Man I am so sickened to hear of another hero of mine has passed. I was fortunate to meet Jerry on several occasions and he was not only a great musician and actor but a great person as well. Jerry was just as witty and jovial as he was portrayed on tv. He had a zest for life that I wish I could muster. I am very saddened to be writing this right now. I will miss Jerry but I am thankful for the music he made and the vision of what was possible. Jerry changed my playing around the minute I heard Jerry's Breakdown. I remember siiting in Paul Yandell's mothers living room and Paul tearing into that song. I about flipped man I was totallu tore up by it. I had just turned 17 and that time only knew Jerry from Smokey and the Bandit. I remember how alive his songs sounded to me back then. I met him a year later in Nashville with Paul. He and Chet Atkins were prepping to record I think Neck and Neck was the title. Paul introduced us and he was the coolest and funniest person. He laughed so hard with his whole body into it. I have a ton of stories from the few times I met him but Jerry was that way. He was the kind of person that had something going or was saying something constantly. If you hung out with him for an hour it was like a whole day with someone else. I know this is long but I am really saddened to hear of Jerry's passing. I found out from Paul yesterday and he had been to see Jerry over the weekend. I am deeply saddened and will miss the Alabama Wildman.