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The Artist with a "Big A"
Last night's Celebration of Life for David Olney was a "not exactly somber"/"not exactly light-hearted" affair. In many ways, the event was a perfect fit for the man.
Here are my impressions as they are coming to me as I write this. The first word that came to mind as I arrived at the Belcourt Theater was community - that word has been on the fore-front of my mind lately anyway. But, I was struck by all the familiar faces I recognized waiting in line to enter, and that sense only increased as the night wore on.
There were definitely some heavy-hitting in attendance. Emmylou Harris arrived with The Road Mangler Phil Kaufman, Hayes Caryl showed up, Mary Gauthier and more. It was a packed house.
The first thing I noticed was Olney's guitar with his trademark fedora balanced on top. The house band was David's band - Ward Stout, Sergio Webb, Daniel Seymour, and Justin Amaral. They took the stage and played some of David's music as instrumentals - which was an emotional moment.
(An aside - one recurring theme of the night was that David Olney was an Artist (with a capital "A"). Watching his band - both during the waiting period and during the celebration proper, I was struck with the feeling that not only was David Olney an Artist, but he surrounded himself with Artists. I have had the opportunity to witness Sergio Webb's guitar playing up close, and while I am not a musician, even I could recognize that there was something extraordinary about the way he coaxed sounds from his guitar. I have also had the chance to see Justin Amaral in various settings, and his talent and artistry is unquestioned - see him with The Fats Kaplin Gang if you need proof. Daniel Seymour, too have seen in a variety of settings, and seeing him play stand-up bass is treat no matter the style of music. As far as I recall, I have only ever seen Ward Stout play with David Olney - but I recall when David first added him and how quickly he established himself as part of David's sound. Nashville is filled with incredibly talented musicians, but it was clear to me last night that these artists where something special - and I sure hope they find many opportunities to play together in the future.
The night was filled with performances and speakers. The stories shared were a reminder of the way David Olmey touched peoples' lives. The musical performances were a testament to the greatest of his songs and to the way he inspired other artists.
The musical guests were all amazing in their own way. I feel like if I try to name some that I will forget another.
I've run out of time - so there will be more later. Suffice it to say, that the event was yet another gift from the man who gave us all so much of himself.
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