Here's to the Music

Goodbye old friend

I learned the other day that an old friend of mine had passed away. We hadn’t been in touch for many years, and of course there is the usual guilt about that. He had been ill for some years, as I also learned. He was one of those people in your life who has an impact, with repercussions neither of us would have guessed, and I am betting he never even knew.

We met when I was maybe 20 or 21—so that’s a very long time ago. We both worked in a music store at the time. I had escaped working in an office and filing data cards. Mind numbing work. The music store was an oasis for me. There was music all the time because all of the staff were musicians. One salesman was an incredible pianist who sold a piano every time he sat down and played one for a customer. My realm was the sheet music area, which was a deep and broad library for serious musicians and music teachers. I don’t know of another like it anymore around here. This friend, Burt, was a piano mover for the store and we struck up a friendship when he told me he was a guitarist and was always concerned about protecting his hands when he moved those huge pianos into homes. I remember he wore special gloves to protect his hands, with a wrist support. It was when I commented on those that he told me about his real profession. Then I went to see his band perform and totally understood that he shouldn’t even be moving those damn pianos. He was an incredible guitarist.

Eventually I confided in him that I played guitar and sang, and had written some songs. We got together a few times to play music and I played a couple of my songs for him. Let me add here that he was a consummate gentlemen. I was newly married at the time, and Burt totally respected that. When he heard me play, he encouraged me to try some of the small coffee shops where solo musicians played locally. And even when I had no equipment to do so, he didn’t let that be a stumbling block for me and loaned me his for my first audition. It truly was his belief in me that gave me the courage to play music in public. I think I borrowed his sound equipment for a few months doing gigs until I could afford my own. Down the road I joined some bands and one road band that toured the east coast. I even had a producer for a time who wanted to promote me. My music career didn’t last more than a few years, but it is a time I cherish.

Over the years I was able to catch Burt play in one band or another, but lost track a long while ago. What I do have to remember him is a recording that he made possible of a couple of my original songs. He got the studio time and musicians to volunteer to play and played his amazing guitar on the recordings. Since it’s the holiday season, I thought I would share the one I titled The Christmas Song, that Burt plays on. Here’s to you Burt Teague. Many musicians remember you and your music and miss your sweet guitar. Rest in peace my friend. Here’s that song.