Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: Sailargh
Date: 04 Oct 10 - 06:06 PM

I met Warren and Thelma in May, four Cascadia ECD weekends ago. He was the sound engineer and I had the apparent temerity (other's sucking of breath when this mentioned, nothing from Warren of course) to mention I had some difficulty understanding the caller. After suggesting he'd make an adjustment he also checked back a dance later while walking the hall, something not all sound folks engage in, to ask if it had improved.

We had some fun techie chat later and so it started, finding out over time how so plugged-in (sorry) he was to so much of the worthwhile regional events of social and cultural interest. It was more like in a way he connected so many of them.

I'm so glad, for both of us, I took time a year ago to tell him how much I enjoyed his presence.

Receiving this news was such a shock. A great number of us had so recently had the pleasure of each other's company just the weekend before at the Chehalis Contra Dance camp, 17-19 Sep 2010.

In the Rock Medley video you may find Warren in the near line a few times, larger than life, tie-dyed.

I agree with Karen, and so many of you.

I miss him. I know Thelma will as well.

John ('JD')
Victoria, BC

PS obit posted Friday last in the Seattle Times. 01 Oct 2010.
Centrum's post

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: GUEST,Tracy Schwarz and Ginny Hawker
Date: 04 Oct 10 - 02:14 PM

This has been a shock to both of us. We extend our condolences to his family and loved ones.
I have many enjoyable memories of Warren starting with a wild week at Pinewoods where he helped me launch my mid-life crisis with a bang and continuing on years later with Fiddle Tunes where he was the current director. You don't ever forget a person like him.

May you be at peace, Warren.

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Oct 10 - 07:56 PM

I met Warren in the early 70s and we have been dear friend since. We had lunch together on the day he died. He was just the vibrant and fun loving Warren. We were neighbors at The Gravel Pit in Paradise Lake in the 70s. A commune filled with his now old friends. Almost every evening was filled with string band jams around the woodstove. What a dandy way to end a day. And the outpouring everywhere northwest a dandy way to end a life filled with love and compassion and music. I called Warren the bear with the heart of gold. Often his heart was so engorged with love of life and friends that it would just overwhelm him. Tears of Love. My favorite image of Warren is when he would become so involved with expressing his passions that his face would turn red and the spit would fly when he talked. It still amazes me that I never got wet. The man had a way about him that was as gentle as the breeze yet as overwhelming as the whirl wind.   

To Warren, we end with an early quote. "Give me one of everything you got and too much of it please."

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: Martha Burns
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 12:46 PM

Refresh.

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: iancarterb
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 09:29 AM

There will be an evening of some of Warren's tunes and some tunes that Warren loved at a Lake City dance (a Seattle neighborhood, for the information of those of you who live away from the center of the Universe:), a dance that Warren would have been calling. The message that follows is from the band, Cathie Whitesides, WB Reid, and Laurie Andres. I will miss this, but not as much as the intermittent encounters with Warren over 40 plus years, starting in Berkeley in 1968. Carter-
   The message-
Tunes for Thursday, September 30th Lake City Dance
In celebration of Warren Argo, Nov 4, 1942 - Sept 27, 2010
Warren Argo was scheduled to call this dance with The Rhythm Rollers, so please come join in the open band.
The band's pay will be donated to something Warren related, once we figure that out.

Here's the tune list so far...suggestions of tunes connected to Wargo welcome.
Argo's Reel (by McQuillen) / Miller's Reel
Camp Pleasant Jig (by Roy Marshall) / Sweeping the Town (reel)
The Wise Maid / Teatotaller's
Scotty O'Neil / Spring Song (both by McQuillen)
Ebeneezer / Yellow Rose Of Texas
Murray River Jig / Walking The Floor
Quindaro / Dominion Reel
Peeler Creek Waltz
Tears of Love (composed by Warren Argo)

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: GUEST,Diane Brown
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 10:14 PM

If you have access to Facebook you should see the memories that just keep coming.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Warren-Argo/142176245826504?ref=ts

Amazing --a wonderful tribute to a well loved wonderful guy and friend

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 06:57 PM

I also knew Warren from Pinewoods, and his sweetie, Thelma. My heart goes out to her right now, as I had a similar loss 7 years ago next week. What a shock- Warren was a shining light.

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 06:26 PM

Warren was -- is -- one of the most widely loved, joyous spirits I've ever known.

Karen Millyard, Toronto

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: GUEST,Rick Chinn
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 02:30 PM

I knew Warren as another sound guy, and as a musician, thru my dealings with Folklife, Centrum, and Sage Arts. Warren was a true rennaissance man, a master of many, many, disparate arts and disciplines, and a keeper of the arcane. His vast knowledge of so many different things was just one of his stars, and his willingness to share this with anyone who came in contact with him is and will be his legacy.

I will miss him a great deal. Fortunately, I can still hear his laugh in the echoes of my mind. Here's to you, Warren. Ya Done Good!

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: GUEST,Tom Mittelbronn
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 12:02 PM

I'll always remember Warren as I have for the past thirty years, with affection and deep respect.

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: KT
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 02:19 AM

Warren....   

I'm so sad. As another who loved him said, "That guy filled the room before he even walked in the door."   So true. He is sorely missed already.

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: Genie
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 12:46 AM

Glad you started this thread, Martha. I just found about Warren's death via Bernice Maslan, of the Klezmer jam and Klezmer Red Hots in Seattle. This is a great loss to the Puget Sound folk music community.

My condolences to Warren's friends and family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: RTim
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 11:01 PM

I knew Warren from being at Pinewoods together.
A great guy, great musician and sound man, all round nice guy that you loved spending time with.
He will be missed by many.

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 10:41 PM

There's a Facebook page up for remembrances, here.

I never met him, though I've seen his name about for a long time. By all accounts a great loss to the community. My sympathies to his family and many friends.

~ Becky Nankivell

Subject: Obit: Warren Argo, d. September 27, 2010
From: Martha Burns
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 08:51 PM

Warren Argo died unexpectedly on Monday, September 27 from a massive heart attack.
    I knew Warren as a mainstay of the old-time music scene when I lived in Seattle for a period from 1979-1980. Warren played fiddle and banjo, called dances, and ran sound. His group the Gypsy Gippo Stringband, with Warren, Sandy Bradley, Jack Link, Bob Naess and Jerry Mitchell, had toured nationally in the late seventies.
   I remember Warren as an outgoing and very likable person, warm, welcoming, and always ready for fun. He was a force behind the weekly dances at the G-Note Tavern, too, as I recall -- major events in Seattle, then.
    I haven't seen Warren since those days, but postings on FaceBook and on other music forums today suggest that he was still very active, and still deeply loved.
    There's a wonderful video interview with Warren, relating the history of the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes -- or "Fiddle Tunes," for short -- held annually in Port Townsend, Washington. That's right here. .
    Would love to read notices from others who knew Warren more recently. In the meantime, here's condolences to his friends in Seattle and on the West Coast, generally, who will bear his loss the hardest, no doubt.