Senator Kennedy: Rest In Peace
Senator Kennedy: Rest In Peace
When I think of Senator Edward Kennedy, I will remember him as a powerful force for good. He has championed the rights of ordinary Americans for well over forty years. He was a devoted public servant.
I learned of his death this morning, and although we all knew of his illness over the past year, somehow, many of us hoped against hope that he would somehow summon all of his considerable strength and overpower this most fearsome enemy – the cancer that finally carried him off.
But one interesting detail of his story had been buried so deep within my memory that I was actually jolted when it came up this morning: Returning home one night from a party, a young woman who was a passenger in his car was drowned when his car plunged into the river. Ted Kennedy swam to safety.
In 1969, when I heard this news, I was angry, even outraged, at his behavior. I was quick to speculate on his relationship with Mary Jo Kopekne and the alcohol level in his blood at the time of the accident. I wrote him off as a “light-weight”.
But now, 40 years later, all of that has faded into ancient history. His work in the senate on behalf of the American people has been stellar. His impassioned oratory has been inspiring to millions of us. Even his political enemies have had to bestow a grudging respect for the “Lion of the Senate”.
So here is the take-away for me: redemption. No matter what our mistakes, our failings, our shortcomings, even our sins, there is always the possibility of redemption. We can not go back and fix the past, but in the present, we can at least atone and move on. Where there is life, there is always the possibility of redemption of the soul. It may or may not come from a personal God. And whether or not it can come after we’ve left this earth, it is certainly within our grasp while we are here.
Bravo, Ted Kennedy. Thank you for reminding me that there is always hope for Amazing Grace. Rest in peace.
Larry Knechtel – RIP
I was sad to hear that Larry Knechtel has passed away. I won’t go into his resume here as a quick Google search will reveal his impact on music over the last 40 or so years. I was fortunate to work with Larry on a number of occasions but the one I remember the most was when I received a call from producer Jay Senter (I Am Woman, Helen Reddy) to fly to Atlanta Georgia to record an album for Sammy Johns on the GRC label. This album included his monster hit “Chevy Van”. There were some amazing players on this album. Larry Knechtel on bass (Larry could play anything!), James Burton and myself on guitar, Mike Melvoin on piano and Jim Gordon on drums. I was really flattered to be included with such notable players! We really went first class, all expenses paid. We even had the “upstairs” suite in the 747 jet that flew us there. Of course the sessions were amazing and what an honor to play with such great players. One of the biggest laughs that we had was the rumor that the GRC label was financed with porn money!
The last time I saw Larry was when he came to my studio and played piano on some demos for Patti Dahlstrom. He will be sorely missed!
Jay Senter and Mike Melvoin, in picture, off to airport. Flying to Atlanta for the Sammy Johns session.
“I Don’t Care, Do You?”
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THIS BOY WALKS INTO MY HOUSE
AND HE TELLS ME THAT I’M GOING CRAZY
HE SAYS ONLY HE HAS THE KEY
AND HE TELLS ME HE KNOWS HOW TO SAVE ME
I SHOW HIM THE DOOR I GIVE HIM THE BOOT
CAUSE HE DOESN’T OWN ME
ALL OF A SUDDEN HE’S LOOKIN’ REAL CUTE
AND I WONDER WHAT HE CAME TO SHOW ME
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