NEWS — March 2007
MICK WILLIAMS Mike Barnard and Gay Waterman who ran the splendid Uxbridge Folk Club for so many years emailed with some sad news.
“..Mick had been suffering from prostrate cancer for a number of years but unfortunately it spread to his back in the middle of 2005 and he found it very difficult to play and he stopped coming out on gigs in Dec 05. He always said that he would like to play one more time with Ivan North and Chris Rixon. As it happened I had a booking come in for a Sunday afternoon and it was only 2 hrs long and we managed to get him there for it. Needless to say he enjoyed it. Then about 3-4 weeks ago he was diagnosed with a tumor on his kidneys and suffered kidney failure and thankfully passed away very peacefully. The funeral was on Monday the 19th Feb and was well attended with a number of old Uxbridge folkies there. Those that turned up were, Ivan North, Chris, Terry Silver, Phil St John, Ray Smith, Fran plus Gay Waterman and myself. We gave him a good send off with music and songs. By the way did you know that Mike’s youngest daughter is named Clare Michaela (after your song)?” I didn’t know that Mike named his daughter after my song "Michaela". I consider it a great compliment. Mick was a good guy. (“Michaela” is posted on the video page.)
BEATLES UNPLUGGED The Beatles Unplugged concert which was postponed at Langford Sound and Stage last month is now scheduled for the 24th March at Ragamuffin Music in Roswell, GA. Fred Watts and Gary McCoy and two friends will be entertaining us with an evening of Lennon-McCartney and George Harrison songs. I’ve heard the band and they’re great: effortless easy harmonies and laid back style – sort of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young meet John and Paul. Fred and Gary have asked a few friends to help out and I’m honored to be included. I’ll be singing “I’m Only Sleeping” on the night. For more details of this concert and many others, go to www.ragamuffinmusic.com P.S. If you haven’t been to an evening at Ragamuffin Music yet, you’re missing out. It’s the best intimate listening room in Atlanta!
PHIL ST JOHN An email arrived from another Uxbridge Folk Club regular: Phil St John: Hi Louis, Long time no see. We went to Memphis last year for Elvis's birthday party but he wasn't there! Had a great time. I moved to the South coast (of England) in the late 70's and lost contact with everybody at the Load Of Hay apart from Terry Silver and of course Mick the bass. I am still gigging and amongst other things do a Carpenters tribute with my wife. We've got a website if you are interested on www.think-twice.co.uk. Luckily we did a gig in west Drayton in 2004 so I was able to give Mick a ring and he came along although he told me about his prostate. We did the Club again a couple of times since and Mick came along despite his failing health and I thankfully got the attached picture whilst there last time. I still follow the drum and I am sometimes the clown that people laugh with but as long as the roundabout keeps spinning around and around I'll keep plucking my Fender Stratocaster! Very best regards, Phil Johnson (AKA St John) It’s great to hear from Phil. I replied to him telling him for the last 30 years I’ve had “star name envy” only to find that he is really Phil Johnson. Visit his web page and if you like what you hear: book him! If he’s in the US sometime soon we may even hear them live! PS: If you want to understand the underlined references in his email, you’ll have to listen to the song “Follow the Drum” which is posted on the audio page. |
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Our friend Mick Williams died on 7th Feb 2007. Mick was a bass player, always cheerful. I got to know him very well in the years we all played in a ceilidh dance bands bizarrely titled “The A40 Improvement Scheme”. 