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In Memoriam

Sadly, even in the relatively brief period that we've been doing this little website, the San Francisco blues scene has seen the passing of a number of its finest players.

Among them are

In Loving Memory of

Stu Blank

claimed by cancer
on July 9, 2001

Funeral services for blues keyboardist Stu Blank,
who passed away on July 9 at the age of 46,
were held on July 14 in Santa Rosa.

Charlie Musselwhite, Tommy Castro, Fly Brooks, Lisa Kindred, Patrick Newman,
Stu Blank (center in white), Johnny Nitro, Gary Silva, Johnny Ace, Terry Hanck at what we understand was a great great jam and must have been a great great party prior to his illness at his place north of San Francisco

Stu, you will be missed.

photo by Linda Maria (Thank You Linda)

Jimmy 'Big Jim' Overton

1954-2001

Drummer Jim Overton was struck down by a heart attack on Tuesday, September 4, 2001.

A memorial service was held September 10 in North Beach. It included a ceremony at the Green Street Mortuary and a procession on Columbus Avenue, with traffic blocked, to the The Saloon, where Big Jim had played countless gigs.

Ray Odoms

1935-2000

Ray was a wonderful soulful singer who appeared mostly with Dave Workman in recent years. His heart failed him.

Ray Odoms on SFBlues.net

John Lee Hooker

Yes, he was one of ours.

The photo below, by Johnny Ace, was one of the last taken of John Lee.
The occasion was John Lee's last recording, for Tommy Castro's Guilty of Love CD.

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