Dave Brady was a friend, and I was a great fan of Swan Arcade. I am truly of the belief that "Matchless" is one of the greatest albums of all time, in any genre.

I last heard from Dave in late 1999. He'd broken up with Heather and was living with Sue Dent in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland and, after proclaiming Sue was a horn player, he said he was "roadying" for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra!

I had the great honor and pleasure to record with Dave, Heather and Jim Boyes, a/k/a "Swan Arcade," in Monmouthshire (Rockfield Studios) in 1976. They sang backing vocals on my little-noticed album, "We are Like the Ocean." I will never forget taking them to a local pub in Monmouth after recording one day and, after a few pints, hearing them break out in song. You could have heard a pin drop in what had been a loud, boisterous gathering of semi-drunk locals for whom music was the last thing on their minds. And I suddenly felt connected to a long line of tradition that otherwise might have escaped me, despite my lifelong love of Yorkshire singing and ravenous appetite for pub performances of traditional music. Here they were - Swan Arcade - not singing on a pub stage, but right at the bar and the only payment necessary for another song was the occasional pint (which is difficult for the singer to consume when engaged in musical performance).

The news of Dave's death reaches me late, back here in America. I was just over The Pond at the end of last month; but so occupied with my own things to do, it didn't occur to me to check on Dave's well-being. Today, I shall play Swan Arcade and think of him -- it's still early here, so I'll think about the order in which I'll play the music before putting it on. But the music's already in my head, and I can hear the line that drew me to Swan Arcade like a child following Peter Piper...the clear and powerful voice of Dave Brady singing, "When the Alabama's keel was laid...."

Goodbye, Dave Brady, my friend. And thank you for your wonderful music that so enriched my life. You live on in the music you left behind.

Your friend,

Barry
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Barry "The Fish" Melton
PO Box 72505
Davis CA 95617, USA