Gone but not forgotten

"Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul." ~ Grateful Dead

Jerry Garcia  (8/1/42-8/9/95)

 "I'm married to my roots here, still I feel like I am free." ~ Widespread Panic

Michael Houser  (1/6/62-8/10/02)

August 9th and 10th are always kind of bittersweet days for me.  They are days that made music history, when two of the greatest guitarists I've ever known, passed away.  Jerry Garcia, of the Grateful dead, died on August 9th 1995.  Michael Houser, of Widespread Panic, died on August 10th 2002.  Each year, I listen to music by the musicians all day... all week and month sometimes.  I smile and take it all in.  They were each magical in their own way.  They each wrote beautiful music.  They each changed the music scene, in their own way.  They each changed the lives of so many, who love them and their music so much.  I've been following Widespread Panic around the country for 10 years now.  I've been blessed to see some incredible music from them.  I was never able to see Mr. Garcia play.  At age 11, when they came to Bham, I was too young to go.... says my mother.  ;)  I have been fortunate enough to see some of the other members of The Dead though.  My life has been blessed by each of these guys.  I'm grateful for them both and miss them all the time... Especially on these days... the days they left us and this crazy, crazy world.

Cheers,

Stevi