Obit: Ray Hicks

Subject: Obit: Ray Hicks
From: GUEST,Pinetop Slim
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 10:44 AM

I learned this morning that Ray Hicks died over the weekend of cancer. Marvelous storyteller and part of a Beech Mountain, N.C., family that has given much to American folk music and art.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Hicks
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 11:14 AM

Here is a nice bio of him: click here. I remember being fascinated by the tv program The Story of English and have the companion book. I will have to listen to it, again, sometime, to especially listen for Mr. Hicks.

I am sorry to hear of his passing. Thanks for letting us know.

RIP, Mr. Hicks and thanks for the stories,

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Hicks
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 12:34 PM

Pinetop Slim and all Ray Hicks friends and fans- He has had a long and courageous fight, and his life- in a world much in need of goodness,light,honesty,simplicity,love and humor- has been and will always be a beacon to us all, for Ray had all these things in plenty.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Hicks
From: GUEST,Hollowfox, at a different computer
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 12:37 PM

Oh, my. Well, he's stopped hurting now. My hear goes out to his wife Rosa, a real lady. (She's in that segment as well, Kat). He truly had the gift of storytelling. People used to instant gratification would enjoy a leisurely 30 minute tale in a dialect that really required them to actively listen - and they loved him for it. Jaded audience members accepted his explanation of his religious belief (Primitive Baptist) with repect.
He really did feel the love and gain strength when people turned their thoughts to him or prayed for him. And he was a real sweetie.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Hicks
From: chip a
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 01:57 PM

There is a fund which was set up a while back. You can help with expenses by sending a contribution to:

The Ray and Rosa Hicks Fund
c/o Connie Regan-Blake
P. O. Box 2898
Asheville, NC 28802

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Hicks
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 03:12 PM

There's a nice biography of Ray Hicks (UNC Press--available at CAMSCO for $13.75) and a nice recording of Ray Hicks te;lling some tales on Folk-Legacy CD-14

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Hicks
From: MAG
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 03:54 PM

He fully deserved the American Treasure status. A very, very large-framed man, he dominated a stage, even slouched down in a chair, like no one I have ever seen.

The storytelling community mourns his passing, and also that of Chuck Larkin, who also passed last week.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Hicks
From: kendall
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 06:30 PM

A master storyreller by any standard. I loved his regional dialect.
There was a character in BONNIE AND CLYDE who sounded a lot like Ray Hicks. He said "I'm buying me some flowers to take to their funeral, 'cause they done right by me."

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Hicks
From: karen k
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 11:57 PM

The Ray Hicks recording on Folk-Legacy is now on CD.

My sympathies to his family. I, too, enjoyed his tales.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Hicks
From: bbc
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 07:10 PM

I happened to be visiting Caroline when we heard the news. Their recording of Ray Hicks is on both cassette & cd & is titled, "Ray Hicks Tells 4 Jack Tales."

best,

bbc