Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith

Subject: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 02:41 PM

Dick Heckstall-Smith, one of the founding fathers of the British Blues scene, died on Friday 17th December after a battle against cancer. A consumate and highly respected musician, an absolute original, another of our musical icons gone this year. R.I.P.
Dave Sutherland

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 03:07 PM

Very sad. he was one of the names you looked for almost as a guarantor of artistic validity. He must have been involved with every musician of significance since the 60's, from his days with The Graham Bond Organisation.

Is that his son I see on the credits of TV programmes - Nick?

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 03:29 PM

Played in some Damn Fine Jazz combos as well as doing his bit to improve the Blues Scene !! Another one we will really miss !!

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 04:01 PM

Oh shit. One of the finest.

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: number 6
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 06:44 PM

Sad. He will be missed.

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Brakn
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 07:19 PM

He played on albums (that I know of), by Blues Incorporated, Graham Bond, Pete Brown, Jack Bruce, Chicken Shack, Colosseum, Deviants, Wynder K Frog, Alexis Korner, John Mayall and his own solo album in 1972.

If you just check out the people he actaully played with it is astounding.

R.I.P.

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: michaelr
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 09:28 PM

Sad news. I remember him from Colosseum... any of their stuff still (or again) available? Jon Hiseman must be the most melodic drummer I ever heard.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: fat B****rd
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 03:17 AM

RIP Dick. His book on the British Jazz/Blues scene is worth a look. I recall he was an expert on tractors and things agricultural.

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Splott Man
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 03:44 AM

Very sad.
I first saw him with the Graham Bond Organisation in the mid sixties, and again 15 -20 years ago at a small gig in Cardiff, in a trio with John James on guitar and Steve Knightley on bass. During the course of the evening he sheepishly admitted to being Welsh born.

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: GUEST,T-boy
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 08:37 AM

Saw him do a great gig with Collosseum in about 1969/70. Bought the LP, but it was crap (mainly down to the production).

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Flash Company
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 11:09 AM

First heard him playing soprano sax on a Sandy Brown recording call, I think, Sandy Brown Sidesmen. Played a Sandy Brown composition called 'In my Neck of the Woods'.
Fat B****rd, He apparently had a Degree in Agricultural Sciences from Cambridge, although remembering the names of tractors was the only evidence.
Good obit in D-T the other day, I loved the story about his National Service. He was a registered consciencous objector and elected to do his National Service as a hospital porter. This caused problems, A Cambridge Graduate as a porter was better qualified than a lot of the management. He then started an affair with a lady in X-Ray, who, as he put it, was a class above him and a class below him both at the same time.
Lovely man, fine musician, there must be a hell of a band assembling somewhere!

FC

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Nick
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 11:28 AM

I'll dig out my mono copy of Bare Wires and have a listen tonight - he plays some nice solos if I remember.

(Huge bonus if they'd re-release them without John Mayall singing but you can't have everything I guess)

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 12:24 PM

Remember seeing him with Colosseum. Bought one of their LP's. Oh well..............

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: fat B****rd
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 04:45 PM

I count myself as lucky. I saw him with Graham Bond (twice) and Colosseum.

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith (2004)
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 08:32 AM

Seven years ago today.
Never forgotten.

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 09:47 AM

His autobiography is a wonderful read if you can track down a copy. The later pressings come with a cd of previously unheard tunes as well.

David E.

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: GUEST,John James
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 10:22 AM

Dick would be tickled at us remembering the anniversary of his departure. I spent many happy years -mid 1980's- with him as friend and fellow musician. I learnt so much from him. He reckoned he had a rather unceremonious exit from Cambridge Uni but made up for it in the 1970's when he did a degree at South Bank Poly ,Elephant & Castle,London. One day after lectures the clutch cable broke in his Cortina Estate and he drove back to the flat in West Hampstead without..."slicing thro the rods, like a knife thro butter" He did tend to drive a BIT fast. Bo Diddley only was a passenger once..."I love you Dick but I aint gettin' in no car wid jer..no more "
Dick of course could not understand what Bo was on about.
Dick & I taped nearly every gig we did together and i have a box full of cassettes,there must be a few goodies in there. Also some nice photos of Dick Heckstall-Smith on my website.
www.johnjamesguitarist.com
Never forget you Dick.

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: GUEST,Arthur Heckstall-Smith
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 12:11 PM

Nice to read this. Thanks! :)
Arthur Heckstall-Smith

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: GUEST,GUEST, Daisy Morant
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 07:14 PM

Dick Heckstall-Smith was a genius. I think he opened the eyes of an entire generation that otherwise would have been satisfied with rock and roll and its conventions. If one listens carefully to his playing one can sometimes follow his creative paths. When that happens I feel privileged.

Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 02:15 AM

So sorry to hear this news. May he rest in peace.

RIP

Peter