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Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith

22 Dec 04 - 02:41 PM (#1363405)
Subject: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Dave Sutherland

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


22 Dec 04 - 03:07 PM (#1363429)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Big Al Whittle

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?


22 Dec 04 - 03:29 PM (#1363457)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Leadfingers

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


22 Dec 04 - 04:01 PM (#1363484)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: TheBigPinkLad

Oh shit. One of the finest.


22 Dec 04 - 06:44 PM (#1363609)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: number 6

Sad. He will be missed.


22 Dec 04 - 07:19 PM (#1363635)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Brakn

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.


22 Dec 04 - 09:28 PM (#1363683)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: michaelr

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


23 Dec 04 - 03:17 AM (#1363818)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: fat B****rd

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.


23 Dec 04 - 03:44 AM (#1363825)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Splott Man

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.


23 Dec 04 - 08:37 AM (#1364013)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: GUEST,T-boy

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


23 Dec 04 - 11:09 AM (#1364137)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Flash Company

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


23 Dec 04 - 11:28 AM (#1364159)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Nick

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)


23 Dec 04 - 12:24 PM (#1364210)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Hand-Pulled Boy

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


23 Dec 04 - 04:45 PM (#1364415)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: fat B****rd

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


17 Dec 11 - 08:32 AM (#3275401)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith (2004)
From: Dave Sutherland

Seven years ago today.
Never forgotten.


17 Dec 11 - 09:47 AM (#3275429)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: GUEST,David E.

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.


17 Dec 11 - 10:22 AM (#3275447)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: GUEST,John James

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.


17 Dec 11 - 12:11 PM (#3275492)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: GUEST,Arthur Heckstall-Smith

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


04 Sep 15 - 07:14 PM (#3735444)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: GUEST,GUEST, Daisy Morant

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.


05 Sep 15 - 02:15 AM (#3735501)
Subject: RE: Obit. Dick Heckstall -Smith
From: Waddon Pete

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

RIP

Peter