Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 2005)

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,christina ortega
Date: 17 Oct 05 - 03:24 AM

Like anybody else lucky enough to have known Sean, there are so many great stories to share. He was the king of the dry wit. Once in Denver, a bunch of us were out for dinner at a fancy Italian/opera-singing restaurant. It was a bit fancier than us po' cowboy musicians were used to in the way of dining establishments, but I think it was some special occasion that brought us there. I was sitting next to Sean and we discovered that we were both greatly unimpressed with the food we had ordered. We were a couple of disappointed chumps eating crappy food when Sean muttered to me, "Well, at least it's expensive."

But my lifelong membership in the Liz-and-Sean fan club was sealed one horribly cold, snowy day in Denver. I was moving and absolutely had to be out of my apartment that day but I'd been dreadfully sick with pneumonia and strep throat. A couple of my so-called friends reneged on their offers to help with the move because they were afraid of catching my germs. After schlepping a few boxes down three flights of stairs and outside to my truck, I thought I was going to die. I was so tired I lay on the floor of my apartment and cried. Then, unannounced, Sean and Liz showed up like angels at my door and proceeded to take over. Here were two, full-time, self-employed musicians with gigs later that week, and they were risking their good health to help out a friend in a jam. I didn't even have to ask them. They knew I needed help and they showed up. Helping a friend move is always a pain in the ass, but helping "typhoid Mary" move - in the snow!!! - well, that just beats all, folks.

I like to think that Sean left here the way he would have wanted - quick and easy, like a candle being blown out. The world is a little less bright but I think I spotted a new twinkling star in the night sky tonight.

La paz del Senor sea siempre contigo, mi hermano.

Besos,
Christina Ortega

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,Dakota Dave Hull
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 03:20 PM

I'm just back from Sean's funeral and memorial concert in Denver. It's so good to know how many wonderful friends Sean had out there. I think we gave him a pretty good sendoff. It was a hard weekend (I only lost it fifty or sixty times) but the concert was great and I think he was floating around in back somewhere taking it all in. We'll be doing another memorial concert, this time in Minneapolis at the Cedar Cultural Center on Thursday, October 27th at 7:00 P.M. Please join us there if you can and celebrate Sean's life.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,George Welling
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 06:09 PM

I was honored to be with the party that returned Sean's ashes to the earth and sky on South Table mountain where he loved to ride. It was also a priveledge to be able to grieve with so many of the people who knew and loved him. The memorial concert featured tunes and poems written for Sean and some never-before-seen-outside-Wyoming TV footage of Liz and Sean at their finest. I laughed. I cried. I wish I could be with you in Minneapolis. GW

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 06:12 PM

http://www.canonvillein.com/blackburn/

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,Susan Smentek
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 11:35 PM

"Dream a Little Dream of Me", Sean, I will of you. Goodnight sweet guitar-cowboy. Love, Susan

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,Marv and Kathy Reitz
Date: 19 Oct 05 - 10:37 PM

We are trying to recover from the trip to Denver to honor Sean with his family and friends. Music, including all the old wonderful songs was mixed with tears and laughter, sometimes at the same time--quite tough. We wouldn't have missed it for anything. It was our honor to sing and play at the memorial concert and make the sad trek up Table Mountain, a place we had previously enjoyed on horseback with Sean. "The song has ended, but the melody lingers on ..."

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: katerose
Date: 22 Oct 05 - 06:12 PM

I saw Sean for many years at Augusta, and can hardly believe I won't see him there again. He was the funniest guy I ever met, but also gentle and kind. So many people will miss you, Sean! I hope there are horses in Heaven.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,melinda m.
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 03:09 PM

Well, I am still having a hard time believing Sean is really gone. The memorial concert on 10/27 in Minneapolis was truly something special. The array of talent on the stage was stunning; the house was packed; the event went more smoothly than anyone had a right to expect; and it was beautiful. Huge thanks to Pop and Dave and all who helped organize it and contributed their talents. I have seen lots of memorials and benefits but I have never seen one like that before. The only thing wrong was the fact that there were those huge holes - where Sean and Steve and others should have been.

I wonder if Sean knew how many people he touched? Close to 20 years after he moved away from the Twin Cities and it's like it was yesterday, the response was overwhelming. I hope he knew. I hope he's pleased.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 10:51 PM

goodbye friend

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,George Traugott - Blind Moose Revue
Date: 08 Nov 05 - 01:13 PM

Sean was a pal, a mentor, an inspiration. We worked and played together at the 400. He, Peter O and Dakotey were the band for my riverboat wedding celebration 25 years ago.

Sean, the Mooses will miss you, but you'll be there in our hearts and songs forever.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,Luke Bellville
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 10:47 PM

While I opened up the bookmarks on the computer at home I noticed my sister KT had placed www.seanblackburn.com there. Wow I thought - check it out - I listened to some wonderful singing, and now find that all of you have already spoken any words I'd like to say - save that life is truly a strange place and that I think I am confused about it all. I suppose I shall not worry about much anymore, there is too much fun to be had.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,Nancy Thorwardson
Date: 14 Nov 05 - 02:57 PM

This is Nancy Thorwardson, long-time friend, fan, and cohort of Sean's. What can I say? We are so very lucky to have had him in our lives when we did, even though the ride ended way too soon. His presence is so strong; it just seems like he's going to come around the corner any minute now, and his many bits of wisdom linger in the air. We miss him more than words can say.

At the University where Sean worked, we have created a memorial website to honor and celebrate his life and the many wonderful things about him. Please visit and tell your friends about www.seanblackburn.com. Please also let us know if you have or know of things to add (there is a "contact" link on the site); we know that our perspective is centered on the last few years, so we do invite you to participate and contribute.

Peace be with all of us and especially our dear pal…
--Nancy

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,Tom Cunningham
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 11:42 AM

I just found out about Sean's passing. I sure will miss him in West Virginia. Swing Week won't be the same without him. He always had a pleasant word for me, and he always impressed me as a performer and joker. I can just see him explaining his decision to drive through a fence so that he could die in a field, instead of on a road.

Subject: THE MAN IN THE MOON...MINNEAPOLIS
From: GUEST,Warren Hanson
Date: 05 Feb 06 - 05:39 PM

Here in Minneapolis, I recall one night in the 1970's at a backyard party of musicians and other folk, near the Mississipi River, with a full September moon, when during a lull in conversation and jokes around a small backyard bonfire, Sean, standing on the edge of the circle wearing his guitar and hat, broke into "Shine on Harvest Moon" (with the moon directly above his head) and transported us into blissful be-here-now, this-is-perfect existence. I liked his work before, but that night I became a fan of his music and persona and cowboy ways.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 05)
From: GUEST,melinda
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 07:24 AM

To Sean's many friends and family members - my thoughts are with you today as I reflect on and celebrate his life. I know he is in all of our hearts. Peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 2005)
From: GUEST,Bobbi (Barb) Marston
Date: 26 Feb 07 - 01:28 AM

I've been out of the circle for some time and just last week learned of Sean, Steve, Dean, and Jane Kopiska. Man, this bites. I'm thinking somebody must have whacked my chest with a baseball bat when I wasn't looking. Anybody want to chat about old Extemp times and do some mutual grieving, I'm good at crying.
Click here for Bobbi's email It's been 37 years since I met Sean, and I adore him as much yet as that first "Hi!" and smile and hug. I am so thankful to have been in his life and he in mine. What a fortunate once-in-a-lifetime blessing. I've also posted a silly Steve-Goes-Camping story on my website. At the time it happened, Sean got a real kick out of our mutual well-deserved trauma. Of course, it wasn't all that tough to tickle Sean's funny bone and provoke a droll side-splitting one-liner. Click here and again on the music link on the notarynut home page I did a keyword check today and noticed 235 people searched Sean's name in January via just one search engine. Amazing how many of us are in agony over his loss. Steve also has left a huge hole in my heart, yet another 37-year gouge that will never be filled. :-(

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 2005)
From: GUEST,Rolf - Minneapolis
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 01:47 AM

I just heard the news of Sean Blackburn's death and am so very sorry to hear about this. I remember seeing Sean and Dakota Dave Hull playing in the 70's in Minneapolis and always enjoyed their music together. I recently figured out how to digitize my old albums and copied North by Southwest onto my computer and iPod. It was great to be able to listen to all my old favorites again....and did a search on ebay to see if they had any other albums. I found River of Swing and bought it right away. I copied it tonight and was enjoying the music when I thought I would google Sean and Dave to see if they were still playing together.

...I too feel like I was punched in the stomach tonight to hear the news. I treasure the memories of his music, and always wished I could grow a mustache.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 2005)
From: GUEST,Sam Blackburn
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 05:42 PM

Nearly two years have passed and the feeling of loss is still so strong.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 2005)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 11:30 PM

I used to work with Sean at the 400 bar in mpls,what a fun guy. Tought this young guy what smilling was about.                        love steve

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 2005)
From: GUEST,John Fern
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 11:51 AM

It was only in the past year that I learned of Sean's passing. I was in high school when I first heard some of his radio interviews and performances on a station that was anything but mainstream. Sean was a BIG influence on my own singing and playing, and I learned as many of his songs as I could to entertain my own freinds and family.
Later when he teamed up with Dakota Dave, I got the album "Ace Pickin' and Sweet Harmony," and learned many of those songs that my brother, Joe, and I would sing together attempting the harmony of Sean and Dave.
I had lost that album and many others in a flood some time ago, but Jani was kind enough to send me a copy on CD. Since I'm into the Youtube videos now, I did a version (with Dave's permission) of "The Old Campaigns," and posted it back in September.
I always wanted to do a version of "When You Go," and finally put together a video with that song also. It will soon be up on Youtube, and even though it started out as a cover song, I added some of Sean's audio and video to make it more of a tribute to Sean.
My Youtube user name is johnfern99 if you want to check it out.
Thanks.

Subject: John Fern's Production on You Tube
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 03:45 PM

Thank you John - the video was very nice, thank you.


                Luke Bellville

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 2005)
From: GUEST,melinda
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 11:08 AM

Happy birthday, Sean. We all love you.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 2005)
From: GUEST,kate little
Date: 21 Mar 09 - 10:24 PM

i know i never really got around to saying this but i always kinda thought of you as my i dunno godfather i guess would be the word. I seem to have misplaced the tape we always used to listen to raodtrips.. you know the ghost riders in the sky, the song about the mexican maiden, anyway the best substitute i could find was marty robbins gunfighter ballads but it just doesnt cut it. I miss you voice. I miss hearing you wistle i miss eating breakfast with you, black coffee always black coffee. i remember one christmas in there when you sang Oh Holy Night and hushed the crowd, flled the church and made it seem like there was nothing and everything that existed a voice that didnt hesitate to prevail. a genius at his craft. I started playng guitar finally about a year ago andreally took a liking to that epiphone of yours, mom wont let me take it off to college though... figures. but ill find something to play. I love you sean, i dont think i told you that enough so im sayin it now. I love you sean youll always be a part of my family, thanks for a being a great childhood hero.
yours truly
kate

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 2005)
From: GUEST,dave u
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 10:50 PM

you are one of the very few that i think about now and then. I have some great memories. and i miss you. your friend ...

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 2005)
From: GUEST,John Fern
Date: 13 Dec 09 - 12:41 PM

Wanted to post another one of Sean's songs from "Ace Pickin' and Sweet Harmony" an album I will never get tired of listening to.
It's a live version from when I was playing at a farmer's market this past fall. It's "Jingle in my Jeans," so check it out if ya want, and I hope you like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEamvRnNKts

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Blackburn (Sept 2005)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 11:23 PM

Oldie but REALLY a GOODIE !!_____Sean and David Hughes on the "Live at The Extemp" album is still stunning and beautiful. I listen to it often. Miss him from my days at the U of Minn in the early seventies....