Dan Hicks goone, sad to say

He was an one of a kind! Sorry to hear that he's gone..., posted on February 6, 2016 at 13:49:57
BillyBenBilly Audiophile Posts: 1425 Location: New Mexico Joined: July 31, 2003	My condolences to his family, friends and fans. If you check out his website, there's a beautiful message from his wife.

RE: Dan Hicks goone, sad to say, posted on February 6, 2016 at 14:50:57

ASHRA
Audiophile

Posts: 4141
Location: Philly
Joined: March 28, 2004

What a year, to lose so many talented one of a kind artists. Thanks for the fun music Dan.

Still spinnin'...

;^(

RE: Dan Hicks goone, sad to say, posted on February 6, 2016 at 15:01:37
Tre' Industry Professional Posts: 17302 Location: So. Cal. Joined: February 9, 2002	. Have Fun and Enjoy the Music "Still Working the Problem"

RE: Dan Hicks goone, sad to say, posted on February 6, 2016 at 16:12:10
tubav Audiophile Posts: 549 Joined: March 21, 2009	Saw him live at the Fair Park Bandshell in Dallas in the summer of 1972. He was fronting Cheech and Chong. That was some crazy concert.

RE: Dan Hicks goone, sad to say, posted on February 6, 2016 at 16:48:51

tlea
Audiophile

Posts: 584
Location: New Orleans
Joined: January 20, 2002
Contributor
Since: October 29, 2006

"Where's the Money" is one of those I still drag out and play for those who come at me with groups like Avett Bros or Lumineers that seem to think all-acoustic bands are new or unique. Ironic, given that Dan started his career as a drummer. But his guitar playing was always rhythmic and percussive.

I first saw the Hot Licks at Vanderbilt Univ in '71 opening for someone I can't remember, which speaks to who impressed and who didn't. The gypsy-jazz arrangements and swinging precision were something of a revelation to those of us coming from a blues/rock perspective, but we saw the beauty. When I lived in San Fran in the '80s I used to venture across the Golden Gate occasionally to see Dan in a small club with or without the Acoustic Warriors, partly because you could never be sure who might show up to sit in - maybe Tom Waits, Rickie Lee, or David Grisman? A couple of years ago I bought his Christmas record, which was wry and witty as expected, but for the first time I could hear a tired resoluteness in his voice that felt portentous.

To state the obvious, his music will live on.

. . . in theory, practice and theory are the same; in practice, they are different . . .

gone, sad to say..., posted on February 6, 2016 at 18:15:09
hifitommy Audiophile Posts: 15387 Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny Joined: June 9, 2000	listen to some of the other youtube entries for more appreciation. http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/messages/112/1126487.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Ef58bIN4Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK505n81mlY ...regards...tr

RE: Dan Hicks goone, sad to say, posted on February 7, 2016 at 07:51:58
Douger Audiophile Posts: 745 Location: Nebraska Joined: January 2, 2001	I always enjoyed his music too! Sincere condolences!

Dan Hicks - funny story, posted on February 8, 2016 at 21:27:16

JazzDude
Audiophile

Posts: 368
Joined: July 30, 2002

Hifitommy, thank you for mentioning this. And ASHRA, thank you again for spending time to create the touching montage of album covers. This was sad news.

Dan must have been a rascal. Some years ago a good friend was the program director of a jazz radio station in Buffalo. (Yes, Hifitommy I am also from Buffalo.) One of his duties was to broadcast live concerts (simulcasts) performed by well-known (mostly jazz) musicians when they gigged in town. Probably in the 1980s and quite early in his career, my friend went to simulcast a Maria Muldaur concert. Maria agreed to the simulcast if her opening act, which was Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, was also broadcast.

Dan lead off the simulcast. Apparently this was a good show with a receptive audience and Dan must have been buzzed. Between 2 songs, he rapped to the audience about how much he enjoyed performing in Buffalo and kept mentioning how awesome the audience was. Then he included this punch line, "You are so wonderful and special, I love you all so much that me and my guitar player Turtle are going to come out there and give each of you a BJ." (Though instead of BJ Dan stated the full expression!) As there was no tape delay there was no way to censor the stage rap. My buddy was worried he'd get fired. Thank goodness that did not happen.

I heard about this incident years later when I lived near Mill Valley, CA where Dan lived, and Maria too. I'd see him occasionally cruising in town in his vintage Cadillac boat. I always wanted to ask him if he remembered that Buffalo gig. One day he was walking out of Mill Valley Music (a worthwile-to-go-to record store) while I was looking for parking but was unable to catch up to him.

I only saw him perform once at one of The Christmas Jug Band gigs. This was a collective of well-known Bay area musicians. With such talent, including Dan sharing in the singing and guitar picking, everything they performed was the bomb. Van's daughter Shana Morrison sang a few tunes. Appropriately she sang the rocking encore which was Van's "Gloria" with lyrics twisted in a seasonal way. A memorable gig. I wish I had heard Dan Hicks perform again.

GREAT funny story, posted on February 9, 2016 at 01:27:02
hifitommy Audiophile Posts: 15387 Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny Joined: June 9, 2000	yup, dan was a real joker. when i was in the process of making up my mind to leave my EX, words in one of his songs he the nail, "the little things you DON'T pick up, like a RINGING telephone" struck the right chord with me. just as Michael Franks' line from the tune-in the eye of the storm: "and i hear from my EX, on the back of my CHECKS" did likewise. ...regards...tr

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Dan Hicks goone, sad to say

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