Re: Red Shea
 

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

May he rest in peace.

Re: Red Shea
 

http://www.georginaadvocate.com/News.../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.

Re: Red Shea
 

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?

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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

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.

Re: Red Shea
 

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.

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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..

Re: Red Shea
 

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....

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Bill

Re: Red Shea
 

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.

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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.

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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/...of%20roses.mp3

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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.

Re: Red Shea
 

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
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!!!

Re: Red Shea
 

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 ??

Re: Red Shea
 

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 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!

Re: Red Shea
 

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

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/lightfo...unt_single.jpg

Re: Red Shea
 

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.

Re: Red Shea
 

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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... :)

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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... :)

Re: Red Shea
 

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/lightfo...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

Re: Red Shea
 

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 ????

Re: Red Shea
 

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 ;)

Re: Red Shea
 

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/arti...m?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

Re: Red Shea
 

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.

Re: Red Shea
 

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-...9822163&ref=mf

and

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamie-...1252694&ref=mf

Re: Red Shea
 

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

Re: Red Shea
 

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