Brevard Live March 2007 - 2 - Brevard Live March 2007 Brevard Live March 2007 - - Brevard Live March 2007 Brevard Live March 2007 - - Brevard Live March 2007 Marchletters 4, 1953 - August 20, 2005 that I was simply interject- most important to me is that I said a few words for him, ing and he simply went on he was a great man and won- then played some Beatles for rapping. I eventually learned derful entertainer, completely Billy, then made some calls how to lip read from those honest and always a good and thought about what to do experiences. friend to me. I will miss next. John Goldacker Photo: Lou Schwarz Then..., when it was him... Hell... I already do !!! his turn to get on stage, he May the Buddha have mercy While watching 12 plus BILLY VAN RIPER played Jazz, or Flamingo or on his “Sole”... or should inches of snow and sleet April 28, 1955 - Jan. 9, 07 Classical music, anything but I say... May he allow him fall here in my second home the BLUES ! Only he could to play “Innovative Classic in Dalton, MA. I read the We received too many get away with that. I used to Jazz” on his stage !!! articles you publish honoring letters to print them all. But laugh to myself when Steve Gary J. Coppola, SBI Billy Van Riper. The article we wanted to share at least Miller or Thorpe would be on he wrote discussing the ”is- some of the memories: stage playing the blues and After seeing the huge sues” our generation (35 and Billy would be up there too crowds at both the View- over) grew up with was par- After receiving my playing what ever he wanted ing, and Benefit for Billy ticularly touching. I changed Brevard Live an hour ago at the same time.... I’m still Van Riper, I’m convinced my life 28 months ago and and devouring it and crying not sure what that was but it that we need a BREVARD moved to Massachussetts for the millionth time I feel for sure it wasn’t blues... but COUNTY MUSIC HALL from Florida so I could have compelled to e-mail you and somehow... it worked. Oh OF FAME. I’ve lived in an opportunity to show my say.... What a stunningly Brevard... the well runs deep Brevard since 1966. A lot of now 11 year old son the real beautiful tribute to the true here. these musicians have been fun and values Billy dis- friend we all had in Billy Van Billy jumped right in here just as long as I have. I cussed in his article. I will Riper. He touched all our when I was publishing “The feel we need to honor these make my son read Billy’s souls in different ways and it Real Paper”. His Grim Riper musicians while they are still article because kids today do is so apparent that he touched legacy started there. It was alive instead of Viewings and have too many video games, yours. Thank you from the the perfect forum for his Annual Charity Benefits after too many cable channels but bottom of my heart, we will libertarian views. I’m glad they have passed away. I’ve not enough old fashioned all miss him for the rest of that BL picked him up when never seen so many musi- values. I hope every parent our lives. Rock on Billy I closed down the RP after 24 cians at one gathering, as I that reads your magazine will Van..... Karen Sycks gruesome months. Talk about did last night, WOW! It was consider having their kids a difficult way to try to make definitely like a Hall of Fame read Billy’s article and will Any possibility Billy’s a buck. My hat’s off to you and a Who’s-Who in the take time to discuss it with columns could be put into a Heike. music scene of Brevard. them. And I hope they take special issue, book or digital Billy got pretty close Billy Rigg time to show today’s kids format linking on your site? to the edge, even for me, BL: The annual Brevard Live that friends, and old fash- I’m sure others would want a in some of those articles. Music Awards (BMA) are dedi- ioned values are ”classics”. copy of his column works. Sometimes I though that cated to honor local musicians. And like Billy Van Riper, John P. McCune some of the things he wrote classics never die. BL: We will be working on it could get me sued... so I Billy was a good friend Roland Guilarte, BJS soon! would sometimes gently of mine since the “Java The “edit” a few words in or out Hut” coffeehouse days when The photo of Billy Van ...I loved it when of what he wrote. he hosted a Jazz Jam there Riper published last month he would show up at the Man... he hated that... I never every Tuesday night when I on the cover of Brevard “Blues” jams at the Antique heard the end of it... even ran the joint. Afterwards we Live Magazine was taken by bar or wherever. He would years later... and in hind would often sit up and B.S. Paul Santa Maria at a gig in talk to me the whole time site.. he was right. Ya just all night about music and Orlando with world-famous others were playing. Being shouldn’t fuck with someone politics. He is sorely missed guitarist Larry Coryell. that it was so loud, I couldn’t else’s art. Sorry bro... I just by myself, Jennifer, and Billy was Paulie’s friend. hear a thing he was saying didn’t want to be paying law- many others. The morning I He always admired Paulie’s though, which didn’t seem to yers the rest of my life. heard the news, I was on the ability to play guitar and matter to him? I kept saying Heike... you are a brave air with my show, but sadly said he was the only person “what”... and he just kept soul... ha ha. didn’t have any of Billy’s he’d take a lesson from. talking. I guess it didn’t mat- I could go on and on material with me to play in Brevard Live Magazine ter that he couldn’t hear me about Billy but what’s the tribute, and could find none wants to thank Paul for the either. He probably thought to download. I was lost. So use of this photo. Brevard Live March 2007 - 7 letters If ever and played just about every- their contributions. Last but I’m away. Goodbye to all of there was where there is to perform in hardly least, I must also give my family, friends, and fans. a unique Central Florida. I have also a thank you to Teri Stone for Thank you for all of your opportu- made many lifelong friends her encouragement and help- support throughout the years. nity, there along the way. This move to ing to get everything sorted Brevard County will always is currently London is a sizeable enter- out here. be my home, and I look one that prise for me and I will have Saying adieu is never forward to seeing you on has been to do a lot of work when I get easy, but I will do my best my next visit to the US. You presented to me that is much there, and with quiet despera- to keep it light and to the can stay updated by visiting too exceptional to refuse. tion it will recompense. point. Music has always been www.myspace.com/mark- Although it entails my part- Belletone Records UK a bit of a divining rod for benedix or say something on ing for London to reside for a has signed me for a 2 year me. It has lured me in many the Benedix Forum at www. couple of years, it also means 2 album deal with tours and directions in my professional markbenedix.com. I have to leave the ones I a fair amount of promotion years. Even as a young boy, Mark Benedix love behind. It’s a dream throughout Europe. It will music has been a driving come true, but with a colos- be grueling, but enjoyable force in what would wake Love your magazine... sal sacrifice. to say the least. I am also in me up every day, and keep the only true sourse of info I want to thank Heike the process of finishing up me going. From beating on for Brevard County. I go and everyone at Brevard Live my 7th studio album with my desk in school to beat- hunt up your magazine each for all of their help and giv- Bobby Day producing it, and ing down record label doors, month and put them in the ing me this bit of space to say a range of different musi- it has usually drawn me to suites at the Motel I manage. goodbye (or more like - so cians helping out. Thanks to wherever it could. In this Dawn-Heather Sutton long for now). Since mov- Mike D (Black Eyed Soul), case, it has been, and will be ing from Broward County to John McGuire (Mysterioso), taking me overseas to the UK Thanks, we have got Brevard County in 1993, I Kevin McIntyre (Simone), and beyond. quite a bit of people coming have been involved in scores Andy Harrington (On Hia- In short, I will miss each in due to the write up you of bands, duos, and solo gigs tus), and everyone else for and every one of you while did! Kellie at Malabar Mo’s - Brevard Live March 2007 BREVARD LIVE page 11 page 13 page 17 Meet The Stars INDEX F E A T U R E S • BMA 2007 page 11 Fill out the nomination ballot on page 10 and support your page 16 favorite bands and musicians.