Dear friends, fans and everyone else:
I want to sincerely thank everyone who has gone (and will go) to
www.helpgaff.com and donated to the Chris Gaffney cause. I'm really at a loss for words regarding the overwhelming response from so many people to our call for help. Beside your financial donations, your many heartfelt messages of love and support have deeply moved Chris, his family and me. I don't think Chris ever realized how much his music touches people and how truly beloved he is. These are rough financial times for many of us, but your
selfless generosity in the face of that hard reality, has gotten me a bit
misty eyed on more than a couple occasions lately.
I'd also like to thank all the people who are putting together benefit shows across the country. Shows are currently being planned in Austin, Omaha, Houston, San Francisco, Nashville and several other locations. Please let us know at helpgaff.com if you're doing a benefit for Chris so that we can plug it on the site. Later this year I plan on doing a benefit performance in southern California with many longtime friends of mine and Chris's. Check back here or at the Gaff site for information about when and where that will be happening.
My "other big brother" Chris is a fighter and having all of you in his corner have made me even more positive that he will win this fight. Thank you all very, very much.
Dave Alvin
April 8 2008
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9 comments:
Oh Dave I just heard about Gaff. I am so sorry. You probably don't remember me, I am Michael Hyatt's ex. I used to come see you and Phil play in Hollywood many moons ago. Anyway, I know you are hurting and missing your bud. I just wanted to hold you in my heart a minute. Sweet dreams to Gaff wherever he is flying now.
Natalie
Dave:
I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my big sister to pancreatic cancer last fall at the age of 58. There's no positive spin to put on it. It sucks and it hurts.
My computer screen saver has shots of you and Gaff at the Oregon Zoo from a couple of years back. Saw you guys several times and I know you must have a lot of good memories to hang onto.
Keep em close.
Take care,
Jim Cornelius, Sisters Oregon
So sorry to hear of Gaff's passing. I enjoyed his music a lot and loved seeing him with the Guilty Men.
Hi Dave,
I'm so grateful for all of the times I got to see you and Chris play together. Great music, great humor, always. He will be dearly missed.
Peace,
Charlene
Gaffney, he was the best.
I will never forget you calling Chris on the phone at Terri's wedding and joking with him....We got to see him soon after in Cincy and screamed our heads off and danced like fools at the concert! He was so wonderful. I have his according music in my head and his voice in my heart.
Beth McCarty - Cincinnati
Dear Dave,
I was VERY fortunate to have met
Chris the first time I also met
you and the Guilty Men when you played in Ann Arbor, MI a few years ago, and I got every one of
you to sign my CD. I loved Chris
playing that accordian. He was a very talented man and my heart goes out to you and all his loved ones. Think of Chris free in spirit now and playing his music all over the universe and making the angels happy. Take care.
Love,
Miss Dark Eyes
Ryn
I was at a Guilty Men show at the Grand Emporium in Kansas City a few years ago. During a break, I was in the back at the merchandise table seeing if there were any "band only" CD releases. I was minding my own business and this guy started talking to me about which discs were the best. He was talking with great passion and aplomb about the music, the performances and the musicians It struck me that this was not a typical roadie covering the table. I looked up and just sort of blurted out, "You're Chris Gaffney, what the hell are you doing here?" He responded with a Dead lyric, "The bus came by and I got on." I cracked up and we ended up talking for about a half an hour about music, musicians and life. I told him his cover of Russell's "The Eyes of Roberto Durran" was the best ever. He downplayed the complement and started gushing about Tom, what a brilliant writer and performer he was. He went on about you Dave and spoke with near reverence for what your music and your friendship meant to him. It was a remarkable encounter with a true kindred spirit.
Somebody told me once that among some group of Native Americans there is belief that you are not really dead as long as there are people alive that love, honor and respect you. By that measure, Gaffney has a long life yet to live.
Dear Dave:
Having just returned from 3 nights of the Dog & Pony event, I am acutely aware of the huge impact of Gaffney's loss on you. My heart feels your pain, and the pain of all those who were close to him.
I lost my "sister-friend" to colon cancer in 2003 (she was barely 59).
There's not a day I don't think of her.
Loss Is Hard.
Your spiritual advisor, my sister-friend....and all those others along the way.
We carry their spirits with us; we honor their memory with our thoughts and actions (and their music!!!); we remember them...and we know too we will become memories.
With a tender heart and visions of peace, healing, balance and strength....
ej ramblin
(in the desert)
PS The awesome array of talent you arranged for the Dog & Pony mega-gig was an amazing tribute to Chris...
I did dance my ass off, thank you very much!
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