Posted on 01/20/2020 11:06:39 AM PST by Kriggerel
The American singer-songwriter David Olney has died on stage during a performance at a festival in Florida.
The 71-year-old was mid-song when he apologised, closed his eyes and fell silent, two musicians who were performing alongside him said.
He suffered an apparent heart attack during the show in Santa Rosa Beach on Saturday night, a statement said.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Happened here this weekend..............
Not a bad way to go, imo. Pause from singing, close your eyes, and be standing in the presence of God.
He died doing what he loved. Can’t hope for a much better way than that.
RIP
I can think of worse ways for a performer to go. At least he was doing what he enjoyed, and surrounded by his fans... How many of us could hope for our last moments to be as positive as that? Sometimes, I think an ending like that is the equivalent of G-d taking someone’s hand and saying: “Come on now, it’s time to go.”
That’s what I thought, too. Doing what he loved in life and APOLOGIZED for not being able to finish the song. What a way to go.
"David paused, said, 'I'm sorry' and put his chin to his chest," he wrote. "It was as easy and gentle as he was."
RIP
Another article said that he didn’t even drop his guitar. That’s impressive.
I’m a long-time musician and yes, this is a good way to go.
They couldn’t revive him?
when we first moved to the Ozarks there was a short story in the paper about a 90 yo farmer. He was found died with his truck up against a tree. They guessed he was out looking at his pasture and herd and died at the wheel doing what he loved to do...we should all be as blessed as these two gentlemen. As for me...out hunting tree dogs at 3am hustling to a tree to see what the dogs have treed
Mason Swearingen, Lead singer and Bass Player for the Chicago Tribute Band "Beginnings",
died mid song during South New Jersey during a show in August.
Such a shame, such a young talented guy.
Sounds like he had an arrhythmia, and might have been resuscitated if there was a defibrillator / AED available. In the article his friends said they tried to revive him until the EMTs arrived, but unless they were trained in ACLS, and depending on how long it took the EMTs to get there, it would be very difficult. Of course, it could have been something else, like a pulmonary embolus.
He was so deep, so brilliant. Here is a link to his song “Jerusalem Tomorrow,” which he does better than the more famous recording by Emmylou Harris.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bMaaac032k
Saw him open for Elvis Costello in the 80s. Great songwriter. He had a song about the sinking of the Titanic, but written from the perspective of the iceberg.
I have all of his albums, some of them autographed, and saw him live several times. He was a thoughtful guy and a top-notch songwriter and performer.
Last April, I read an article in which he was quoted blasting the US while performing in Canada. I took umbrage and sent him an email saying so. Here is his reply:
Kevin, I was sorry to hear of your negative reaction to my "civilized neighbor" remark. It certainly was not my intent to insult you, or anyone else, for that matter. You have been kind enough to take an interest in my songs so you are the last person I would want to offend. Over the last decade and more I have seen a rise in boorish, overly aggressive, deliberately provocative, in short, uncivilized behavior in the US. Most noticeably in politics, but in other areas also. I spend a lot of time on the road and I see it in the way many people drive. My wife is a teacher and she sees it in the way teachers are treated by students and parents. This is what I intended to address. Jokes, by their nature, are over-simplifications. I'll entertain the possibility that my remark was a bit ham-fisted, if you'll entertain the possibility that there may be a grain of truth in it. At any rate, I think it's a conversation worth having. Please let me know what you think. Happy Easter, David
I'm certain he was liberal, as almost all singer-songwriters are, but I appreciated his thoughtful reply. I was tempted to reply that teachers are poorly treated by parents and students because of liberalism run amok, as confirmed by my teacher wife, but decided to let it go and simply thank him for his thoughtful reply.
He will be missed.
All these “young” musicians dying lately.
Neal Peart of Rush, 69, Steve Martin Caro The Left Banke, 70 and now this guy at age 71.
Rest in Peace! We saw him open for David Bromberg at the Bottom Line probably 25 years ago.
That happened to a famous British comedian...Tommy Cooper.He was performing at a televised event when he just sat down and then went flat.For a little while people thought it was part of his act.
I think I read that same thing happened to Dick Shawn!
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