From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2000 #554 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/joni Websites: http://www.jmdl.com http://www.jonimitchell.com Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe JMDL Digest Thursday, October 19 2000 Volume 2000 : Number 554 The 'Official' Joni Mitchell Homepage, created by Wally Breese, can be found at http://www.jonimitchell.com. It contains the latest news, a detailed bio, Original Interviews, essays, lyrics and much much more. --- The JMDL website can be found at http://www.jmdl.com and contains interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more. --- Ashara has set up a "Wally Breese Memorial Fund" with all donations going directly towards the upkeep of the website. Wally kept the website going with his own funds. it is now up to US to help Jim continue. If you would like to donate to this fund, please make all checks payable to: Jim Johanson and send them to: Ashara Stansfield P.O. Box 215 Topsfield, MA. 01983 USA ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Kenny [dsk ] Re: "Raised on Robbery" [IVPAUL42@aol.com] RE: kenny grant ["Nikki Johnson" ] More cards [JoniMessages@aol.com] let me introduce myself [db.ireland@usa.net] For Kenny [Michael Paz ] Re: Kenny [WirlyPearl@aol.com] Kenny Grant [Leslie Mixon ] Joni's voice [TBAEHNER@aol.com] Re: Kenny ["Kakki" ] Re: kenny grant [JRMCo1@aol.com] Re: kenny grant [Steven Barton ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 01:28:42 -0400 From: dsk Subject: Re: Kenny The news about Kenny has made me so sad. I crossed paths with him again at MSG last spring and surprisingly he recognized me from the brief meeting before the Joni concert in 1998. What an attentive and kind soul! Oh Kenny, it's just way too soon. Peace to you always. Perhaps Steve knows this already, but the lines Kenny told him are from the last four of Lesson in Survival, one of Joni's conflicted but most intense love songs. When you dig down deep You lose good sleep And it makes you Heavy company I will always love you Hands alike Magnet and iron The souls Joni's talking to her soulmate. In the same way that magnets and iron bond to each other, she and her lover do also. There's recognition of an irresistible and mysterious force at work. In these lines I picture lovers touching hands, palm to palm, to see how they compare and being amazed at the intense connection felt between them. Clearly, Kenny's feelings toward Steve were very deep. My deepest condolences to Steve and all of Kenny's friends and family. Debra Shea AsharaJM@aol.com wrote: > Hi gang, > > I just walked through the door from NYC, and read not only Patrick's e-mail > to the list, but an e-mail from Steve, Kenny's partner. I am talking to Steve > now, and he asked if I knew what this meant: "one last thing he said ws > Steven i will always love you,magnets and iron,the souls " > > Does anyone know what this means? > > He also said: "he was talking out loud alot of her lyrics all day on sunday" > > Kenny was one of the first friends I made on this list when I joined several > years ago. I am in too much shock to even put my thoughts down yet. > > Rest in peace, my dear friend. > > Hugs, > Ashara ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 01:27:53 EDT From: IVPAUL42@aol.com Subject: Re: "Raised on Robbery" In a message dated 10/19/00 12:06:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Relayer211@aol.com writes: << I have a question about the song "ROR".why does the woman say she was "raised on robbery?"what did she steal?and who did she steal from?I don't think the song makes this very clear. >> I think the song describes a woman who, if not a prostitute, is at least someone with a gypsy's soul, who gets by on a combination of the generosity of strangers and what she can take from those who can be taken advantage of. Paul I So long Kenny, it was good to know you. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 01:33:52 -0400 From: "Nikki Johnson" Subject: RE: kenny grant I am in such shock...I had just met Kenny this September at Jonifest 2000 and cannot say I know him that well, but the time I spent with him was very nice and I could tell he has such a good heart. I had some time to talk to him after everyone else was in bed out on the porch, I just wish it were longer... My sincere condolences to Steve and Kenny's family and friends. He will be missed. Love Nikki "Dream on but don't imagine they'll all come true...Vienna waits for you" ~ Billy Joel > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-joni@jmdl.com [mailto:owner-joni@jmdl.com]On Behalf Of > patrick leader > Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 9:25 PM > To: joni@smoe.org > Subject: kenny grant > > > i got a call from steven, kenny grant's lover. kenny passed away this > sunday evening. > > they believe it was a heart attack. steven told me that kenny > had a stroke > about six months ago, (which means it may have been before the > may concerts > we saw together). he'd been to a bunch of cardiologists and was about to > embark on a program of cardiac rehabilitation. > > steve said kenny'd been listening to joni all last week, especially the > tribute concert (i think the tnt one). steve knew how fond kenny > was of the > jmdl; some of us even met steve at a couple of the joni gatherings and the > 1998 msg show. > > joni was central to kenny's life; his first moment of rapture was > borrowing > his sister's 'hejira' and listening to side 2 first. he could talk > endlessly about 'song for sharon'. > > the funeral is tomorrow at 1 pm, in florida. steven may have a > gathering of > some sort here, in new york, and i've asked him to keep me posted. > > patrick > > np - joni in camden nj, 06/02/00, one of many gifts he sent to me. > > ps. i didn't know kenny very well, but we shared some lovely > joni moments. > we also shared a birthday, and i'd like to share with you this huge joni > content email he sent me a couple of years ago on our mutual day. > > --------- > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Kenny Grant > Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 1998 10:25 AM > To: Patrick Leader > Subject: Happy Birthday!!! > > Gonna sing a quick litte song, lemme set it up for you. > > Picture it, Sicily, 1914...no, on second thought, New York City, > 1998, it's > 3:40am, you're heading home after hanging with some friends who > took you out > for your birthday, you pass the Blue Note, and see that Joe Sample is > performing so you stop in, they don't ask you for a cover as its > so late and > the show is almost over, you sit down at a small table and order > a beer, its > dark, and only about 50% full. > > About two minutes later, Joe finishes the song he was playing as > you walked > in, and says "Ladies and Gentleman, an old friend is in the audience, and > she'd like to come on stage and jam with me, please give a warm welcome to > Miss Joni Mitchell." > > She gets on stage, wearing a long black dress, the crowd gives her an > exuberant welcome, they hand her a baby blue Martin, and she begins > strumming...."Heatwaves on the runway, as the wheels set down, he > takes his > baggage off the carousel, takes a taxi into town." > > Joe joins in on Centerpiece, and Joni whips out a husky voice, and breaks > into some of her best jazz singing ever: "The more I'm with you > pretty baby, > the more I feel my love increase..." > > "Shining hair and shining skin, shining as she reeled 'em in, to tell him > like she did today, just what he could do with Harry's House, and Harry's > take-home-pay." > > The crowd roars. Cassandra Wilson is in the audience, a little > embibed, and > gives a loud standing ovation. > > Joni looks around the room and spots you, and says "you're > Patrick from the > JMDL, right? I recognize your picture from one of Wally's party pages. > Isn't today your birthday? > > Smiling from ear to ear, she waves you onstage, you're a little shy, but > she's warm and encouraging, as you approach the stage she turns > to Joe. "Do > you know happy birthday?" Joe begins to play it in some weird > minor chord, > Joni accompanies him on guitar, playing a note here and there, as > she sings > in a deep, rich voice: > > "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear > Patrick, happy birthday to you." > > Cassandra Wilson has made her way to the stage, grabbed a free mike, and > adds: > > "And many more" > > She spreads those 4 syllables out for a good 15 seconds. The drummer > brushes the cymbals. Joe's fingers are dancing on the piano. > > Joni takes off the guitar and gives you a warm embrace and a wet > kiss on the > cheek. > > The lights are brightened a bit, they announce last call, and Joe and his > band go into their final selection. > > Happy 40, Patrick, and many more!!! > > Huggs, > > -Kenny > > o o o o o o > | | | | | | > (===========) > (___________) > (===========) > (-----------) > > (p.s., I stole this cake from Mark D, I don't bake :-( > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 01:30:53 EDT From: JoniMessages@aol.com Subject: More cards There's some new artwork up at http://www.JoniMitchell.com/BDCard/BDcardArt.html that's worth a look. Ashara got great pictures from Joni's childhood home in Maidstone that would make a beautiful and personalized statement about the passage of time; Sue Cooper's artwork is a true breath of fresh air; I put up another image commenting on the passage of time; and there's a new "best of" excerpt from the gallery Willy the Shake is rapidly building. The more the merrier -- send some artwork of your own if you'd like me to put it up. Vote for your favorite artwork by Sunday; then it'll be the writers' turn to come up with an astute or warm or funny or pithy or heartfelt caption and/or inside message for the pic we end up using! jj ------------------------------ Date: 18 Oct 00 23:34:08 MDT From: db.ireland@usa.net Subject: let me introduce myself hi joni fans...this is my first time subscribing, and just wanted to introduce myself....more later! ____________________________________________________________________ Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 00:37:15 -0700 From: Michael Paz Subject: For Kenny Varnished weeds in window jars Tarnished beads on tapestries Kept in a satin box are Reflections of love's memories ****** Through the windless wells of wonder By the throbbing light machine In a tea leaf trance or under Orders from the king and queen Songs to aging children come Aging children, I am one People hurry by so quickly Don't they hear the melodies In the chiming and the clicking And the laughing harmonies Songs to aging children come Aging children, I am one Some come dark and strange like dying Crows and ravens whistling Lines of weeping, strings of crying So much said in listening Songs to aging children come Aging children, I am one Does the moon play only silver When it strums the galaxy Dying roses will they will their Perfumed rhapsodies to me Songs to aging children came This is one ****** What a terrible shock! I called to comfort dear Nikki on the loss of her grandfather only to lose again. Oh Kenny, you will be missed here on this earth, but you are in such grand company now. Unlike all of us unworthy common folk, you have the creme to party with now. I hope you get to meet dear old mom and Wally and... I will always remember you in music, laughter, and sitting on the back stoop for a smoke. Our time togther was much to short, but I am grateful for the time we had and it was an honor to know you. May your loved ones be blessed with peace and understanding and heal quickly. I pray that they be comforted to know that you were so well loved here in our community. May the Good Lord bestow his eternal blessings on you. Your friend, Michael Paz NPBM-Song For Sharon-Me singing it all by myself and just for you... Michael Paz ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 01:55:43 EDT From: WirlyPearl@aol.com Subject: Re: Kenny In a message dated 10/19/00 12:03:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time, AsharaJM@aol.com writes: > > I just walked through the door from NYC, and read not only Patrick's e-mail > to the list, but an e-mail from Steve, Kenny's partner. I am talking to > Steve > now, and he asked if I knew what this meant: "one last thing he said was > Steven i will always love you,magnets and iron,the souls " > > Does anyone know what this means? > I too am in shock at the passing of Kenny. I've met him several times. The first time at the first Jonifest in Pittsburgh, I think, and at a small JMDL dinner gathering in NY where we sat right near each other and he gave me a special Joni tape. We were together again at the first two Boston Jonifests. He always greeted me with a smile and a warm hug, making me feel like a special friend, although I really hardly new him. I really enjoyed sharing my Joni concert photos, meeting Joni stories and Jonifest photos with him. He was so enthusiastic. From the photos of the last Boston Jonifest he appeared to have slimmed down a lot and looked so handsome and healthy. My eyes welled up upon reading Patrick's news and I really lost it when Ashara said one of the last words he said was the Joni lyric from "Lesson in Survival" on For The Roses: Steve, "I will always love you, (Hands alike) Magnet and iron The souls" To me this means their souls were so close they were drawn together and connected like a magnet to iron. (I wrote this before I read Debra's explanation and what she wrote more eloquently describes the meaning) >> Joni's talking to her soulmate. In the same way that magnets and iron bond to each other, she and her lover do also. There's recognition of an irresistible and mysterious force at work. In these lines I picture lovers touching hands, palm to palm, to see how they compare and being amazed at the intense connection felt between them.<< Debra Shea In so few words, Joni describes the deepest of love as only she can. I'm glad that in his short lifetime Kenny was able to feel that love with Steven. I am so sad at his passing. We will miss you Kenny. Rest in peace. May the angels be with you. Love, Pearl ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 23:06:55 -0700 From: Leslie Mixon Subject: Kenny Grant How ironic that a person who was so full of heart would die from a heart attack. I met Kenny for the first time in Topsfield this past Labor Day weekend. What impressed me about Kenny was that I could feel how much he loved Joni's music and how happy he was to be among us. I watched Kenny during one of our informal late night jams singing one of Joni's songs (can't remember which one) and he was so full of joy - having a blast. What a shame that a bright light and sweet person was taken at such a young age. I will miss you Kenny. Leslie ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 02:06:35 EDT From: TBAEHNER@aol.com Subject: Joni's voice Hi I'm new on this list but I'm an old Joni fan from the 60's. I watched Tribute To Joni in April and I was surprised by how low her voice was. I haven't heard her in a long time. Has smoking changed her voice? How does she do her old songs- an octave lower? In the 60's she was definitely a soprano. Don't get me wrong I still love her. I'm just curious. Tom ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 23:06:12 -0700 From: "Kakki" Subject: Re: Kenny I just got home and heard about Kenny. I am completely stunned. Les wrote: > He was a great guy who listened and cared. He had a good >heart. And he was always like this, he never wavered. He was someone who always made me feel so comfortable, someone you knew you could count on to always be a good soul. I "knew" him through his always sweet, funny and friendly emails to me from almost the beginning of my time on the list. I was so happy to finally meet him at the first Jonifest in Pittsburgh in April '98 and looked forward to seeing him each time at Ashara's. Just last night as I was organizing all my tapes I came across the wonderful Joni in Verona, Italy tape he sent me and thought about him. He will be greatly missed. I am so saddened. Kakki ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 02:23:21 EDT From: JRMCo1@aol.com Subject: Re: kenny grant I'm so saddened by the passing of Kenny Grant, our kindred spirit. Still, I'm thankful for the precious time spent with him not so long ago in Massachusetts. We were *so* all family during that very special time. We shared laughs and Joni-tales and he ribbed me gently about always running behind the times on tape trades we'd settled on when I first joined the list, and was as newbie as newbie can be. He patiently showed me the tape-trading ropes and the wonders of the music therein. His good nature was omnipresent and endearing. The memory of sitting beside Kenny and singing softly with him and others to Paz's guitar playing in the wee hours of the candle lit Topsfield night will stay with me alway. - -Julius silence ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 23:41:11 -0700 From: Steven Barton Subject: Re: kenny grant Goodbye Kenny, I mostly lurk here, but have always been touched by your kindness and spirit. Steven Barton ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2000 #554 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list at Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe joni-digest" to ------- Siquomb, isn't she?