My father had been diagnosed with Parkinson's for quite a while, and after some falls, he spent most of September in and out of the hospital and Fidalgo Rehabilitation in Anacortes, finally passing away on October 1, with the funeral on October 16. Even though we'd been expecting this with his failing health, it still takes the wind out of your sails for a while.
So why is Gary Lewis here? When I was still in high school, my parents allowed me to pick music to play during Sunday dinner, and it was tricky to find something that everyone could enjoy, or at least tolerate. Glen Campbell's early albums worked, same with Tijuana Brass -- and for some reason, Gary Lewis and the Playboys. We recently watched the DVD about The Wrecking Crew, the stellar collection of studio musicians who played on not only the Gary Lewis albums, but EVERYTHING. No, really, when the session list scrolls at the end of the movie, it is truly astounding how much they shaped the sound of radio in the early '60s. My father was into Barbra Streisand, and later, Celine Dion, so we didn't share much of a musical diet, but I remember fondly those dinners and I think Gary Lewis was a part of that. So, thanks Gary and Crew; rest well, Dad.
More blog posts to come soon.
