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thatcrazycajunThe filk community has lost one of its own...and the world has lost a tremendous talent. Singer, songwriter and banjoist extraordinaire Joe Bethancourt has died at 68 after being in hospital since April. According to Random Factors' Mary Creasey, Joe had had several medical issues including "a serious infection," but no details have been given out by his family as yet.
I met Joe when he was a main guest at Conterpoint III (NEFilk X) in the summer of 2000, when I was still on staff (I drew up the CD package). We almost used his parody "A White Space Suit (And A Pink Crustacean)" as the CD title, but the concom couldn't get rights to its original music in the end, so the art reflected it even though the title was completely unrelated. He was very friendly and encouraging to me then, and even though we found ourselves at loggerheads later on when he turned up on Facebook due to political disagreement, he was still respectful and courteous. And he was the only one I ever heard of to not only sing the songs from the late Manly Wade Wellman's Silver John stories, but actually record them on a CD. A tremendous loss to filk and music in general.
Deepest sympathies to his family (wife Cher, their four children, several siblings, and grandchildren), friends, colleagues and fans, and thanks to the man himself for a lifetime of music and good works.
I met Joe when he was a main guest at Conterpoint III (NEFilk X) in the summer of 2000, when I was still on staff (I drew up the CD package). We almost used his parody "A White Space Suit (And A Pink Crustacean)" as the CD title, but the concom couldn't get rights to its original music in the end, so the art reflected it even though the title was completely unrelated. He was very friendly and encouraging to me then, and even though we found ourselves at loggerheads later on when he turned up on Facebook due to political disagreement, he was still respectful and courteous. And he was the only one I ever heard of to not only sing the songs from the late Manly Wade Wellman's Silver John stories, but actually record them on a CD. A tremendous loss to filk and music in general.
Deepest sympathies to his family (wife Cher, their four children, several siblings, and grandchildren), friends, colleagues and fans, and thanks to the man himself for a lifetime of music and good works.
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Date: 2014-08-30 03:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-08-30 04:13 pm (UTC)Oh, damn! He was a fine fan and an amazing banjoist and filker. Now I will never be able to realize my dream of having him accompany my filk "Teddy Bears' Breakdown" at a con with a real breakdown as the instrumental interlude.
Does anyone know if his website will be maintained? QUICK, LET'S DOWNLOAD COPIES WHILE WE KNOW IT'S STILL THERE! In filk, I'm particularly thinking of
(Last modification date 07/26/2014 00:33:32)
My first memory of him is embarrassing. It was at an Arisia IIRC. I said something, and he replied with a serious speech impediment, a stammer I think... and I thought he was joking and imitated it in my reply. He ignored that— a better man than I was— and continued the conversation, and I realized it was not a joke, but I did not have the guts to apologize. I hope he forgave me.
*sigh*
Date: 2014-08-30 09:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-08-31 11:41 am (UTC)