Member Since: 4/16/2007
Band Website: robyduke.com
Band Members:
CD Covers on CommentsVille.com
Roby Duke - Sudden Departure
By Bob Bennett: Current mood: Sadness, Numbness, Reflection10:46 PM PST
Paso Robles, CAI'm away from home until Sunday afternoon. This morning I got sad word that my friend Roby Duke died suddenly (details are forthcoming, but it appears it may have happened on Wednesday and discovered late Thursday night). I've been excitedly telling folks for weeks the plans Roby and I had to collaborate on a Christmas album for Fall 2008. I have always had great admiration and love for him ... for his music and as a fellow traveler. In times like these, I am most afraid of saying something stupid, something shopworn, some pseudo-spiritual platitude tossed out carelessly. It might be a spot of pride on my part, but also the notion that I don't want to cheapen or minimize the difficulty of such a sudden and, by human horizontal-view standards, a tragic loss as this. I will only say again that I dearly loved this man. If you have heard him or ever met him, chances are very good you feel the same. Shortly after I found out, it was my difficult task (self-appointed, but necessary) to call Terry Clark about this ... later in the day he and his wife Nancy wrote a much more lucid and God-in-view response than I can manage here:Dear Catalyst Family,Our dear friend, Roby Duke, has preceded us into the presence of our Savior, after a sudden heart attack yesterday, December 27, 2007.We want to honor Roby and thank God for the life of sacrifice and service that was itself a treasure given to those who knew him and thousands of people who heard his music. He deeply impacted our lives and we are eternally grateful.Since 1993, Roby's genius has been responsible for the production of U Gada No, Love Heals, This Christmas, Only Believe and ThePRIZE. During those years we have become brothers.We were so blessed to have been with him for his birthday earlier this month, then again last Sunday as we played together at Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks, CA. He kept glancing over at me as he sang his final song, "I Shall See God," as if to assure me that he fully believed what he was singing like never before. It was such a sweet and powerful moment as the whole congregation echoed over and over, "I shall see Him, touch His face."Our prayers are with Brantley, Roby's son; Anne Baldwin, his assistant and the whole Duke family.Thanks, Lord, for loaning Roby to us for a little while. It was way too short, it seemed we had so much more to do. But we are absolutely sure You know how to perfectly satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. You've welcomed him personally to do exactly what he has been singing about for as long as we've known him.So long, Roby. We'll see you soon.Sincerely,Terry & Nancy Clark
Catalyst Ministries
Influences: Duck Dunn, Lee Sklar, Edgar and Johnny, Dwayne and Greg, me pop, dolby, imogen or JJ, less than Jake, Arvo Part, cant do CCM influences cause most of them got theirs from other folks i know so, Sufjan is cool i have a sitar t sell him so he dont get tired of the banjo, Mose(the old one), Shah, Syd, rooch(Patitucci), Donny, roberta, not so much neil young, richard Page, nick, Anti, B Wilson(genius of all genius) bacon fryin, babies cryin, my x lyin, mornings, the sound of my boys voice(talkin or singing), Tuvans, anything that moves, etc.every artist i ever worked with or for influenced me......
Sounds Like: dog in trash can unless the spirit is with me
then "me"
Record Label: pitchNgroove
Type of Label: Indie