Wednesday, April 14, 2021
To the Healy Family,
I grew up in what could be described as a conservative home. My father who was a very straight laced a funeral director and my mother, who had only one little brother, my uncle David. I enjoyed my childhood or so I thought. One night my mom took me to my grandmother’s house and my life changed forever. I couldn’t have been more than 9 years old, there I am standing in my grandmother’s garage watching Uncle David and maybe in his early 20’s rocking it out with a full band and a BIG sound, I was captivated. He then started taking me to gigs, watching people enjoy and respond to live music was infectious. He drove a convertible Corvair, I think, and I got to tag along sometimes breakfast for lunch. When he walked into a room, my recollection is everyone was glad to just visit and enjoy his company, and he always introduced me. I began to rebel at home a little by taking Drum lessons and growing my hair long. My father wasn’t having any of it, until my Grandmother layed down the law with my father and told him “to let him grow up the way he wants, not the way you want.” Shortly after that I started my first band. Uncle David was right there to help, he not only taught him how to play Bass Guitar but gave him his old bass guitar. My uncle David was undoubtedly the coolest influence on my life. As time goes forward our lives take different paths and all with their own set of obligations and time constraints. I will always cherish the times spent together and know that he has contributed just as much if not more to the man I have become today. Lots of musicians in heaven, I imagine there will be a lot of rockin when I get there. May your memory be eternal.
