Wolf

It has been a while since I posted any music. And this song has taken longer than most to write. It was harder to write than just about any song before it. 

Wolf..... aka Jerry Arnold, was a good friend of mine. Knowing him changed my life in more ways than any other person except my wife..... you see, he introduced me to my wife so many years ago. 

Wolf loved life, he loved people and he really loved music....all music, but especially bluegrass music. 

His life was cut short several years ago when he succumbed to cancer. 

Ode to Wolf (the song) http://www.soundclick.com...34&songID=11843061  I made this one downloadable.

Ode to Wolf (the video) http://www.youtube.com/wa...SjGWs&feature=plcp   Perhaps you can get a glimpse into who Wolf was, and why he was so loved by all who knew him. 

I chose to release this today, since today August 27th, is Wolf's birthday. 

Enjoy........

Herb always difficult to loose someone close too you.
 
You have done a great job remembering your friend.
 
Love the sorrowful, melancholy, fiddle at the end, nice.

Sounded like bluegrass ought to sound.  Nicely mixed and balanced.  Sounds full but you left plenty of space for the vocal the come in.

Thank you

James, Wookie, Vicente, and AT for listening. 

We have seen a number of our friends here and elsewhere leave us due to cancer. This is dedicated to them as well as to my friend Wolf. 

I knew Wolf for several years before I found out what his legal name was.  That's the way we were. 

Wolf used to follow our band around back in the old days.  We got to know him quite well. At his house one night after a gig, he asked me to play a song I had written. He recorded it and later played it for friends when they came to visit. One young lady wanted "to meet the guy who wrote that song" and Wolf brought her to a gig next time we were in town. At 5:47 into the video, there is a picture of the 3 of us..... Me and Kim, the young lady who became my wife a few years later and of course Wolf. 

He moved to the hills near Fancy Gap Virginia and met a bunch of folk who were into bluegrass music. Galax Va, just up the road a ways holds a big BG fest there every year. He had a nice Gibson Hummingbird at the time and later picked up, and learned to play a mandolin. He seemed to enjoy the mandolin quite a bit and became quite proficient on it. 

Every year, around Wolf's birthday, he would host what became known as "Beano Hills BlueGrass Music Festival" on his property. Several hundred of his closest friends would show up for a weekend of partying, playing in the creek, sweating in the sweat lodge and then running and jumping into the icy waters of that creek, catching up with distant friends, music, and fun.  

He was diagnosed with in-operable lung cancer and after a few rounds of chemo and radiation, they declared him cancer free. Unfortunately, the cancer was the kind that often returns and when it does, it is more aggressive the second time round. A follow up about a year later indicated it had in fact returned and was quite wide spread. 

I had the opportunity to see Wolf a few times near the end, since to cover the cost of his treatments, he had to sell his beloved mountain home and the 11 or so acres on the stream at Beano Hills and move back closer to his family and essentially, 20 minutes or so from where I live. 

He knew the end was soon to be, and I have to say that he had a great attitude up to the end. He simply enjoyed life and music and his friends and never let the cancer get him down in the dumps.  When he passed, many people shed many tears for him. 

I was honored by him, as he asked me to speak at his funeral.

Someone posted this video of Wolf preforming with the Kill-Bassa-Bill Road show. It will give another look at his personality. The band preformed quite a few songs like this as well as some serious BG music. 

  https://www.youtube.com/w...ture=player_embedded#!

My wish for you, would be that you would have a friend in your life like Wolf. 

sorry to hear about your friend. Seemed like a nice guy.
The tune sounded great. BIAB in all it's glory.
Thanks

timidi


sorry to hear about your friend. Seemed like a nice guy.
The tune sounded great. BIAB in all it's glory.
Thanks

guitars are my Taylor.  

quite an endearing tribute to a pretty amazing character and friend. touching and emotional (both the track and video) 
sort of reminds me of Neil Young circa Harvest. great song! dig the banjos and violins.  well done, and extremely moving. 

GREAT tribute!  I really enjoyed the video and how the song helped tell the story of your friend.  KUDOS!


Kev

Thanks all.... yes.... on the face book "Beano" page.... there are many tears today. 

Well, I didn't know him but now I love him too.  I wish I would have known him.  Not enough words to describe what you've done here, Herb.  I watched the videoand was totally drawn in.  Great music, buddy!

Terrific tribute. This is really, really nice Herb. Sentimental but not maudlin – the instrumentation is perfect for this. The video is wonderful and I am sure those who knew him will cherish this. This is my favorite of all that I have heard from you. 

This has to be one of the best songs I've ever heard on this forum and I prefer rock and heavy rock. Excellent!!! I hope it's ok I put this on my iPod.

Wonderful tribute for your friend. May he rest in peace. Excellently done!

Hi Herb,

Beautiful, moving tribute to a friend who left too soon. I love the video and I'm sure all Wolf's friends and family are grateful for your efforts.

Excellent recording/mix as well.