He lived for music and was determined to get well enough to leave the hospital to record a new CD with Cheers. I was planning on visiting him next week. When I spoke to him last, we decided that I would come with a friend who can drum and we would jam. Uncle John was excited about this, though his voice was weak and his breathe short. His plan he said, was to mic the drums, with me on guitar and himself on the bass, but the drums will be a challenge to mic, he said, so we will have to do 2 recordings to make sure it's done right! Oh what fun that would have been.
All my life, I had my Uncle singing to me and playing music for all of the family. He and I had an inside joke where he would sing to me, bah bah black sheep...I thought it was because I was always a bit of an outcast in my family. It's funny cause as I grew older, the song took on new form in a minimalist fashion. All he and I would do is nod to eachother, keeping the beat silently in our minds of Bah Bah Black Sheep. Then, we would hold up one finger, then two, and finallly a third for the little boy who lived down the lane.
He always had such a quirky sense of humour and I suppose that is where much of my quirky bits stem from. He changed the lyrics from Sloop John B. to Sloop John Paul (one cousin is named John Paul) and had an entire storyline for it, incorporating all of my cousins and siblings.
Night after summer night during my entire childhood, I fell asleep to him playing guitar with the sound of a crackling fire and a few other relatives and close family friends joining in with instruments and song. Every single person growing up, who was exposed to what he gave musically, couldn't help but to smile and chuckle at his sweet, sweet gentle and natural disposition. I love Uncle John and will always play songs for him, just as he did for so many of us in the Desmarais family and beyond.
I believe that his spirit will continue its musical journey. I hope that his 2 sweet band mates, Pauline and Edith, will continue playing to their hearts content. For today, sleep in peace to earth's everlasting lullaby, Uncle John. Surely, you are humming in the wind, alongside the birds and all of life's music. ~ Christine
Today is May 14 and my beloved Uncle John has passed away. I am very sad. He was a kind and gentle soul who was also a musician till the end. He was a drummer until, after years of smoking, he could no longer play the drums due to COPD. Although he needed oxygen to breathe the last few years, he played the bass in a little music outfit called "Cheers". Please also check out my Uncle's other myspace, Ron and the Viscounts. Thanks for stopping by. Suzanne
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Cheers
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