RIP Jim Dickinson

November 15, 1941-August 15,2009

So, this is probably the saddest event I'll ever write about. I've lost one of my heroes, someone who a gal could really look up to and will continue to look up to.

James Luther Dickinson was a champion for Memphis music and musicians alike. He had a career that would've given anyone the impression that they could raise their nose at a young band with raw talent and say 'No!' simply because the pay wasn't good enough. Jim never did that, if it was in his tastes, he put his name behind it and supported it. His love for his city and the music that was made within its limits never failed.

As a session musician; he played on the last good record to come from Sun Records with the Jesters, he played on the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses", he played with Aretha Franklin, he was a part of the mighty mighty Dixie Flyers(the house band for Atlantic), he played with Dylan(he once said, "If you've got Jim Dickinson, you don't need anybody else." Something along those lines), and countless others. The list is enough to make any music lover's toes curl with pleasure and jealously all at once.

As a producer; he helped Big Star record what is considered their last consistent record, made an album with the Replacements that while it was great, it couldn't be played live for years because the band was so messed up when it was recorded, he produced a rock legend like Screamin' Jay Hawkins, a young rock'n roll band like Lucero, a legendary songwriter like John Hiatt, and took under his wing the young and very talented singer, Amy Lavere. Listening to these records confirms a few things about him, but the one that stands out the most is that Jim Dickinson had amazing taste in music. No matter the artist, you can always tell that Jim had his hand in it because he was able to stand back and let the artist be, let the artist put out the best that they could.

As a performer, I don't think I've ever been so thrilled to be in an audience as when I would watch Jim Dickinson behind his sticker covered keyboard or wielding his acoustic guitar. With his signature bandana in place, Mr. Dickinson would tell stories that would make the most serious of person break out into a smile and sing songs you've either never heard before or songs that no one had played onstage in a while. His song choice was always the best part of the show. Whether he was on his own, with his sons, with Sid Selvidge&Jimmy Crosthwait, or with Steve Selvidge, Paul Taylor, and Amy Lavere I always left the show inspired and with a smile on my face after seeing my hero play.

None of what I've said so far are reason why so many love and respect Mr. Dickinson. It wasn't his career or his prowess as a musician and songwriter. No, it was his love for music and his love for family that earned my respect, and I'm sure the respect of many others. Throughout his career he's been the consumate music fan and family man. For anyone that met him or enjoyed the mark that he's left on the music world, we've lost a great friend and mentor. I can only be a small part of helping spread the word of his legacy, but I'm proud to be a part of that small part in helping people know James Luther Dickinson.

Jim Dickinson on Having a Career in Production: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GsLfNnGs0Y

With the other 2 remaining members of Mudboy&the Neutrons(Sid&Jimmy) AND Steve Selvidge&Paul Taylor performing "Hitler Lives":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0yszfWz1XQ

I realize how cold and unfeeling this blog is, but I can't bring myself to write anything else. If you really want to read something heartfelt, read Chuck Prophet and G.Love's blogs. Those are my favorites and I'm sure that if Jim's family has read them, those are their favorites too.

It breaths life into your lungs.

There's nothing more important than the loving relationship that you have with your favorite band, album, or song. Music is what connects total strangers who have nothing in common, but the groove. A yuppie is best friends with a hippie because they both love Bob Dylan. The yuppie loves Dylan because Dylan makes him feel liberated from the day to day nothingness of sitting at a desk. A hippie loves Dylan because Dylan helps him structure his thoughts, his life.

A good groove can take any day and turn it around. When you're driving around in your car, totally pissed because you couldn't afford to buy enough gas to last you the week, a Prince song comes on and immediately you're smiling, singing along, and dancing in your seat. You feel better and when the song is over you realize that everything is okay, it's just one bad day or week and it's not the end of the world. The groove helps you pull through.

I realize we're going through an economic crisis, but if you'd just stop stressing out for a few songs, you'd be able to pull through. It doesn't cost anything to put the radio on and flip through the stations until you find a song you haven't listened to in a while or a song that you're embaressed to like, but you love it anyways. Embrace the sheer joy of turning up the radio to its loudest and yelling along to the song, you could even change the lyrics to something silly while you're singing along.

Music makes you carefree. Music makes you feel. Music breaths life into your lungs.
Embrace the groove, love the groove, dance to the groove.

Here's a theory, for you to completely disregard as soon as it's read.

So, I'm a part of the social network MySpace. I love it. I love it because it helps the socially inept, such as myself, to keep in touch with those I rarely ever see. I love it because I've discovered a lot of good music and good musician friends through it. I can't tell you how many times the musicians of Memphis that I look up to see me and say "Hey! It's Hurricane Natalie!" and how many times it's made me embaressed, leaving me blushing in the place that I'm standing. It's great, really, because I call some of them friends in real life.

Real life, well, let me tell you, I don't make friends on the ol' myshrine unless I've actually met and friended this person face to face. The internet is impersonal enough to be making friends strictly on MySpace, I gotta know the sound of your voice and your mannerisms.

I talked to a friend recently who complained that while a lot of people send him friend requests, he's not able to actually be friends with them in real life, they ignore him. I almost pointed out, politely, that he's a well known musician among music fans in Memphis and that's why, but I refrained. The point is...well, I don't know my point. I just know that the internet is extremely impersonal and it's not a real social life. It's why I only communicate with those I know personally or a good friend of mine knows this person personally.

Here's another thing that bugs me, getting tons of friend requests from bands. I've got maybe 50 requests in my inbox right now, from bands who either took the time to look at my profile and thought I'd enjoy their music or bands who simply want to up their friend count. I'm alright with the former, that's great, but the latter really bugs me and I can tell the difference. The latter only has all of those 'friends' because they've taken the time to go through other bands' friends list and the people they sent them to simply clicked "accept" to up their own friend count. This is completely bogus and insincere, which I'm sure says something about the band's music. Not every kid who loves rock'n roll should pick up a guitar and start writing songs, just like not every kid who loves cop shows should pick up a gun and start arresting people. It just doesn't make sense.



Alright, I won't subject you guys to my caffeine buzz anymore. Hopefully, you understood at least a third of that.

I apologize to my aunts and uncles who read this and think I'm completely nuts. I assure you, I really am.