Red Shea has died-June 2008

[vlmagee]

I just heard from a friend that Red passed away yesterday, suddenly. I don't know anything more.

[charlene]

very sad to hear..

[Yuri]

Very sad indeed Val. Will be looking out for further news.

[Jesse Joe]

Another great guitarist gone. This is very sad indeed. No one can ever play the guitar parts on those early Lightfoot LP's, the way Red Shea mastered them.

[jj]

a bit more from the Lightfoot site:

http://www.lightfoot.ca/redobit.htm

my sympathies to his son in law, other family listed, to Gord and friends

perhaps of little consolation at present but I am glad to hear his musical genes live on and that he did make a contribution to Gord's 'final' album

the last photo I saw of Red was from years ago in this 2001 Sounding Board article exerpt

thanks for the post, Valerie

[podunklander]

So sad to learn of this

[fezo]

Oh, I am very sorry to hear this. Was lucky enough to have seen gord when Red was still touring. I treasure the memory.

[joveski]

i loved the way he had an effortless look on his face while playing those complicated guitar parts from what i've seen on youtube... R.I.P Red

[joveski]

i loved the way he had an effortless look on his face while playing those complicated guitar parts from what i've seen on youtube... R.I.P Red

[Borderstone]

Although I was not born and then just a baby when the early Lightfoot albums were made,it makes it no less sad for me to hear the news.

In the past nearly 7 years,those early albums & songs have just been mesmerizing. That's certainly in no small part to Red Shea.

It's quite ironic for just two weeks ago I listened to the "The Way I Feel" album.

Rest in peace Red. Thanks for accompanying Gordon on his journey to fame.

[Melissa]

This is very sad news. I had heard that Red was in ill health, but did not know any details.

I will never forget having the opportunity to meet Red, at the May, 2005, Massey shows. It was just after the concert ended. Several of us were standing in the aisle, visiting. Red passed by us and someone called out to him. He greeted them and, with that, several others recognized him and went over to meet him. We waited our turn and did the same. I shook his hand and told him what a pleasure it was to meet him, after all these years. I thanked him for all the wonderful music. He was very gracious and appreciative. I never had the opportunity to see Gord in concert during the "Red" years, so I missed out on that. But I felt really lucky to have gotten to meet Red. Now, I'm even more grateful that I had the chance to meet Red in 2005 - and that I got to meet him right there, at Massey Hall.

What an absolute master of the guitar he was. Rest in peace, Mr. Shea.

Melissa

[Nightingale]

Melissa,
Thank You for the nice story about Red.
I love the early music and Red Shea's guitar is amazing in it...stunning and brilliant!

I am very sad to hear of his passing. My prayers for his family and friends.

[spocksbrain]

While Terry Clements seems to be the master of the understated guitar lead, Red Shea seems to have been the master of intriguing nuance. Listening to Sunday Concert, it is easy to hear why Red's playing fit so well with the three piece arrangements. The atmosphere at those shows was just right. Red's licks added a touch of sensitivity to the songs. He was an unusual player for sure.

If you listen to the Filmore show, even though the mix hides Red's playing somewhat, those songs from that era fit Red's playing style just right. When Lightfoot's style changed in the early 70s, it was time for Red to take a back seat, since his style lent itself more to the folk type of playing. Some wonderful exceptions are his electric lead on Sundown and the beautiful backing on IYCRMM. His second leads on Gord's Gold were also fantastic. While Terry was taking his place as the more subdued lead player, Red was still leaving his mark on the Lightfoot sound.

Not that I would ever compare myself to either, but both Terry and Red have had significant influence on my playing. I am quite saddened by Red's passing. Fortunately, his musical life lives on in the grooves of Lightfoot records, finely crafted, well played.

[vlmagee]

Perhaps Red's last autograph, and the story behind it:

http://blogs.townonline.com/folkbluegrass/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/gordon.jpg (http://blogs.townonline.com/folkbluegrass)

blogs.townonline.com/folkbluegrass (http://blogs.townonline.com/folkbluegrass)

For anyone here who was at my 2003 Lighthead party before the Saturday Caffe Lena gig, Mac and his wife were there, jamming with some of our own including Cathy.

[charlene]

http://www.torontostarclassifieds.com/OLCSApp/do/attribute_search_side?categoryName=DEATHS&classId=008&attri_1=shea&detail=true&sort=none&pages=10&today=true
photo link at site above.
SHEA, Red

RED SHEA Accomplished Guitarist. Passed away surrounded by family Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at the age of 70 of pancreatic cancer with a strong fight to the end. Loving husband to Lynn (Claremont) for 44 years. Devoted and loving dad to his three children Colleen (Adam), Scott (Layla) and Brett (Michelle) and loving grandpa to Reid, Brynn, Alia and Kiera, and of course Dexter their dog. A special thanks to all our friends who have supported us through this very difficult time. Visitation at Thompson Funeral Home, 530 Industrial Pkwy. S., Aurora, on Thursday from 7-9 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Bloomington Side Rd., Aurora. on Friday at 11 a.m.

[lighthead2toe]

A very sad occasion this is indeed. I was aware that Red was ill though it still comes as a shock when the reality hits home. But his legacy will live on that's for sure. It must be tough on Gord losing such a long time friend. My heartfelt condolences go out to all friends and his family. Ron Jones.

[vlmagee]

Actually the pancratic cancer was just diagnosed a few weeks ago. I think his death was sudden and unexpected. His overall health issues were not related to his death, as far as I know.

[catrinka]

My thoughts are with Red's family and his friends. It is always sad to hear such news.

Having lost my father (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ecamat/fjd.html) to pancreatic cancer, I can tell you that often it is slow-growing and usually not diagnosed until very late...and is always terminal. People with pancreatic cancer often experience "health issues" which do not get associated with the cancer until it is finally found. It is quite likely that Red had been feeling unwell for quite some time, but the doctors couldn't pinpoint the source.

I offer my heartfelt sympathies to Red's family, friends and fans.

[BILLW]

my condolences, very sad.

Bill

[Tim]

A loss of a good friend is always tough, even if it might have been somewhat expected. From Gord's standpoint, to be in the middle of a stretch of scheduled tour dates, it must be tough to break away during life events like this. However, from the media announcement I noticed that Red's memorial service will be on Friday. I think, from Gord's schedule, he has an open day on Friday. It would not surprise me that Gord will make every effort to be there, even though it's sandwiched between two appearances in the U.S. It's got to be tough on Gord, but I know he will receive as much support as possible from his caring fans.

[Calgary Dave]

Hi all. My Dad and I were very close to Red and his family. Red was my Dad's very best friend. We flew out to see Red just a couple of weeks ago. Red was laughing and joking, all the while in extreme pain. One of the last photo's of Red: My Dad on the right.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/IMG_9709.jpg

[RM]

Calgary Dave,

Do you happen to know how your father and Mr.Shea became friends ?

[Calgary Dave]

They both grew up in Prince Albert, Sask. Red was a few years younger than my Dad. They ended up meeting through mutual friends and both had a love for music. My Dad was a piano/trumpet player. They became best friends ever since. My Dad has always been a bit of an "eccentric"...often misunderstood. He always said he felt like an "alien in this world, and Red is the only one that understands me". Almost daily they would phone each other about news items, different music "riffs" they'd heard. My Dad said today "I can't even listen to music now without thinking about Red" He said "My best friend is gone...I just feel lonely now"

[RM]

He always said he felt like an "alien in this world, and Red is the only one that understands me".

That's a true friend.

Condolences to you and your father, and thanks for the insights.

[ELizabeth]

I, like so many Corfidians, feel a great sense of loss with the passing of Red Shea. GL has lost two close friends this year...sad also. It is bittersweet but wonderful that the sound of his guitar will live on in Gord's albums. His playing on the early CTR is etched in my memory. He follows John Stewart into that special place God reserves for musicians.

[jj]

thank you for what you've shared, dave...the recent photo will be treasured by all

I also love his smile in the Toronto Star photo...the very best to you & dad

[BILLW]

Thank you for sharing Dave ! Give our best to your Dad.

Bill

[Jesse Joe]

Thanks for sharing this great photo of Red and your Dad Calgary Dave.

[vlmagee]

The Toronto Star has a nice obit in today's paper here:

www.thestar.com/article/441921 (http://www.thestar.com/article/441921)

By:Greg QuillEntertainment Reporter, Published on Thu Jun 12 2008

Renowned Canadian guitarist Laurice Milton "Red" Shea, who helped define the groundbreaking musical styles of legendary Canadian folk artists Gordon Lightfoot and Ian and Sylvia Tyson and others, died Tuesday morning after being diagnosed two weeks ago with pancreatic cancer. He was 70.

A self-taught musician, Shea is noted in the Canadian Encyclopedia as one of Canada's most influential folk guitarists, along with Amos Garrett and David Rea. He played with the Good Brothers, hosted his own TV show, and was a staple on Canadian country music star Tommy Hunter's CBC-TV show.

"Red was irrepressible, he had boundless energy, and he was always ready to keep on picking when the rest of us were heading off to bed," Sylvia Tyson said.

Shea backed the Tysons in the pioneering country rock outfit Great Speckled Bird, and was musical director of the national CTV variety program, The Ian Tyson Show, in the 1970s. He also recorded with Ian in those years.

"He was the kind of guitarist I really love - inventive and rhythm-driven," Sylvia added. "And he was always telling jokes - great jokes."

Shea is universally credited with having been Lightfoot's most distinctive and original supporting player, adding his lucid filigree lead runs seamlessly into the famed singer's trademark finger-picking patterns to produce fluid, layered textures and crystal overtones that enhanced enhancing Lightfoot's recordings from 1966 through 1975. Shea was part of Lightfoot's touring band till 1971 and was an in-demand as a guitar teacher.

"He influenced so many guitarists," singer and multi-instrumentalist Bruce Good said. "He was the reason so many of us picked up guitars in the late 1960s and 70s and started fooling around with finger styles.


"(American folk-rock star) Dan Fogelberg dedicated on of his albums to Red, and the Guess Who paid tribute to him by naming him in their song `Lightfoot'."

Also an in-demand guitar teacher, Shea gave lessons "for many years" to Good's son, Travis, a member of Toronto neo-country rock band the Sadies.

"He instilled in Travis - much against his will - the importance of learning to read and playing classical styles. I can hear so much of Red in the Sadies.

"He was a unique musician, and always a student. He was always listening to other great guitarists and extending their ideas. Red was also an amazing human being, immediately likeable. He was more than a friend to us - he was like family."


Shea had a regular feature spot from the late 1970s till 1992 on the long-running country music program, The Tommy Hunter Show, ad-libbing tall stories and handing Hunter a guitar for his next song.


"His parts were never written, and we never knew what the joke was until the punch line came," Canada's "Country Gentleman" said. "He was a great and original musical stylist, but to me he was also a great television personality, a really good entertainer. He was a very happy and upbeat guy, a magnificent player and a generous teacher. He'll be sadly missed."

Shea is survived by his wife Lynn and children Colleen, Scott and Brett.

Visitation will take place at Thompson Funeral Home, 530 Industrial Pkwy. S., Aurora, Thursday from 7-9 p.m. A memorial servicewill be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Bloomington Side Rd., Aurora, Friday, at 11 a.m.


Addition: Another article:

jam.canoe.ca/Country/2008/06/11/5848181-cp.html (http://jam.canoe.ca/Country/2008/06/11/5848181-cp.html)

[Calgary Dave]

A little fact about the obit picture in the Star; they cropped it...that smile is from him holding one of his grandkids, I think it was Brynn, when she was a baby. That was a few yrs ago.

[charlene]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080612.wobitshea0612/BNStory/Entertainment/home

Red Shea, 70
Musician was Gordon Lightfoot's 'ultimate extra guitar'
SANDRA MARTIN

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

June 12, 2008 at 12:37 AM EDT

TORONTO — Musician Red Shea, who played lead guitar with Gordon Lightfoot and later with Ian and Sylvia Tyson, has died of pancreatic cancer in Aurora, Ont. Mr. Shea, whose real name was Laurice Milton Shea, was 70.

With his brother Les Shea and bassist Bill Gibbs, Mr. Shea formed the Red and Les Trio in the late 1950s. They played on Country Hoedown, a popular musical variety show that launched in 1956 and ran for nine years on CBC.

It was on Country Hoedown, in 1960, that Mr. Shea met Gordon Lightfoot, who was a member of the Singin' Swingin' Eight. Mr. Shea began playing lead guitar in The Lightfoot Band in 1965 and “was a pivotal figure” in Mr. Lightfoot's early career, according to music journalist Larry Leblanc. He appeared on many albums including, The Way I Feel, Did She Mention My Name, Sit Down Young Stranger, Summer Side of Life, Sundown, Cold on the Shoulder and Gord's Gold.

Dedicated Lightfoot fans still talk about Mr. Shea's “breathtaking” guitar solo in The Canadian Railroad Trilogy, a performance that was recorded live at Massey Hall in 1969 and released on the album, Sunday Concert.

Mr. Shea left the band in 1971, and was replaced by Terry Clements, although he returned briefly for a time in 1975.

“Red Shea was the ultimate extra guitar on Gordon Lightfoot's records and stage performances,” guitarist Randy Bachman, formerly of The Guess Who and The Bachman Turner Overdrive, said in an e-mail Wednesday. “He augmented every song with some sparkle and magic and made Gordon sound and look good.”

It was Mr. Shea, he said, who inspired him to try his hand at songwriting. “He is mentioned in the song Lightfoot which Burton Cummings and I wrote after seeing Gordon, Red and John Stockfish at a night club in Montreal back in the sixties. It was an evening of magical, all-original Canadian music and it inspired Burton and I to write our own music” he said. “Red will be missed, but remembered every time one of those songs is played on the radio,” said Mr. Bachman, who hosts Vinyl Tap on CBC Radio.

In 1972, Mr. Shea replaced guitarist David Wilcox in Great Speckled Bird, the country rock band that Ian and Sylvia Tyson had formed in 1969. The band played on the weekly show that Mr. Tyson hosted on CTV in the early 1970s and also toured with the Tysons until they broke up as a couple and an act in 1977. “He was a dear friend and I will miss him very much,” Mr. Tyson said through his manager Wednesday. “We always had a lot of laughter together in our friendship.”

His former wife, Sylvia Tyson, echoed those sentiments. “Aside from being a great player, which he certainly was, he was just great to be around,” she said. “Red always had a joke or a story or a pun or something that he would come up that would just keep things on an up level.”

Mr. Shea also played with The Good Brothers and did a long gig in the band on The Tommy Hunter Show, which had replaced Country Hoedown in 1965 and ran until 1992. “ The Tommy Hunter Show was good for him,” said Ms. Tyson. “He had found it increasingly hard to be on the road. It wore him down too much. He was basically a home guy.”

In more recent years, Mr. Shea taught guitar.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn (née Claremont), three children and four grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Aurora.

[charlene]

http://themusicsover.wordpress.com/

RIP Red Shea (June 10, 2008) Canadian Guitarist Played With Gordon Lightfoot
Posted by themusicsover on June 11, 2008

Red Shea
1938(?) - June 10, 2008

fyimusic.ca is reporting that Canadian guitar wizard, Red Shea as died:

One of Canada’s most respected guitarists, Red Shea’s inventive and often times complex finger picking held many fellow guitarists in awe. His contributions to the met as a member of the [Gordon] Lightfoot “sound” have been a source of discussion in music circles for years, many arguing that his departure from the band altered the melodic structure and fluid ensemble performance that characterized much of Lightfoot’s best work. The highly respected dobro player and guitarist passed away Tuesday, June 10, at the age of 70 of pancreatic cancer. Red first came to prominence with “Moon Boogie Twist”, an early and long out-of-print Canadian rock classic. He joined CBC TV show Music Hop in the early ‘60s, an after-school show modeled after Dick Clark’s sanitized American Bandstand. Staff announcer Alex Trebek, who also worked as the quizmaster on Reach For The Top, presided over the show (and would be replaced by an up-start disc jockey by the name of Dave Mickie). The house band was Norm Amadio and the Rhythm Rockers, comprised of Norman Amadio on piano, John Stockfish on bass, Red Shea on guitar, Don Thompson on tenor saxophone, and Alex Lazaroff on drums. Shea, with a pompadour and duck’s-ass haircut had a James Dean/juvenile delinquent look someone once said. Music Hop, originated in the period of the girl group, featured its own vocal trio, the Girlfriends, who were Diane Miller, Rhonda Silver, and Stephanie Taylor. Not long after their Music Hop gig, Shea and Stockfish took up jobs as Gordon Lightfoot’s regular backup musicians. From 1965-1970 Shea was in the famed trio that cut several timeless albums for United Artists and went on to record with Lightfoot during his even more celebrated Reprise Records era. Shea left the touring band in 1970, but continued to record with Lightfoot until 1975. He hosted his own Canadian variety show, played with Ian Tyson, and became band leader for Tommy Hunter’s TV show in the 1980s on CBC. Lightfoot met Red Shea in 1960 while they both worked on the CBC country series, Country Hoedown, LightfootSingin’ Swingin’ Eight and Shea as a member of the Red & Les Trio. The trio was made up of Red, his brother Les and bassist Bill Gibbs.

[Cathy]

I'm so sad to hear of Red's passing. He's quite possibly my favorite guitarist, and throughout my adult life, I always unsuccessfully strived to learn lead riffs. I love to put old Lightfoot tunes on the stereo and crank it and just let his guitar work echo through the house. I'm not sure how much my neighbors like it.

I was very touched to receive a letter from Red shortly after I had the aneurysm, giving me words of encouragement. I'm still in awe when I read it.

Rest in peace, Red.

Cathy
http://www.cathycowette.com

[dad2mak]

When I first started listening to Lightoot in the 60's, Red Shea was the Lightfoot sound for me. The first album I heard was "Did She Mention My Name," and I am to this day mesmerized by what he did on that song, and to this day am still unable to reproduce it.

Sheesh, I bought a Martin D-28 30 years ago and still can't make it do the things he did. I too am glad that his playing is preserved for us on albums and cd's.

Don

[vlmagee]

I just added a nice new photo to the article on Red on my web site. Take a look. I'm sure you will recognize the other two people in the photo too, but for now I left the caption just as the photographer wrote it. gordonlightfoot.com (http://www.gordonlightfoot.com)

[musky_man]

Indeed this is very sad news. Red added so much to Lightfoot's music -- he seemd to know just exactly what was needed at every turn in a song to make it really memorable.

As many of you know, my brother, Paul, was one of the 'very lucky" ones who studied with Red for about 4 years. Interestingly, they both had the same classical guitar teacher at U of T too. I can tell you that Paul thought very highly of Red and had nothing but good things to say about him; I know he will miss him a great deal.

My sincere condolences to the family for their loss -- know that it is felt by many.

Best to all Corfidians,

Mark

[lighthead2toe]

Mark, thank you so much for your post. This is a most difficult time for many of us and I know that Paul must be wounded severely. The loss of such a powerful presence that we tend to take for granted will be with us forever is just completely devastating. I didn't know Paul very well until we played together during the pub sessions although we did meet during the 2005 concerts but this time he and I had many wonderful discussions, so many shared moments that still are left unfulfilled. I know that he had a strong bond with Red because he's that kind of person. When he and I played the tunes together I could hear the sound of the Master coming through. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my lifetime. I want to share with Paul the burden of sorrow that he must be experiencing at this time together with the friends and family of Red. Sincerely, Ron Jones.

[Jesse Joe]

I'm so sad to hear of Red's passing. He's quite possibly my favorite guitarist, and throughout my adult life, I always unsuccessfully strived to learn lead riffs. I love to put old Lightfoot tunes on the stereo and crank it and just let his guitar work echo through the house. I'm not sure how much my neighbors like it.

I was very touched to receive a letter from Red shortly after I had the aneurysm, giving me words of encouragement. I'm still in awe when I read it.

Rest in peace, Red.

Cathy
http://www.cathycowette.com



Hi Cathy nice to see you post, it's been a while, (too long). Red Shea sending a letter, giving you words of encouragement... Just goes to show the "Class Act" he was.

[Yuri]

Finally the Toronto Sun acknowledges Red's passing.

June 13, 2008
Guitarist Red Shea dies
Played with Gordon Lightfoot, Ian Tyson, Tommy Hunter

http://www.torontosun.com/Entertainment/Music/2008/06/13/5865081-sun.html

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

Respected guitarist Red Shea, whose accomplished playing supported Gordon Lightfoot, Ian Tyson and Tommy Hunter, has died. He was 70.
A death notice on a newspaper website says Shea died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer.
Shea's relationship with Lightfoot began in 1960 when they met while working on the CBC-TV music series Country Hoedown.
He toured with Lightfoot from 1965 to 1970, returning briefly in 1975 and then joining Tyson's band.
Through the 1980s, Shea served as band leader for Hunter's long-running CBC-TV show.
Shea is survived by his wife Lynn, three children and four grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for today in Aurora.

[Jesse Joe]

I did not know he was the same age as Gord. He will never be forgotten, especially listening to his magical fingers playing guitar on those early Lightfoot Albums... Man they sure had a sound !

[Peter Bro10]

My condolences to Red's family.... immediate and extended.

May he rest in peace.

[charlene]

http://www.georginaadvocate.com/News/Aurora/article/76731

Red Shea one of Canada’s top guitar pickers
Aurora
Jun 14, 2008 10:30 PM

By: Simone Joseph

Aurora resident Laurice Milton Shea was a talented guitar player who had a great sense of humour and became a Jehovah’s Witness several years ago.

Mr. Shea died Tuesday in Aurora of pancreatic cancer. He was 70.

Mr. Shea moved to Aurora in 1968.

“Red” Shea played lead guitar with Gordon Lightfoot and later performed with Ian and Sylvia Tyson.

He was one of the top guitar pickers in the Canadian music industry, according to jazz pianist Norman Amadio.

Mr. Amadio met Mr. Shea in the 1960s when the two played in the house band of the TV show Music Hop, an after-school program of rock ’n’ roll and pop that aired on the CBC.

The musician’s natural talent was obvious, Mr. Amadio said.

“He could pick up (music) quickly. He was a good sight reader.”

Mr. Shea also had a great sense of humour, he said.

Someone would say, “Wow, your guitar sounds great.” Mr. Shea would rest the guitar in a chair and say, “How does it sound now?” Mr. Anadio said.

Markham resident and singer/pianist Rhonda Silver remembers being impressed by Mr. Shea’s personality. She was in a vocal trio, the Girlfriends that performed on the TV show Music Hop in the late ’60s at the same time as Mr. Shea performed on the show.

“He was a great guy. Very cheerful. I have not seen him since I was a teenager,” she said.

Dale Russell, lead guitarist for The Guess Who from 1983 to 2000, lamented what he believes was a lack of recognition of Mr. Shea’s talent.

“He was such a good player that perhaps he deserved more recognition. It is the nature of the business. In a rock band, the lead singer gets all the attention.”

Mr. Shea had a natural music ability, Mr. Russell said. He was a good, intuitive player, meaning he played more by feeling than thinking about what he was playing, he said.

While Mr. Russell never met Mr. Shea, he did see Mr. Shea play as part of Gordon Lightfoot’s band in a Winnipeg concert more than 20 years ago. Mr. Shea was mentioned in a Guess Who song called Lightfoot, but this was well before Mr. Russell joined the band.

Mr. Russell is hopeful Mr. Shea’s death will finally bring the musician the recognition he deserves.

“I would like to think people live on in their art. Maybe the old adage that people become more well-known when they pass on (is true). Maybe young people will look to do research and learn about him.”

According to one of Mr. Shea’s sons, the guitar player became a Jehovah’s Witness a few years ago. The musician was an intensely private man and the media attention his death has brought was “the last thing he would have wanted,” he said, speaking from Mr. Shea’s Aurora home Thursday evening.

Visitation was at Thompson Funeral Home in Aurora Thursday. A memorial service was held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Bloomington Sideroad in Aurora Friday.

Mr. Shea is survived by his wife, Lynn (née Claremont), three children and four grandchildren.

Some of Red’s accomplishments
• Formed the Red and Les Trio in the late 1950s, alongside his brother Les Shea and bassist Bill Gibbs. The trio played on musical variety show Country Hoedown, which launched in 1956 on the CBC.
• First met Mr. Lightfoot on the show Country Hoedown and began playing lead guitar in The Lightfoot Band in 1965.
• Left The Lightfoot Band in 1971 and returned briefly in 1975.
• Replaced guitarist David Wilcox in 1972 in Great Speckled Bird, the country rock band that Ian and Sylvia Tyson formed in 1969.
• Played with The Good Brothers.

[Yuri]

It certainly is sad that it takes a death to once again appreciate all that an individual has contributed to our world, whether musical or otherwise. I had always wondered what Red was up to in the post Lightfoot years and would only rarely hear his name mentioned.

Not having heard of John Stockfish’s demise, is anyone aware of his current whereabouts and endeavours?

[jj]

http://themusicsover.wordpress.com/
He hosted his own Canadian variety show

so this was post 1975... what was it called?

[vlmagee]

Another view of Red Shea, from his original home town:

www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=144167&sc=4 (http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=144167&sc=4)

Particularly interesting is the confirmation (although the article doesn't mention it) that the mysterious "Les Pouliot" whose songs Lightfoot recorded is indeed Red's brother.

[brink-]

Very sad to hear about Red Shea dying. He seemed to be quite a family man besides being a fantastic musician.
My condolences to his family, and the many friends he had. What a great man he was.

[JohnStinson]

Last week was a very sad week.. to hear of the passing of Red Shea. He would always help me out with my limited guitar playing. He lived very close to me here in Aurora. He'd always have a joke to tell either on the phone or when I would run into him at the grocery store or some other shop in town. My last conversation with him was about my new puppy and how he wanted me to bring him around so he could see her. He loved animals. I never did get around to show him. I can't remember what the last song we worked on.. but I think it was the guitar lick for Cold On The Shoulder sometime in March. I will miss him and think of him often. He was a very special kind person.

John

[BILLW]

Last night at the show at the Keswick I sort of expected a "moment of silence" or a song "in memory of" or something along those lines. However there was no mention. Has anything been said from the stage at any of the other recent shows ?

Bill

[charlene]

I don't think it's the Lightfoot style- there never was a mention of Barry at Massey..altho he was never far from my thoughts..

[Nightingale]

It's nice to read all the memories that his friends are left with.

Thanks for posting the pictures and obituaries....the little snippets of what he was like are nice to know. I especially like it that he loved animals and had a sense of humor...that's great to hear.

He sounds as though he was a wonderful man and gracious friend as well as an admired musician.
The world has lost another great soul....

[BILLW]

I don't think it's the Lightfoot style- there never was a mention of Barry at Massey..altho he was never far from my thoughts..

That's what I was thinking... thanks Char.

Bill

[Sundown17]

It might be emotionally too much when it's a close friend, but Gord has been known to acknowledge the passing of a well-known person.

In July 1979, Gord performed at Tanglewood in Lenox MA. It is the summer home of the Boston Orchestras. That day, Arthur Fielder, the famous conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, had died. Gord mentioned it and dedicated TWOTEF to him.

Tonight I will be at my first Gord concert since the passing of Barry and Red. There will be many thoughts of both of them.

[Bill]

I interviewed Ian Tyson back in 1992 and he said that Red taught him and Gordon a lot about playing guitar.

[lighthead2toe]

It certainly is sad that it takes a death to once again appreciate all that an individual has contributed to our world, whether musical or otherwise. I had always wondered what Red was up to in the post Lightfoot years and would only rarely hear his name mentioned.

Not having heard of John Stockfish’s demise, is anyone aware of his current whereabouts and endeavours?

Yuri, the last time I saw John Stockfish he was playing bass with Toronto singer songwriter Ron Nigrini. This would have been sometime during the late seventies or perhaps early eighties. I remember my head doing a double take when during the gig Ron said. "Now John is going to sing a song." John clearly is a much better bass player than a singer. I always thought he made a fine contribution to Gord's music though especially in "Song For A Winter's Night."
Ron Nigrini is on the calendar at Hughes Room in Toronto presently. He's a fine entertainer and a true gentleman as well. Ron J.

[charlene]

Ron Nigirini was at one of the Lightfoot trib shows at Hugh`s Room a few years back..still sounded great..

[Yuri]

Thanks Ron & Char. It's nice to know that he is still around and plucking the 'ol strings. Everyone who ever added to that Lightfoot sound holds a high place in my book.
Yuri

[banjobench12]

At a concert in detroit with John Denver, Harry Chapin and James Taylor Gord discussed the fact that Bing Crosby had passed away a day or so before. He and Denver then did a duet of Tura Lura Lura

[jj]

... the last time I saw John Stockfish he was playing bass with Toronto singer songwriter Ron Nigrini. This would have been sometime during the late seventies or perhaps early eighties..

could he still be playing with him 20 years later? ie. is this Stockfish bass on the Nigrini 2002 release? http://webhome.idirect.com/~nigrini/Sounds/bed%20of%20roses.mp3

[Robby Lake]

Hi all. My Dad and I were very close to Red and his family. Red was my Dad's very best friend. We flew out to see Red just a couple of weeks ago. Red was laughing and joking, all the while in extreme pain. One of the last photo's of Red: My Dad on the right.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/IMG_9709.jpg

Thank you so much for the picture.
I am 35 years old and Gordonlightfoot is my favorite singer/songwriter/rhthym guitarist
Guess who my favorite lead guitar player of all time is?
RED SHEA
I met Terry Clements a few years back, after a concert Gord did here in florida.
We talked and drank.He's great,humble...he was bewildered when I asked him to sign my 12 string!I love his playing,along with Doc Watson,Steve Stills,Jimmy Page,Tony Rice...
Red was and will always be the best. "May Gods' grace and love keep you safe and may you always remain...forever young."
Thank you to al who posted.
Love and be loved.
Robby Lake

[JohninCt.]

Thanks, that is great for us to see that picture. Good to know that near the end he was still in good spirits and with friends. I talked to Gordons Bass player, Rick Haynes a few days ago and he was also very saddened by Reds passing, as he also was a close friend of his. He didn't have to be playing a part in the band anymore to still be one of their family, he will always remain with them.

[johnfowles]

Another view of Red Shea, from his original home town:

www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=144167&sc=4 (http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=144167&sc=4)

Particularly interesting is the confirmation (although the article doesn't mention it) that the mysterious "Les Pouliot" whose songs Lightfoot recorded is indeed Red's brother.

Err Umm

Indeed very interesting Val.
BUT.... BUT..
the article does state:-
"National media reported his real name was Laurice Milton Shea but former local residents recall his last name being Pouliot."
Also
"Former CKBI production manager in Prince Albert Jack Cennon remembered the Pouliot family.

Cennon recalled Red's father Alf Pouliot was a photographer in Prince Albert.

He also remembers a young Red and his brother Les coming into his office one day wanting to get a start in the media business.
Red and Les formed a music group called the Red and Les Trio. Red went on with a very successful music career and Les also had great success as a television producer.
Shea's relationship with Lightfoot began in 1960 when they met while working on the CBC-TV music series "Country Hoedown......

The next thing I know Pouliot (Les) is the producer of the Tommy Hunter Show"
it prompted me to do a google and I found on:-
http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/artists/r/red-2000.htm
details of a single release by:-
Red & Les Trio
Red Shea and Les Pouliot.
after that I was astounded to read this:-
Acknowledgments: Shawn Nagy
Astounded because after my initial Massey visit back in November 1999 I ventured on to Colourful Colourado to stay with Sue Bloo(mer) and her aunt.. Following which I rented a car and drove on to make my Buddy Holly pilgrimage to Lubbock Texas, where I stayed overnight with Shawn Nagy, who is originally from Saskatchewan, Canada, and who I had come across as the owner of a comprehensive Buddy Holly web site (which included a Holly fan chat room),and which was initially on a free (angelfire) web site but is now part of the Bill Griggs (respected Holly authority) web site system at http://www.buddyhollyonline.com

reminds me I must contact Shawn and find out why he is credited on a site refering to Red. Shawn I know returned from a temporary life in Lubbock to Duluth Minnesota soon after I saw him.
see:-
http://www.buddyhollyonline.com/legal.html

"This site was produced in 1997 by Shawn Nagy.
It is the longest running Buddy Holly site on the internet.
The right of Shawn Nagy to be identified as author of this
work has been asserted by him. All rights reserved."

Shawn has an oldies group he founded in 1988 called:-
The Shackshakers (http://www.myspace.com/Shackshakers)
see also:-
http://www.shackshakers.com

Shawn is now embroiled in a battle with Buddy's widow who seems to spend all her time trying to ensure that nobody but nobody not even the city of Lubbock can use Buddy's name without her getting paid for it, despite or perhaps because of her next big challenge which will arise in February 2009 when under the copyright rules of many countries copyright on all of Buddy's recordings expires under their 50 year limit rule.

Hens teeth it will be 50 years since his untimely death in a light plane crash!!Just where did the time go!!!

[Jesse Joe]

In the movie Harry Tracy it is Les Pouliot that wrote that beautiful song, " My Love For You." Im asking here does anyone know for sure if this is the same guy ? Also did he write any other great songs that I dont know about ??

[SherylKat]

i loved the way he had an effortless look on his face while playing those complicated guitar parts from what i've seen on youtube... R.I.P Red
Hi, I'm a "newbie" to corfid but a long-time GML fan. I totally agree with your comment. I had the privilege of seeing Red Shea in concert at my first GML concert. Even though I never met him personally, his death came as a real shock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4anOSSGm6U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4anOSSGm6U) has a great shot of The Band playing "Saturday Clothes" and then the camera wheels back and shows GML looking at him and them both smiling. RIP, RED!

[Jesse Joe]

Hi SherylKat and welcome to Corfid. Hope to be hearing more Lightfoot stories from you ! :)

[johnfowles]

In the movie Harry Tracy it is Les Pouliot that wrote that beautiful song, " My Love For You." Im asking here does anyone know for sure if this is the same guy ? Also did he write any other great songs that I dont know about ??
I mean come on Omer, whilst I know that there are about a hundred Omer L.....s living in Moncton, but who would invent an alias like Les Pouliot??
a vibrant name like "Red Shea" would be much more likely!!??

If "Pouliot" was good enough for his own father its good enough for me!!
Amongst songs that Gordon has recorded is the ditty on "Early Lightfoot' entitled
"Negotiations"
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot/images/negotiations_US_paramount_single.jpg

[OldDan]

Sorry to hear about Red Shea. At my very first Lightfoot concert, in 1971, Gordon introduced a young (and long-haired) lead guitarist named Terry Clements who would be taking Red's place on the road. That's the only opportunity I had to see Red accompanying Gordon in live performance. I sort of lost touch with his whereabouts after Terry came on board, but then he re-appeared on the Gord's Gold album in 1975. I'm pleased he went on to play with Ian Tyson's band and had a long association with the Tommy Hunter Show on CBC, as well. Rest in peace, Red.

[johnfowles]

and whilst talking of peoples names guess what Peewee has a son named Jesse see:-
http://news.therecord.com/Life/article/371430
"He's the one playing the haunting opening bars on The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, one of Lightfoot's few radio hits in a career exceeding 40 years."
"Ringwald has nothing but heartfelt praise for Lightfoot, whom he looked upon as a brother. He describes Lightfoot as "a down-to-earth, caring, shy type of person."
"He treated me and all the musicians in his band like family. It was unusual for musicians to be paid a full-time salary rather than paid by the job. It was the best gig a musician could have."

[SherylKat]

Hi SherylKat and welcome to Corfid. Hope to be hearing more Lightfoot stories from you ! :)
Thanks, Jesse Joe, for the greeting. Too bad we had to "meet" on a bleak note!

On the brighter side, I was lucky enough to get to go to all four nights of Massey May this year. It was fun meeting some of the Corfidians: Char, Sir John, and a woman named Ann from Portland, OR whose e-mail I lost and I hope she reads this and contacts me. Gord and the Band were great, and each night was like a big family party. It was great to see and talk to the guys in the band, too, after many, many years, and Gord looked like he's going strong and seemed much happier than I remembered him. I'm sure you've heard or read all the comments about Massey May a month ago, but I just had to put my two cents in!

I had an absolute ball in Toronto, as always. The people are so friendly there. I've been to every province in Canada except Yukon Territory and Nunuvit (?). Used to do a lot of hiking, particularly in Alberta. Remember going to New Brunswick during the Fall, my favorite time of year. I think I'll try to remember that today, since it's going to be about 103 degrees (sorry, haven't learned celsius yet!) on the West Coast of the States today...

Happy Canada Day coming up!

SherylKat

[Jesse Joe]

Thanks for the response SherylKat... :) Canada Day = Gordon Lightfoot Day, to me anyway !

[Jesse Joe]

I mean come on Omer, whilst I know that there are about a hundred Omer L.....s living in Moncton, but who would invent an alias like Les Pouliot??
a vibrant name like "Red Shea" would be much more likely!!??

If "Pouliot" was good enough for his own father its good enough for me!!
Amongst songs that Gordon has recorded is the ditty on "Early Lightfoot' entitled
"Negotiations"
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot/images/negotiations_US_paramount_single.jpg

That's true John I do have The Two Tones, and come to think of it your right about the name Les Pouliot. I should have known better. :redface:

Because on The Two Tones at the village corner,

Songs: "We Come Hear To Sing", "Summer Love", and "Lord I'm So Weary," were also written by Les Pouliot... :)

[Jesse Joe]

And on {Early Lightfoot} the song "Day Before Yesterday" and of course "Negotiations" like you did mention are written by Les Pouliot... :)

[Jesse Joe]

and whilst talking of peoples names guess what Peewee has a son named Jesse see:-
http://news.therecord.com/Life/article/371430
"He's the one playing the haunting opening bars on The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, one of Lightfoot's few radio hits in a career exceeding 40 years."
"Ringwald has nothing but heartfelt praise for Lightfoot, whom he looked upon as a brother. He describes Lightfoot as "a down-to-earth, caring, shy type of person."
"He treated me and all the musicians in his band like family. It was unusual for musicians to be paid a full-time salary rather than paid by the job. It was the best gig a musician could have."



I did read everything about Peewee his son Jesse, and I knew he was from my second home of Kitchener Ontario. Great place to live... :)

[johnfowles]

And on {Early Lightfoot} the song "Day Before Yesterday" and of course "Negotiations" like you did mention are written by Les Pouliot... :)
Not so fast Omer:rolleyes:. Yes I did forget:mad: that The day Before Yesterday was a;lso a Les Pouliot composition is in point of fact the one Chateau single that failed to be included on the AMF "Early Ligfhtfoot" album.
Another interesting point is that my old acquaintance in the UK Brian Walters as part of a frenzied effort in the 1999 time frame to colleect everything by Gord found a rare copy of the UK release of this single:-http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot/images/Day_Before_Yesterday_UK_single_on_Fontana.jpg
when he reported this single's existance to EMP Brian was amazed to be told that they were unaware of it!!

Anybody who followed up my link to the Red and Les Trio will now know that there is yet another Les Pouliot composition around
http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/pics/34/34774.jpg
I now know why my old Holly friend Shawn Nagy is credited on that page and that he was trying to contact Red about that single when he died
Shawn did however supply a 32 second clip of the "A" side" (Marlene)
http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/ss/34/ss34774.mp3 ??m ??:headbang:

such profound lyrics too!!
"I have never seen a girl like you Marlene"
I'll say no more of his other tentative and frustrated plans for GL material as I do not want to steal his thunder so I'll now reply to him to encourage him to become a member here and elaborate

[Jesse Joe]

That Les Pouliot was some great songwriter. That last link didn't work for me John...

http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/ss/34/ss34774.mp3 (http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/ss/34/ss34774.mp3) ????

[imported_Next_Saturday]

I always thought the lyrics to Spanish Moss were:


Georgia pine and ripple wine
Kisses mixed with moonshine and Red Shea
Spanish moss, wish you knew what I was saying ;)

[jj]

some may find this heartbreaking or uplifting or both - i was at a bone marrow drive at Hamilton Health Sciences Centre today (if that rings a bell, it's where GL rebounded:) ) where i heard some chatting about a Jamie fellow who had helped organize some modest local musical events to help raise some funds for those battling cancer

one, in particular was for this mentally ill woman http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/845045--miserable-childhood-blamed-for-cancer-charity-scam?bn=1#article

but on a more touching note, he was inspired to write and dedicate a tune called "Red's Song" to his late guitar teacher.... all the best to this young man in fulfilling his dreams and thanks to Red for helping to inspire them
http://www.myspace.com/jamiecounsell

[formerlylavender]

I find it uplifting. His heart is obviously in the right place. Red must indeed have been a wonderful person to so profoundly inspire this young man.

[charlene]

I saw this young fellow on the news the other night when they were talking about the scam - he really invested alot of time and energy into raising funds for her.
She's been arrested. She has some major mental health issues it seems.
I hope he continues down the path he's on..The song is lovely.

What that young girl did makes me so angry..all of those wonderful people worked so hard and must be devastated now..

fundraiser event he had: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamie-Counsell/87674117548#!/event.php?eid=367049822163&ref=mf

and

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamie-Counsell/87674117548#!/event.php?eid=213291252694&ref=mf

[Jesse Joe]

A beautiful song it is... Red was a good teacher, that guitar playing sounds very good ! :)

[jj]

She's been arrested. She has some major mental health issues it seems

as well as offering therapy, they should make her pluck out the rest of her body hair

[jj]

She's been arrested.

they've shipped her out to the country in the women's pen about 15 mins from here...there are some tough gals in there...for her own good i'll bet she's in solitary this weekend

she thinks she just has to pay back the $$$ and we're all square and good to go...sheesh, do jewel thieves just have to return diamonds if they get caught?

sorry for mudding this sacred old Red thread with her scandalous story

glad you enjoyed Jamie....seems like he was taught well (by Red and his folks)

[formerlylavender]

If she does pay back the $, it will be step one in trying to make things right. Will that ever happen? I doubt it. She's the worst kind of con artist, playing on people's sympathy like that. This was not a one time mistake, but premeditated and she made continuous choices to keep playing out the charade and taking, taking, taking. Even if she's truly mentally ill, she still has to face the consequences like the rest of us. Jamie shouldn't feel badly at all. He was just trying to help and obviously wasn't the only one fooled.

[Jesse Joe]

Like jj said in a previous post; "sorry for mudding this sacred old Red thread with her scandalous story"


http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/newstoday/article/1168255

Woman allegedly faked cancer to raise funds

Published Monday August 9th, 2010
http://imagec12.247realmedia.com/RealMedia/ads/Creatives/default/empty.gif (http://oascentral.timestranscript.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.timestranscript.com/newstoday/1369000831/Top1/default/empty.gif/6a71636d473065787567414141424b43?x)
Police say 23-year-old to face fraud charges in court today

THE CANADIAN PRESS


http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/newstoday/article/images/empty.gif
TORONTO - A woman accused of pretending to have cancer in order to raise money for herself is to appear in an Ontario courtroom to face charges today, but her father said she won't have the support of her family.

"She was pleading for me to be there because she doesn't have anybody else," said Mike Kirilow yesterday, moments after he got off the phone with his daughter Ashley Kirilow, who made a collect call from a detention centre.

Police allege 23-year-old Ashley Anne Kirilow of Burlington, Ont. organized fundraisers with the help of others who believed her to be terminally ill.

Kirilow turned herself in to police on Friday and was charged with three counts of fraud under five-thousand dollars.

The case has exploded, grabbing international headlines and causing outrage on a Facebook wall for the charity Change for a Cure, which Ashley Kirilow created.

Photos on the website on Saturday showed Kirilow, smiling, but looking sallow as she wore a pink knit hat to cover her apparently bald head. In the picture, Kirilow is making fists with her hands to show off tattoos on her knuckles that in black lettering read "won't quit."

Other photos, which have since been taken down, showed a pair of hands wrapped in tubes and taped in needles.

One published report last week quoted her as saying she was sorry for what she has done.

Ashley Kirilow's mother, Cindy Edwards of Brantford, Ont. said she and her family are distraught, after having tried everything to help her troubled daughter.

"There was so much money and she's making out like it was nothing. It just makes me really sick," said Edwards.

Ashley Kirilow's father, mother, stepmother and siblings have been estranged from the young woman since 2005.

Mike Kirilow said he feels compelled to speak out to clarify to the public that no one else involved with the charity knew of illegal activity, adding some people who tried to help Ashley have received death threats.

[charlene]

Remembering Red and the music today...

[lighthead2toe]

Yes, we surely will and thanks Char for the addition to this wonderful thread.

Today is a "Red Shea Day" for me.

After watching over and over those fantastic You Tube videos showing the master in his prime it's still hard to fathom the fact that Red has passed on.

His works live on though and thanks to those videos we can follow the fingers where they go.

RJ.

[Calgary Dave]

Another anniversary bump. As I mentioned in my first post, Red and his family were/are very close to mine. I thought everyone might like to hear that Red's son Scott is carrying on his Dad's talent and legacy.

Scott has just released a CD on Soundcloud. Produced by Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar) and Willie Nelson's sister on keyboard: https://soundcloud.com/scottshea

This one song brought me to tears, as it's written about Red and Scott's daughter: https://soundcloud.com/scottshea/scott-shea-when-she-prays

Scott's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/scottsheasongs

[charlene]

thanks for the links..!! Will give a listen/look in the a.m. Good to hear Scott continues such a fine legacy.
I think the anniversary was remembered in a separate thread this year...

[charlene]

I was here yesterday and forgot to post a note to bring this to the top..Memories of Red: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TQ2VUFbyDc

[charlene]

part 2 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=05DOyTVzgps

[lighthead2toe]

Thanks Char for posting these brilliant videos at this time. It sure is a special way to keep the memory of Red with us.

I've been playing along with them and what a rush it gives me hearing those lovable licks filtering through there.

I love the way Gord sings those different lyrics SSOL: "There was no defenders then, to each his own delight" now that's cool!

"The minstrel of the dawn is gone, I hope he'll call before too long."

He already did.

[johnfowles]

I now know why my old Holly friend Shawn Nagy is credited on that page and that he was trying to contact Red about that single when he died
Shawn did however supply a 32 second clip of the "A" side" (Marlene)
http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/ss/34/ss34774.mp3 ??m ??:headbang:

such profound lyrics too!!
"I have never seen a girl like you Marlene"


Revisiting this thread I could not help noticing that the link I originally provided to that short sample of the single Marlene
http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/pics/34/34774.jpg
Yes yet another ditty from the pen of Les Pouliot
-by the Red and Les Trio is now nonfunctional but a quick search found that it has moved to:-
http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artist.php?key=red-20left00
If you left click the loudspeaker symbol immediately in front of the song title you can hear the rather underwhelming 32 second sample and if you right click it then "Save Target As" you could download that sample as a mall (94KB) file ss34774.mp3,
Similarly on[/URL]
http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artist.php?key=shea0700 (http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artist.php?key=shea0700)
is another sample this time a 1962 Red Shea single called ominously
Moon Boogie Twist – (instr.) — Red Shea
It reminded me that I posted at length to Char's April 2015 thread concerning Red's son Scott at:-
[URL]http://corfid.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=27810
and I see from:-
http://www.songkick.com/artists/8408068-scott-shea
that Scott will be playing in Toronto in one week's time
will anybody here be able to go??
Upcoming concerts
Thursday 18 June 2015
Scott Shea Cameron House Toronto

[johnfowles]

the last photo I saw of Red was from years ago in this 2001 Sounding Board article excerpt

I thought I would use Jimmy's image as a further demonstration of the use of the free online OCR sevice provided by
http://www.onlineocr.net
The result was absolutely perfect exept that the final word came out as "Badcpadcee"
I had not heard of that model either so I will not citicise the website too much!!!
When I then read the text in Jimmy's image I realised that it provided scant information about who this Roger fellow was
although he obviously played with Hank Snow at some point Googling indicated that he was Roger Carroll a bass player
Whilst refinding this thread to complete my draft for this post I found
http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showpost.php?p=115363&postcount=4
in which Valerie had displayed her own subtly different
screenshot made from the actual archived pdf file of volume 10 of the Martin Guitar Sounding Board and thus I found that Jimmy had unfortunately omitted an explanatory heading pragraph
I have now uploaded the complete text portion of that image to
http://onlineocr.net
which then produced the following digitised text which is perfect except for the First and last words!!
RCC,;ER & RED'S UNBROKEN CIRCLE Roger Carroll, of Springfield, Tennessee (above right) played bass with Hank Snow on all his road shows, at all of his many appearances at the Grand Ole Opry, and on his duet album "Brand On My Heart" with Willie Nelson. Red Shea, (above left with the red cap) accompanied Gordon Lightfoot on guitar on many of his legendary hits induding "If You Could Read My Mind," "Beautiful," "Alberta Bound," and "Sundown." Red also played guitar on the Tommy Hunter TV Show, and with Ian and Sylvia. Roger sent this photo to us and explained that when he first started playing bluegrass and country guitar, he had a Martin guitar playing friend named Terry Gann (now of Tucson, Arizona) whose band played a lot of Kingston Trio and Gordon Lightfoot material. It was there that Roger first encountered Red Shea's great and different chord progressions. And it was in that band that Roger got to "play around the great Martin sound!" Roger met up with Red again several years later while taping a Tommy Hunter TV Show with Hank Snow in Toronto. While talking with Red about "stealing" his licks, Red confessed that he had "stole" all his licks from Hank Snow records. They figured it out then and there that when Roger went to work with Hank Snow, he was actually bringing back all of those "stolen licks" to Hank, kind of "full circle." The two have been friends ever since and have been able to catch up with each other in either Canada or Nashville. On this particular trip to Canada, they met up for some lunch and shared a picking lesson on a Martin Badcpadcer.
For further proof of the remarkable accuracy and usefulnes of that online OCR website I have selected one of Char's newspaper scans from her "Treasure Vault" here on corfid:-
its URL is:-
http://www.corfid.com/gl/images/char11.jpg
and it looks remarkably like this
http://www.corfid.com/gl/images/char11.jpg
this is the report on the disastrous final concert (at the Dominion Theatre London)
of Gordon's last UK Tour on Wedneday May 20 1981
I had seen his brilliant Royal Albert Hall concert two days earlier
see:-
http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showpost.php?p=177189&postcount=1
I believe I am right in saying that a once prolific corfid member who never posts here nowadays was at that Dominion concert and after everyone else had left she and a few other hangers on were invited onto the stage for a delightfully impromptu recital.
Nevertheless word has it that this was the deciding factor behind Gord not doing any more UK tours (not until next years surprise tour)
That fact led directly to my trip to Toronto in November 1999 to see Gord again and to face my chatroom friend with whom I have now spent a most exciting 15 years.
here is the OCR result of this report "as is" (it now requires I reckon about ten easy corrections/tidying up)
If anybody else would like to be so daring as to try another of Char's gems please do so
Tip copy an original image from
http://www.corfid.com/gl/char.htm (http://www.corfid.com/gl/char.htm)
to your hard drive (desktop maybe) to upload to
http://onlineocr.net
OK Y'all YerTis
Lightfoot took a boat but didn't get across

A promoter in London Is offering refunds after what one disgruntled ticketholder called an 'awful, Insulting' concert by Gordon Lightfoot before 2100 people at the Dominion Theatre Wednesday night. According to John MacLennan, a Canadian stock-broker who attended the soldout concert, Lightfoot spent just a little over an hour on stage. much of it taken up with complaints about the English, England and its radio stations. "lie said was never coming back, got angry over the fact that concerts in Liverpool and Manchester had not sold out and then walked off just twenty minutes Into his second set saying, "1 don't feel well enough to go on. That's it," said MacLennan. "He walked off to a chorus of boos. What does he expect during a recession when he's charging-six pounds ($15) for a ticket?" Andrew Miller, who produced the show, got on Capital Radio in London yesterday, apologized and said anyone who mailed him their ticket stub would get their money back. Lightfoot's management yesterday confirmed the incident with the explanation that Canada's famed fade was whacked out after having to take a ferry over from France because of a strike at London's Ileathnnw air-port. You know how Gord is," added Dave To!Wigton. publicist at Lightfoot's record company. "He says things that are sometimes misinterpreted by th g public." _
GORDON LIGHTFOOT — only an hour?
PS in searching for Roger I also ended up (I can't remember howI or why I got there) watching a YouTube video my onetime lightfoot concert opener Tom May
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k81OXI_pKzY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k81OXI_pKzY)
At 2:40 he introduces David Rae singing For Lovin' Me
a good thread from when David died is at
http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=25789 (http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=25789)
plus there is a fine obituary at
http://oregonmusicnews.com/2011/10/28/david-rea-guitarist-singer-songwirter-dies-in-portland-at-65/

[lighthead2toe]

Another year gone by to make it eight years yesterday since we lost Red. Still very sad but still very much alive musically.
So happy to see his talented son, Scott out there playing his Dad's Martin guitar, the one that produced those captivating licks on Gord's early recordings.
Extended condolences to the family.

[johnfowles]

It looks like the ninth anniversary of Red's passing got overlooked last year but having just been researching Buddy Holly items after watching a great documentary by Dion DiMucci (of the Bronx based Belmonts fame)on YouTube at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M0TDAWcuRo
I googled and found an album produced by Shawn Nagy, who I see I had mentioned in this thread earlier, a great fan of Buddy's and Canadian rock music and with whom who I had stayed with when visiting Lubbock Texas during my epic North American tour in November 1999 (in three weeks I visited Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto-Denver-Lubbock-Clovis-The Grand Canyon-Phoenix-San Francisco and Vancouver)
http://www.superoldies.com/featured/cra/cra1/cra1.jpg

it is featured on his website at
http://www.superoldies.com/featured/cra/cra1.html
Red & Les Trio - Marlene
Red & Les Trio - Pretty Miss Eyes Of Blue
Red & Les Trio - I Want Love, Not Sympathy
Red Shea - Moon Boogie Twist

and there are a trio of interesting videos fearturing Red Shea on YouTube in particular:-
Red & Les Trio - I Want Love, Not Sympathy (with Red Shea) 1959

Red & Les Trio - I Want Love, Not Sympathy (with Red Shea) 1959 - YouTube
actually the other on "The Claw" provides a far better video of Red's guitar prowess
Red Shea - The Claw - No. 1 West - 1987 - YouTube

[lighthead2toe]

Ten years now have gone by since we lost Red Shea.
Last night at the Aurora Theatre in Red's hometown I watched and listened on the sidelines as "Classic Lightfoot Live" performed "Minstrel of the Dawn," the Lightfoot song reportedly to be about Red.
It brought back warm memories from those wonderful years when we had him with us.
Once again, extended condolences to Red's family.

[jj]

so great to have you there, Ron - a fine guitar tech with great beverages!

we should have mentioned the anniversary - we will next week (sold out)

i think the Minstrel has been a fine set opener - enthusiastic Lightfoot crowd

[lighthead2toe]

It was wonderful evening JJ and thank you for your kind words.
It's really great keeping Red's memories alive through the music and especially with his students on stage making it happen.
See you in Ballinafad next week.

[lighthead2toe]

Here we are again. Now eleven years since we lost Red Shea. His memory sure does live on amongst us though.
Always trying to get into things more happy than blue.
Wonderful memories watching all the great videos now available.
Extended condolences to Red's family.