[ Post a Response | The Lump'N'Loaf Records Message Board ]
Posted by Mike Grau I remember going up to him that first night and saying..."Hey...I could set that to sound better if you'd like"...and Jack said..."Sure..I'm sure you think you could..you're that cocky guy from the Marbles.."...anyway...we obviously became quick friends after that.As the weeks went by... I started to realize that this guy could really write great songs...the lyrics..at points almost silly sounding...turned out to be genius..they were simple...and heartfelt..and because of his considerable size..Jack knew that no one in their right mind would actually make fun of them anyway.I saw that Jack needed a little something at The Broadway...so I spread a rumor that Jack had "done time"...and suddenly everyone was listening to this strange ex-con...with the Staten Island accent.But Jack was a sweetheart..through and through...He was respectful to other people's work...he found EVERY performer to be interesting ...he could see through all the horseshit in life..all the nonsense even between musicians...he realized that just doing music..live and in front of people..in any way you could,..was the magic...He once told me that God only speaks to us through music...and don't get me wrong...Jack wasn't a saint...but because he wasn't ..that statement meant even more to me.I recorded Jack's CD...it was a long process...but i'm glad we did it...he loved everything about music...he liked being around musicians....he actually referred to non-musicians as.."regular people"...and I know what he meant.Jack was a stand up guy...a gifted musician and songwriter....(try listening to ANY song he ever wrote...and not have it banging around in your head the next morning at work whether you want it there or not)..but most of all he was a true friend and someone you could count on. Good luck at the afterlife open mike Jack....and remember...no matter what they say...keep adjusting the PA system until it's JUST RIGHT. Peace,
on 3/4/2005, 8:18 pm
24.228.43.26
It's a sad day when you lose a great friend and we all lose one of the few GREAT songwriters that I ever had the pleasure to meet.Jack Stock..passed away yesterday during a procedure to clear arteries in his heart.Jack...was a remarkable person...he took care of all his older relatives...worked a steady day job with the NYC Parks Dept..and played every ####ing good and crappy place that would let him stand there and do what he did best...and that was to entertain.Jack retired from his job a year or so ago...and he was looking forward to his time with his girlfriend Kathy...and to playing everywhere he could.I remember when Jack first started coming to The Broadway Central Cafe for acoustic night...back when it used to be just me and Joe Canzano (the way we liked it by the way)...anyway...no one knew what to make of Jack...including me...he was this big guy..playing a really terrible sounding 12 string guitar...set all wrong...through a phase shifter...
I loved him very much...and I'm sure a lot of you did too.
Mike Grau
Responses: