tribute to a guy who plays a Dobro like no one else, and is really cool. A guitar builder who builds the most beautiful things I have ever seen, and a night with my dad I will never forget. Please excuse the suck. I will never play like Jerry Douglas. I will never sing like Allison Krauss. I will never craft a song this beautiful, this sad...but I have heart. I think I have a lot of it. That and a bunch of ukes I ought to play. Thanks for putting up with me this week...god, I promised I would not do this anymore. You forced my hand...made me not just phone one or two in. The mark of a great season right there. Much Love </TCK>
Did I mention Melissa? Yeah- she wanted in on this.
"Hey- wanna go to Jerry Douglas?"
"Me and Dad talked about it- but it is standing room only and dad cannot do that I don't think...and its a school night."
"What if you were on the guest list and could meet him?"
"I am sure dad will be interested even more at this prospect. Lemme check."
Christopher was delivering a guitar he had spent a year building to a man who has amassed 14 Grammy's playing the darn things, and he had invited me to go along. I could not be more proud of a friend than I was last night, but I am trying to keep myself on track here. Now...Y'all know dad has played slide forever (though his hiatus did him no good) and Jerry Douglas is kind of a god in our realm...he really is the best and has the cred to support it, but here is the really cool thing. The man is about the nicest guy you would ever want to meet. He played a 2 hour set and after we were having small talk with a few fans...and I looked at him and said "can we just open this damn thing?" pointing to the guitar, because I really wanted to see it and hear it. He looked at me and replied "Well YES!" Off to the green room we went, joking and carrying on as he took delivery of his new instrument, and its builder sat quietly and smiled at the interactions. Reality is talking to Jerry is like talking to your neighbor, but the wheels are faster. He thinks at a rate that is a lot faster than most, and to follow him you have to bring your A Game...but it really was one of the coolest meetings I have had with one of my heroes, and dad was pretty stoked as well.
So I got to thinking...boy do I suck. I suck more than one could ever suck...and I have never played a Jerry Douglas song because he is awesome and intimidating. Like mind-blowing awesome and mind blowing intimidating...but I really reckon now that he would like to see me suck and probably play along with the sucking. So here is the song I first learned of Jerry Douglas from, at dusk on a mountain a 100 years ago-
I really hope everyone knows that song, because it is a beaut. Probably one of the most beautiful pieces of live music I have ever heard.
And now...A tribute to a guy who plays a Dobro like no one else, and is really cool. A guitar builder who builds the most beautiful things I have ever seen, and a night with my dad I will never forget. Please excuse the suck. I will never play like Jerry Douglas. I will never sing like Allison Krauss. I will never craft a song this beautiful, this sad...but I have heart. I think I have a lot of it. That and a bunch of ukes I ought to play. Thanks for putting up with me this week...god, I promised I would not do this anymore. You forced my hand...made me not just phone one or two in. The mark of a great season right there. Much Love </TCK>
Did I mention Melissa? Yeah- she wanted in on this.