I have modified the first news heard about the loss of John Gorozdos who was a long time member of The Ships Company Chanteymen, the musical arm of the DC-area nautical reenactment unit.

Rest in peace Matey:

Brian



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I was just informed by a member of Ship's Company that John Gorozdos passed away within the last 48 hours or so (I wrote this on Wednesday evening, 8 September.) He was found at his home in Phoenix Maryland (a mile north of the Loch Raven reservoir), in his hot tub. I have no further details about the cause of death, a service or anything yet. But, I will keep you informed or you tell me if/when you know of anything more.


I know John best from the Ship's Company chantymen (SCc) with whom he had been a member since 1996. He was a helluva banjo player, great singer especially for ad-lib harmony (sometimes referred to as "pile-on" harmony ...), and one of the top 5 easiest going people I know of. Creative, gentle, highly intelligent, slow to judge, patient beyond comprehension and a perfect balance between being unassuming but able to "step up to the plate" with a right good will. He did Renaissance ornamentation to traditional Irish music on a recorder or whistle and made it sound good. At least in my opinion. And, with his knowledge of sea-songs and wild ability to do an arrangement on the bounce, he, Lea and I could con our way onto most any non-governmental tall ship we came in contact with.


His voice and instrumentation can be heard on Lea Coryell's "Cornbread and Rum," and the SCc's "Donkey Riding." He used to play with Cornucopia, but others will know if there's a recording extant.


I could go on but, so can others. I'll save it for the service (wake?). For me, there will be a John Gorozdos size hole in Nelson's Memory.


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