David Brooks, my bass player, band mate and dear friend of 15 years was stabbed to death by his son on Sunday night. There. I said it. It's been a solid 24 hours since I got the news and I still look at the words in utter disbelief as if they were part of someone else's life - someone else's terrible tabloid headline. I woke up this morning grabbed my pillow tightly and sincerely hoped that it was all just a bad dream. I have vivid dreams and often wake still shaken from the experience. I …
Flo died today.
A dear friend of over thirty years died suddenly today as she walked to pick up some take-out food for lunch. Witnesses say she was on her cell phone when she suddenly clutched at her chest and then collapsed. Emergency units were called, but they could not revive her. She was gone. My dear friend Flo died today. …
Anne Marie has left the stage.
She showed up at one of my gigs in the early years at Blue Chicago in the mid 90's. Always sitting alone, stage right with a note pad in hand - writing stories and songs. Shortly after our first meeting she told me she liked to sing & perform and I would call her up to do a number or two. She was good. And she was a true free spirit, artistic, smart, beautiful, fashionable, so positive and so very funny. I loved her immediately. I saw her through her restaurant years, various apartments, …