[Trombone-l] Shelly Manne's Eulogy to Stan Kenton

[Bill Dinwiddie]

      A friend sent me this. I thought it was apropos.



       Tomorrow marks the birthdate of arguably one of the finest drummers 
to ever grace
       the Kenton drum chair Shelly Manne.Not just a giant with the Jazz 
Band, but to propel
       the "Innovations" Orchestra must have been almost beyond endurance 
some nights.


       And then all those sensational dates as a freelancer after leaving 
Kenton + those
       wonderful Contemporary Records of Shelly Manne & His Men.


       And when Kenton passed away, who can forget Manne's oh so poignant 
eulogy to Stan.




       He was a friend to all musicians


       He was like a father


       He was like a psychiatrist


       He was the guy next to you on the bus


       He ate the same lousy food you did at a rest stop


       He waited  with you for the room to be made up at the hotel after 300 
miles of road


       He was the guy that taught you to make the job at any cost


       He taught you responsibility


       He was the guy who braved the elements in shirtsleeves


       He was the guy who was first to fix a flat tire in the rain


       He was the guy in K.C. who held a busted water pipe with his   hands, 
to keep clothes and music from getting ruined until help came.


       He was understanding to wives on the road


       He was a dedicated musician, composer, arranger


       He was a developer of talent


       He wrote to show off the ability of all his men


       He treated all equal


       He remembered everyone's name, fan and musician alike


       He could go without sleep for days


       He was loyal


       He was dynamic


       He was vital


       He would lift his arms and make you want to play


       He would laugh at himself


       He could reach a whole audience with a smile


       He could enter a room and you would know he was there without looking


       He invented charisma


       He was an innovator


       He was a gambler with music


       He was an explorer


       He was a living monument to music


       He was a great educator


       He was loved by all


       He was a friend to all


       He was indestructible, Stan Kenton is dead


       He will never be forgotten, and we will miss him


      Shelly Manne

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      Forwarded by Bill Dinwiddie
      billdin at comcast.net