Another Six String Down

[django49]

I am sure a few of you have heard about my "jazz guitar buddy". A very talented guy, worked hard at it. Settled down after years on the road. Moved from SoCal to Portland. Readily admitted he had the luxury of a wife with a real job. So, he could stay at home, be house hubby to their daughter, give lessons, play local gigs. We were in SoCal at the same time but did not meet until we were both back in the Portland area.....I was probably jamming with a musical Captain in the BHPD about the same time the PD was harassing him for looking homeless as he drove through town nearly living in his car hitting gigs from San Diego to San Francisco and piling up tens of thousands of miles a year.  

Michael answered an ad for a vintage ES-335 I was selling. Expected he might be able to jam me on price if he was lucky. Admitted it was a failed hope when I answered the door. But we became friends. He taught me things about music, I taught him things re financial planning and funding his daughter's PHD path from Portland to Las Vegas to MIlwaukie. Shared out love of gear and did some swapping. Two very different people, but we became friends. Hard to not like someone as full of stories as Michael. 

Not too many weeks ago, I told him I was pondering getting outta the state that seems to be getting more and more radicalized. He immediately informed me I should move to Nashville AND he would fly out to the west coast for a road trip moving a truckload of musical gear to Tennessee. His not so secret hope----Maybe he had better chance of getting into the more exclusive part of the collection at Gruhn Guitars if we brought along a few of my more interesting guitars. 😉Whether or not that made any sense, it is not to be. He died of a heart attack  2 days ago in Wisconsin.

Michael (Gargano) is not likely someone you have heard of. And likely not the music you would have on your playlist, though he went from hard rock and drugs to big bands and solo/small band jazz over his 60+ years of playing.  But if anyone is interested, here is a bit of his music posted again today. I am sure I have other recordings somewhere. Joe Pass-like Christmas album. Fingerstyle versions of Beatle classics and jazz standards. Not gonna say I could ever play like him. But I DO play a bit better as a result of his influence. 

 

RIP Michael.

 

Edited yesterday at 09:27 PM by django49

[mrjamiam]

RIP Michael and condolences to you on the loss of your friend.

Nashville has a lot going for it.

[Dave Scepter]

What a nice story of a good friend... Sorry for your loss 🙏

[django49]

I might add.....Things like this do make you think about mortality. And all the more so as I did have a bit of a health scare myself 2 weeks ago. Released and sent home with no restrictions, but the 30 hours in the hospital with very little sleep did sorta "concentrate my mind". I really DO need to think about why I have so damn many guitars and other gear. WAY too much money tied up in all that stuff......Pretty sure I will be identifying many pieces and upping my efforts to move some along.

I expect I will be posting some things here, as well as calling some folks that have asked for dibs.....I just don't want to get ahead of myself as a "teaser" until I have a definite list and can set asking prices.

[hamerhead]

Sorry for your loss, Don. Sounds like a great friend.

And why do these things have to happen in Wisconsin?? First Otis, then Stevie, now Micheal.

R.I.P., Mr. Gargano.

[Spinaltap]

good story, sorry for you loss  RIP