BS: Rick Fielding's Influence

Subject: RE: BS: Rick Fielding's Influence
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 05:59 PM

What ever else Rick did, and there were many things, he was one of the elect among Guitars pickers!

So everybody who talked on-line to Rick about picking learned some little thing or other that changed them, me too.


:0) thats about how it was and, I hope for me at least, how it remains.

Subject: RE: BS: Rick Fielding's Influence
From: Willie-O
Date: 16 Jun 05 - 01:03 PM

Sorefingers...he sure the heck was!

I was lucky enough to guest on Acoustic Workshop with Heather this week, and she told us that from the moment I expressed an interest in his old guitar, he was interviewing me, like a job interview, to see if I would be a suitable candidate for owning it. That's why he gave me such great terms on it when we got down to talking business...this is one of the greatest musical compliments I've ever had.

I miss Rick. Guess we all do. I drive past his & Heather's house every Friday on my delivery run to Toronto, never without a glance and a thought for each of them--a wistful one for Rick, and a hopeful one for Heather.

I hardly ever stop in though. I'm driving a twenty-foot-long van that I don't own, and that Kingston Road driveway terrifies me.

Bill

Subject: RE: BS: Rick Fielding's Influence
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 16 Jun 05 - 09:26 PM

One of the most special people I have ever met. We should all learn from his passion. Let's not forget Heather. I know that she has had some very tough times dealing with his passing.

Subject: RE: BS: Rick Fielding's Influence
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jun 05 - 09:51 PM

I still can't believe that the guy would call me here in California, out of the blue, all the way from Toronto. His phone bill must have been phenomenal - but his calls were always appreciated, and he could always make me laugh.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Rick Fielding's Influence
From: Jeri
Date: 16 Jun 05 - 10:15 PM

Willie-O, I heard you! That was a good show, what with the music and cross-communcation between guests.

Joe, I still can't believe he asked me (whom he'd never met) to come up for Christmas that first time in 1999!

If you're wondering how Rick actually reacted to M-G, check out Pete Seeger's Banjo virtuosity. It's a great thread anyway, despite repeat (mostly ignored) attempts at trolling, and it got me to pick up my banjo again. It's kinda funny to read all the music geek stuff and then the M-G posts which were ...definitely NOT written by a music geek. Anyway, they were both present at the same time.

Rick's continuing influence is hard to pin down. He wanted me to be inspired. In many ways, he WAS my inspiration. An awful lot of his threads, as well as some of our conversations, were about how important it was to aggressively seek things and people that inspire. I haven't tried nearly hard enough, and it seems to me that I don't see many other people who truly care about much. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right places

Subject: RE: BS: Rick Fielding's Influence
From: GUEST,Tinker
Date: 17 Jun 05 - 10:38 AM

Last year June 5th was the tribute concert. This year in the spirit of just do it and have fun. I found myself one of three guitarist for a Youth Church service. Skill wise I was smack in the middle, but those of you who know me, know I don't usually play for folks.

We had a blast. And in the middle of it all when the pastor jumped in starting us off in the middle of the intro (in her preferred key of D and not G in which we were playing) We shook our heads laughed and I actually just watched hands and transcribed as we went. (Okay so we left out some of the minor florishes we had tucked in --- Bm takes a little more work) but it wasn't a panic, it was fun. We ended with giggles and talk of not only doing it again, but teaching a few kids to do it too....

tinker

Subject: RE: BS: Rick Fielding's Influence
From: GUEST,John Hardly
Date: 17 Jun 05 - 12:03 PM

Three things I found inspiring about Rick (a guy who I did not know, so my observations are just from reading his posts).

Open-hearted friendliness -- he treated everyone at least as well as they deserved. Usually better. He bet that he rarely posted anything that he later wished he could take back.

Generous with his considerable knowledge -- but he never talked down when advising. His advice often came through as, "...but you already knew that, didn't you?" ....even though we didn't "already know that".

Intensely curious -- and a curiousity that always seemed to keep him on the optimistic side of cynical. He was a witty observer of life -- often a detatched observer, but then he'd relate a story that gave insight into just how much he'd NOT remained detatched, merely observing, and, instead, had jumped in with abandon.

I rarely find winsome those who never jump into life with abandon. Rick was, as I observed him, winsome.

But I didn't know him. He was just one of the main reasons I used to log on here.

Subject: RE: BS: Rick Fielding's Influence
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 18 Jun 05 - 05:50 AM

I never had the chance to see much of Rick on the Mudcat, having joined fairly recently, but, from reading this thread, I KNOW I would have liked him, and been influenced by his opinions.

At this point in time, Mudcat desperately needs someone like that to calm the atmosphere, and bring back reasoned discussion and friendly argument, which seem to have diminished even in the short time I have been here.

My favourites at the moment are Art Thieme, and Rapaire, who both inspire me with their posts, but I don't see either on here anywhere near as often as I would like.

But I bet Rick is up there somewhere, and from the sound of him, he's probably putting in a good word for all of us, with the boss, even the nasties.

I know I never knew you Rick, but thanks anyway.
Don T