Hello all, well maybe some of you remember me but a lot of the new people don’t know me. I have been away for quite a while now due to health problems but I still come by now and then just to lurk around and see how all my old friends here are doing. I mostly keep quite now and don’t post because I’ve been out of writing lyrics so long due to this being sick but with the news I just received a couple of days ago I simply have to say something and get it off my chest.

You see I just found out about our beloved friend Dawg and I am still in somewhat a state of shock. I posted to a thread Bobby had going and she was so sweet and kind to write me and explain to me just what had happened to him. She is one great lady but I’m sure I don’t need to tell any of you this. Also I want to thank her for letting me post this because I would have never wanted to do anything to hurt her so I did ask her permission first. Thank you Bobby.

I finally went back and found the original post where Bobby informed the folks here of Dawg’s passing and Bobby’s words had me in tears. How she can be so strong I’ll never know but she is one strong woman and her words about him I surely don’t attempt to match but just want to let everyone know how I felt about the man. For anyone that reads this and knew him let’s all let him know how much he touched our lives with our thoughts if nothing else.
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The greatest story teller I never met (Dawg)

It’s true in life that now and then someone is born with a true gift from God. These gifted few are often looked upon as geniuses by many. They can have gifts in many different forms as we all know. Often these individual ultimately affect the lives of many and never realize just how much. This was indeed the case with the man we all knew of here as Dawg.

I won’t write a song because my song just could not do this man justice. I as many of you first saw his lyrics here at JPF. It didn’t take but a couple until I realized just what a gift this man had. He didn’t just merely write songs but he wrote stories that came to life in our heads. He could put you there, make you see, hear, feel, and believe like no other I have ever seen. Many a times I recall laughing so hard I actually had tears rolling down my face just from reading what he had the ability to write. With a seeming endless flow of intellect, artistry, and articulation there was no end to what this man could put on paper. Yes he was indeed the greatest story teller I never had the pleasure of meeting.

I admit I never had the chance to get to know him well but I do know I made a friend here with him, had the great opportunity to do a collab with him, and that there was much, much more to this man than this awesome gift he possessed. He was kind, gentle, never egotistical about his great gift, and never looked down on any of us that didn’t have his incredible gift. I consider myself extremely lucky for wandering into JPF one day and learning of this man, getting to know him some, and having the chance to read many a story song that only Dawg himself could have wrote. I’ll miss him dearly and for me at least I don’t think this place will ever be the same without him, though I certainly don’t mean that the rest of this great JPF family means any less to me.

There are some absolutely fantastic people here and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. There are others here who are extremely gifted songwriters also who deserve much more recognition than they get. Such is life; it comes and goes much too fast often leaving us wondering why. I don’t know if Dawg can hear or see these words I write but would like to believe he can. I hope he knows how we all feel in our hearts about him. And lastly I hope he knows just how many people’s lives he touched now because I’m sure he never did while here with us. God be with you Dawg. God be with you. And yes you were the greatest story teller I never met.

Sincerely,
David




[This message has been edited by hotrod (edited 02-02-2005).]

Very touching tribute to a truly incredible man...

Hi David....

SOOOOO nice to see you here again.... ..and what you wrote...and what Trudy wrote..
brought tears to my eyes... Dawg just had that effect on so many....He had the gift...and he also had the gift in his every-day-way of being himself...on the Board..

Thank you for sharing...I was hoping your health had improved..????......Please stop back more often.....!!!..

best to you......
Kaley...............

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/4/willownwindmusic.htm
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/kaleywillowmusic.htm
http://www.flashfast.com/kids/
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kwwg

David, hello. That was such a touching tribute to Dawg. It brought a couple of tears for sure.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dawg and Bobbie last summer at Pineyfest III. Dawg and Bobbie both have been nurturing mentors to me (and, many others) since I've been a member of this board. I've got a special place in my heart for them both. Bobbie is a true lady. I hope like hell she gets to be a bonafide songwriter-you know, one who doesn't have to get up and go to work every day. She's getting closer and closer, that's for sure.

Anyway, it's nice to meet you and welcome back.

And, I read somewhere there is going to be a Pineyfest IV. I sure hope I get to come. Last year, I got to meet some really interesting people from these old boards-Bob Young, Paul Wentworth, Bill Osofsky, Bill Littleton, Harriet Ames, Ida Marie Naelitz and many others. It was fun. I promise not to drink so much Jack Daniels THIS year if I come.

I didn't get to meet Gerry Cooper, Paul Pederson, Eric (writefortune), Kaley Willow, Tink (the original Bongette) and I hope that happens one day real soon.

I'm rattling so I'll shut up, now!! Back to the housework.

------------------
"Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss, you will land among the stars." -- Les Brown
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/triciabakermusic.htm


[This message has been edited by Tricia Baker (edited 02-02-2005).]

Hi Dave..

It is good to see your name again...

Your words echo the feelings of many of us..
I was fortunate to get to meet Dawg and Bobbie and have been a guest in their home many times.
I can tell you that the warmth and kindness they both exhibited here on the net was mirrored in personal contact.

I have been trying to write a tribute to my friend Dawg since the day he passed.
I think the problem is that I just can't bring myself to the realization that he's gone.

Bobbie is doing well, and has had some good career opportunities lately...

I hope your health is on the mend..I had some health issues to deal with myself, and came through OK.

We're getting together at Bobbies this summer..it's agreat time..folks come in from all over the country for picking and singing..It would be great to see you there.

Good health and happiness to you, Daver

Bob Young

Hi David...

I know we were all in a state of shock at Dawg's untimely passing. It was just so incredibly sudden and unexpected. But...one thing for sure is that he left his mark on a lot of us...and he will not soon be forgotten. His amazing talent, hiskindness, generosity and especially his outrageous and mischievous character certainly carved a unique niche for that guy in our hearts.

Thank you for posting such heartfelt words. For most of us, our writing comes from that special place deep inside, and whether a lyric or just an expression of love or grief, writing things down helps us deal with our pain and loss as well as those times of joy and jubilation. Dawg would have probably been more than a bit embarrassed by all the kind words but I am sure he now knows how folks still feel about what he did for us while he was in our lives. Thank goodness for JPF and the ability for us to go back to threads and re-read the thoughts he expressed over the years he posted here. It really does bring his spirit back.

And thank you so much for your kind words about me. I sure don't know about the truth to them all. I just did what I could do to get rhrough each minute of each day...and I knew I was not the only person in shock and grief. Dawg helped me want to become a better writer and a better person. I just hope I am able to carry forward his amazing lyrical legacy.

Hugs,
Bobbie

Hey Rodder, it's allus GREAT to See Ya Posting, Amigo! & I'm real Glad to hear you're Doin' Better, too!

KNOW you'd have liked Dawg had ya met him. The Guy was a DOER...while Most of Us'd TALK about an Annual Get-Together, he & Bobbie put one TOGETHER as soon as they moved to Nashville Area. & did it 2 MORE Times..'cuz it was gettin' So GOOD!!!

Real Glad to hear Bobbie's Continuing the Fest again..with some Local Assistance..& Hope you can make it this year...'cuz it's always got Better and Better. Ya may not be able to meet him this year, but ya can still FEEL the Guy's Presence, wherever us Internet Songwriters Gather.

Nice Tribute Ya Wrote, Amigo! Dawg's "Chicken Coupe de Ville" ranks as onea My All Time Faves...but he did SO Many More GREAT Ones...and it's only Fair that Nashville Finally CUTS Some so the Whole World can share in some of his Great Humor & Soul.

Lookin' forwards to Hoistin' a Few witcha at PineyFest 4, Amigo!

Big Guy-Hug, & a Big Dawg Toast,
Stan

Hi David, So nice to see you on the board again. Your warm words are beautifully written and truly brought tears to me eyes. All I can say is AMEN and pray you are recovering from your illness. God Bless you. Idamarie

Hi friends! Well this is really all about Dawg and not me but I do want to thank all of you for your concern of my health. I’m still hanging in here and making it. I‘m on disability now as I can no longer work at all but such is life. At least I was lucky enough to get a diagnose in time unlike our dear friend Dawg.

You know when I first got sick and didn’t think I was going to make it I was talking to Dawg via email and told him about what was happening with me. He was the one that wrote me asking how I was! This is when I was away from the board also. Well he took the time to set down and write the most wonderful post here asking for our JPF family to keep me in their prayers. In the next several day I got so many emails I couldn’t believe so many cared and came back to the boards and saw what he wrote. I will never forget that as long as I live. The man was indeed very special to me in many more ways than his great gift.

Trudi, thanks for reading this and yes he was a truly amazing man.

Kaley, thank you so much for your kind words for Dawg and for me. I truly appreciate your thoughts of me and miss all you guys so much. This was for Dawg and something I just had to say. Like Bobbie says below just to let things out sometimes helps us deal with such things as this tragic loss. Take care my friend and my best wishes for you.

Tricia, thank you for reading this and yes Bobbie and Dawg are very special people. I never got the chance to personally meet them but knowing them here and via email was enough to know this much. He will truly be missed.

Bob, I have no doubt at all what you say is very true. Though I only knew him from here as well as Bobbie it’s quite clear the kind of man he was and woman she is. Like you I’m having a hard time just telling myself he’s really gone. Take care my friend.

Bobbie, what can I say? Thank you for letting me share some of my feelings about Dawg here and I have the deepest respect for you. Take care of yourself and I’m working on getting what you had asked me for taken care of.

Stan, thank you for reading this and it’s certainly good to hear from you. I can imagine the man was a real doer unlike me at least, lol. As far as a favorite song I honestly don’t know that I could pic one because there were so many greats. Take care of yourself my friend.

Idamarie, thanks for reading this and as I said I just had to get this off my chest because finding out of Dawg’s passing really hurt. Thanks for asking about me and I’m still here at least. God bless you my friend.

Great to hear from you, David. You (and other former regulars) have crossed my thoughts often. Hope you'll visit as frequently as possible. I can't say much more about Dawg than has been said or thought. This board lost a class clown, father figure, storyteller, rabble rouser, back patter, drinkin' buddy, mental case, old soul, constant supporter, creative force, goodhearted fella and a best friend when it lost Dawg. The vacuum will never be filled... no matter how many Dawg-inspired redneck lyrics or madcap tales I ever post. But we go on, with the knowledge that it's what he'd want. He always supported my writing and heaped more praise upon it than it could ever deserve. I'll never forget him.

Corey

Hello Corey, you know I really miss all the people here a lot. I wish my health was better so I could participate. Guess what? My wife brought me home a brand new guitar today, what a surprise. I've been pretty down since learning about Dawg and my whole family had been wondering what was wrong with me. Well last night I told them. I haven’t had a guitar since for a couple of years now I believe. That I admit brought a smile to my face.

With your analogy about Dawg I couldn't agree more. The man had so much to offer it was unreal. And he was a good man as you said praising people’s work that was far from the standard of his though I admit you have a gift too and I think your lyrics deserved the praise.

It's sure nice to hear from you guy and I hope all is going well for you.

See ya,
David

"I won’t write a song because my song just could not do this man justice."

I like that thought. That's about the best line I've read on this board all week. It's so true.

It's fantastic to see Dawg's memory being kept alive here. I was away from the board during the time he passed away too, but his death still hit me in the gut. I've sometimes thought about going back in the archives and reading all the lyrics he posted while I was gone, but have chosen not to, because it'd be too depressing to read the last one and think, "well, that's all he wrote."

I remember your name from a few years ago and I'm sorry to see you're not doing so well. We're all headed down that same road sooner or later, though. I hope to read soon about how you're doing better. Thank you for making this post.

Anthony

Hello Anthony, well you remember my name but I remember you very well. My favorite "hard line" critic, lol. I didn't always like what you had to say but your critiques were honest, to the point, and right most of the time IMO.

You're right it's a good thing for us all to keep Dawg's memory alive here as he did so much for this place and for many people here in ways he never knew. I too did go back and read a few of his song but it just depressed me too much right now. Hopefully soon I will be able to go back and do that.

Good to hear from you guy. I hope you are doing well!

David