I have no idea how to express what I am feeling, so I’m just going to start typing. But first, I’ll upload these 14 seconds of the last time I heard my good friend Randy Clamons play the guitar, from May 11, 2019.
I met Randy in 2008 at Jorma Kaukonen‘s Fur Peace Ranch up in rural Ohio, the same weekend I met Thomas Callahan (who now plays bass in my band). The three of us had figured out we were the “Deadheads” on the ranch pretty quickly, and formed a trio to perform a few songs on our final day there.
Randy’s introduction to the crowd was unforgettable:
“We got to talking, and figured that since Thom plays bass in a Grateful Dead cover band, and I play guitar in a Grateful Dead cover band, it would only make sense for us to play a song by Bob Dylan.”
I loved that guy immediately. He loves the same music I do, he plays a mean guitar… And he’s weird! The good weird. I love me some good weird.
Flashing forward 11 years to today… The Reckless Saints just got back from a month-long tour out west, with a week off in the middle. Randy had seen our schedule and knew that “time off” when you’re on the road is a killer, so he’d instructed us to head to Tucson and he would find us a gig. True to his word, he got us a spot at The Hut, where we’d shared shows with him in the past (both full sets and “tweeners” with his band Top Dead Center). The trio version of TDC kicked off the show, which included Randy’s son Ray on drums.
Thom and Randy had not seen each other since the weekend we’d met in 2008, and Randy’s health had been declining for some time… Though Tucson was not exactly on our path, we knew we had to go. Without saying it, I think we all knew we might not get a chance to all get together again. Kim, Thom and I invited Randy up to play a couple with us at The Hut, and I will always be glad we were able to “get the band back together” one more time. We spent a very enjoyable and relaxing week off in Tucson with Randy and his incredible wife, Abby, as well as our good friends John and Sandy. We’ll all remember our last visit together fondly.
We lost Randy this morning as the result of a stroke. Abby says he went peacefully, quietly, and without drugs in his system or tubes all in his body. I am sad for me and for all his family and friends, but happy for Randy. He’s been sick for a long time, and he was damn sick of being sick.
Bon voyage, brother. Thanks so much for your vibe, your smile and everything you’ve given to the advancement of good music.
“There is a road
No simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go
No one may follow
That path is for your steps alone”
~Robert Hunter
