sad news...

I just received some sad news indeed. Keyboard wizard Richard Bell passed away today. This guy was Canadian, and every bit the equal of the legendary Garth Hudson in adding "honey" to the tracks he worked on. I saw him a little while ago playing with the Pork Belly Futures with Paul Quarrington and Danny Weis. They opened a reading by Ian Rankin (creator of the Rebus series), and quite rocked the Scottish Rite. Bell had been a member of the electric Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, he had filled Richard Manuel's considerable shoes in The Band for a while, he formed part of Janis Joplin's Full Tilt Boogie Band, but I think the track that really opened my eyes to his talents was on the long piano introduction he added to King Biscuit Boy's "Playhouse"! Awesome! Richard...we'll miss you!

Listening to some Marvin Gaye right now, getting ready for the weekend. Happy Father's Day to all the Pops out there!