Double Bass My Pop's Last Bass

[Road Hat]

Truly a wonderful post. My mother was the musician in the family, and got me turned on to piano, guitar, tuba, and then electric bass. She was a devout Mormon, but let us buy any album we wanted, like Black Sabbath's Paranoid, Steppenwolf, Amboy Dukes, Bloodrock (remember them?). Then on Sunday we'd sing hymns. I wasn't a big fan of hymns, especially after listening to Three Dog Night just before leaving!

OP, what was your dad's last gig? Did you get a chance to play together with him on any projects?

Great story - great pics - great way to start the day!

 

[fusoid]

I'm still having trouble with the left handed picture...I reserve further comment. I'm perplexed.

I think they were posing for the post photographer. My dad had that kind of sense of humor. The picture does mess with my mind in the same way that watching Jimmy Haslip play upside down and backwards does. What the...???

 

[fusoid]

Truly a wonderful post. My mother was the musician in the family, and got me turned on to piano, guitar, tuba, and then electric bass. She was a devout Mormon, but let us buy any album we wanted, like Black Sabbath's Paranoid, Steppenwolf, Amboy Dukes, Bloodrock (remember them?). Then on Sunday we'd sing hymns. I wasn't a big fan of hymns, especially after listening to Three Dog Night just before leaving!

OP, what was your dad's last gig? Did you get a chance to play together with him on any projects?

Great story - great pics - great way to start the day!

I remember.... we were flying low, and hit something in the air....

That's great about your Mom! It was so great being dragged around as a kid, watching Pop play dance jobs, going to rehearsals, just absorbing that whole world view. He even got Tuba calls when the Ringling Bros. were in town. He and mom were totally supportive when I was at late rehearsals and gigs while still in junior high school... allowed me to spend money on gear, go on tour, they were the greatest! Dad's last gigs were playing with a small wind ensemble in churches and civic capers, his local picking buddies, "The Rough Riders" The pics at the end there I believe depict the last time he ever played anything. He was transformed with that bass in his hands. How could I not want to be like my Pop, to have that joy?

 

[fusoid]

fusoid,
Thanks for you post. It reminded me of my dad who died a year ago. He bought me my first bass.

I know you still miss him. It wasn't just a bass he got you.

 

[Paul Warburton]

Hey, man....got any pics of Pop and the Prescott?

 

[anniemcu]

What an absolutely wonderful legacy!!!

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Hey, man....got any pics of Pop and the Prescott?

+1

 

[jazzbass_5]

IMHO This has to be one of the best threads Ive read...

thank you!

 

[crazy_bassist]

That bass looks amazingly cool and like it's got a ton of stories under it's belt. Thanks for sharing!

 

[abaguer]

fantastic pics. What a life your Dad lived.

 

[kovachian]

Fatherhood makes life worthwhile. That is all. ;-D

 

[fusoid]

10 years ago today, we lost him. Dad, I hope you finally found the bridge...

 

[nicechuckh]

Really great stuff. I noticed the one where he's playing left handed too and saw that the trumpeter, piano n all weren't switched. Very kewl

 

[dmrogers]

Wow! Thanks for sharing. The photos were great!

 

[Ozonbass]

Made my day...thank you.

 

[Aidan Terry]

Made my day...thank you.

Same here. Wonderful pictures and a wonderful thread. Thanks a bunch!

 

[PostBop]

This has been a beautiful thread to read, thanks for sharing.

Its impossible not to think of dad while reading.

 

[Fran Diaz]

10 years ago today, we lost him. Dad, I hope you finally found the bridge...

Great thread. A beautiful way of honoring your father's memory and a good reminder of why we are musicians and 'why' we hang out on TB.

 

[oldfretless]

Cool thread, and anybody playing bass with a head gasket and a welding helmet on the pegboard behind them, that's cool!

 

[M Ramsey]

I remember reading this thread when it came up a couple of years back.

Probably one of my all-time favorite threads posted here on Talkbass.

EVER.

Thanks for sharing your Pop and his legacy to you with us.