I got chatting yesterday to a customer in the guitar shop where i teach who, it turns out had lessons from the same guy i went to when i was about 15. It was really interesting as the guy, an old jazz dude had quite an impact on me not so much from the point of view of actual learning or playing but from the fact that he turned me on to 2 of my favourite guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughan and Wes Montgomery and although at the time i didnt see any relevance to his teaching as i was young and stupid somehow it all sunk in somewhere.
What he also did was start the process of me seeking out recordings by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Django Reindhart among others. At the time i could only see Guns N Roses and that sort of stuff but later on i took what he had showed me and it pretty much moulded what i listen to now and what i take my influence from as a guitar player.
Anyway, i always knew even way back then the he was not very well, he smoked a lot and was an alcoholic not to mention having had cancer. He was also probably in his late fifties at that time which would have made him nearly 80 now. I thought many times about popping in to see him and say hi but never got round to it for one reason or another and during the conversation with the guy in the shop he told me that he had died a while back.
It hit me harder than i thought it would have to be honest as i had lessons on and off with him for only about 2-3 years and we are talking nearly 20 years ago but the more i thought about the impact he had on me the sadder i got, and felt guilty that i had been too caught up the last few years to get my act together and go and pay him a visit.
The thing was that i knew a couple of other people at the time that had lessons with him too and they always said i was his golden boy and that he would often talk about me to them and i just regret that i missed the opportunity to see him and say "thanks dude, i'm really greatful for the knowledge you gave me" and also for him to know that it didnt go to waste as i'm now a full time guitar tutor.
The point of this post was that when i told my wife my thoughts she said that i shouldnt worry as he would know and would probably be watching down on me and maybe even had something to do with the success i've had in making the leap to full time teaching. Now i know that my wife being a spiritualist would say these things but i have never believed it all very much myself, i suppose i have never had to give it any thought as i havent been confronted with the type of feelings i had when i heard he had died, people i've known who have died have always gone on the right terms so to speak, there have never been things left.
I just wondered what others thoughts were on this subject of people watching over us from the afterlife or whatever
Anyway, rest in peace Brian Smith
What he also did was start the process of me seeking out recordings by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Django Reindhart among others. At the time i could only see Guns N Roses and that sort of stuff but later on i took what he had showed me and it pretty much moulded what i listen to now and what i take my influence from as a guitar player.
Anyway, i always knew even way back then the he was not very well, he smoked a lot and was an alcoholic not to mention having had cancer. He was also probably in his late fifties at that time which would have made him nearly 80 now. I thought many times about popping in to see him and say hi but never got round to it for one reason or another and during the conversation with the guy in the shop he told me that he had died a while back.
It hit me harder than i thought it would have to be honest as i had lessons on and off with him for only about 2-3 years and we are talking nearly 20 years ago but the more i thought about the impact he had on me the sadder i got, and felt guilty that i had been too caught up the last few years to get my act together and go and pay him a visit.
The thing was that i knew a couple of other people at the time that had lessons with him too and they always said i was his golden boy and that he would often talk about me to them and i just regret that i missed the opportunity to see him and say "thanks dude, i'm really greatful for the knowledge you gave me" and also for him to know that it didnt go to waste as i'm now a full time guitar tutor.
The point of this post was that when i told my wife my thoughts she said that i shouldnt worry as he would know and would probably be watching down on me and maybe even had something to do with the success i've had in making the leap to full time teaching. Now i know that my wife being a spiritualist would say these things but i have never believed it all very much myself, i suppose i have never had to give it any thought as i havent been confronted with the type of feelings i had when i heard he had died, people i've known who have died have always gone on the right terms so to speak, there have never been things left.
I just wondered what others thoughts were on this subject of people watching over us from the afterlife or whatever
Anyway, rest in peace Brian Smith
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
Respect to the guy.
I don't know about the afterlife. But the best way to honor someone who impacted you is to try to impact others in the same way, which it sounds like you're already doing. If he is watching down, then he knows and I'm sure he's proud. If not, then it doesn't matter and all you have is what's here, so make the most of it and pay it forward. Which, again, you're already doing. So I don't think you have anything to worry about.
I have a bass, but I don't really think I'd call what I do "playing" it. I'd like to take lessons some day, when I have the time/money.