Kevin Bresnahan Posted April 3, 2003 Report Posted April 3, 2003 I know that there is already a "Larry Young Corner" but I felt this deserved a topic of it's own. Thanks to BFrank's posting of the link to the New Jesery Star Ledger's story on Larry Young, I contacted the author, Guy Sterling, to find out if Larry's estate was in contact with Blue Note Records, as I had been told there had been a substantial amount of money in Larry's royalty account. In talking with Guy, I could tell that he was glad for my call. However, he sounded sadder than I expected when I complimented him on the article. After talking with him for a while, it came out why he was so melancholy about Larry. He mentioned how upsetting it was for him when he went to Larry's gravesite only to find there is no headstone. He's decided to do something about it. He gave me permission to post about it here. Here are the particulars: WBGO-FM/Jazz Radio 88 in Newark is accepting contributions to defray the costs of putting a headstone on Larry Young's grave. The station's address is: WBGO/Jazz Radio 88 54 Park Place Newark, NJ 07102 All checks should be made out to "WBGO/Larry Young Fund." Guy specifically asked me to, "If possible, and for a couple of reasons, I would like to know about anyone making a contribution. One, I hope to write about this project and would like to give as much credit as I can. Also, I want to make certain all of the money that's contributed goes to the cause and that the headstone befits Larry's stature. It's OK for you to include my e-mail address with any posting." Guy's e-mail address is: gsterling@starledger.com. If there's anyway that you guys in Organissimo can head this way and give a benefit, I'd be there! Later, Kevin Quote
Joe G Posted April 3, 2003 Report Posted April 3, 2003 I learned a great many things about Larry from that article that I hadn't known. Getting a headstone for the site would certainly be a nice gesture, especially considering what a tremendous gift he left us. As far as organissimo doing a benefit, we'd be honored to participate, no question. The logistics would be another matter, as we have almost no contacts in that area. Might be something to think about, though. Thanks for sharing this, Kevin. Joe Quote
Peter Johnson Posted April 3, 2003 Report Posted April 3, 2003 Here's the article. It's heavy towards the end , but a must-read, and completely fascinating. Quote
Soul Stream Posted April 3, 2003 Report Posted April 3, 2003 thanks for the heads up. i'll be sending a check to the fund no doubt. hopefully they can right the wrong. i hope so at least. larry young without a headstone? awful, tragic,...but somehow not surprising. larry young was a beautiful person who deserved better. Quote
bertrand Posted April 3, 2003 Report Posted April 3, 2003 Kevin, Great job. I started thinking about contacting the author when I read about the missing headstone, but you beat me to it. I still need to contact him for another reason. Do you know how long they intend to collect money? I know something similar was done for Fats Navarro a couple of years ago - I wonder how long it took them to gather the funds needed. I remember on the 'previous board' that there were discussions about the Larry Young estate and how all the royalty money was in escrow. Did Guy say that he was going to get in touch with Blue Note about this? Between Althea and the kids from different mothers, this could get real hairy... If any tribute/benefit takes place, I will really try to be there. Bertrand. Quote
Kevin Bresnahan Posted April 4, 2003 Author Report Posted April 4, 2003 Bertrand, I gave Tom Evered's contact information to Guy so if there was a problem with royalties, they should be all straightened out. Guy did mention that Larry's brother has received royalty checks in the past for Larry's Arista LPs... not that they could have been big considering how poorly they sold. Later, Kevin Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted April 4, 2003 Report Posted April 4, 2003 I emailed Guy about doing an organ summit of some sort to raise money for this cause. I know that Organissimo would be honored to participate and I imagine other organists/organ groups would be as well. Quote
Joe G Posted April 4, 2003 Report Posted April 4, 2003 If there's one organist that should want to participate in a Larry Young tribute, it's Bill Heid. That guy can play so much like Larry that he can fool even seasoned listeners! Man, I hope this event comes to pass! Quote
7/4 Posted February 1, 2005 Report Posted February 1, 2005 (edited) Since the link is long dead, I dug up this article. Larry Young's Tragic Genius by Guy Sterling . Edited March 10, 2016 by 7/4 Quote
Jazz Kat Posted February 1, 2005 Report Posted February 1, 2005 I just spinned Unity last night. I believe it was WBGO, that was accepting donations for someone jazz musician that was ill? I dont fully remember. Quote
7/4 Posted March 10, 2016 Report Posted March 10, 2016 (edited) I'm searching on the net and I can't find the cemetery where Larry is buried. Things like findagrave are not working. edit: It's as if the details have been removed from the internet, including this thread. It's OK, I figured it out. . Edited March 10, 2016 by 7/4 Quote
Kevin Bresnahan Posted March 10, 2016 Author Report Posted March 10, 2016 I forgot about this thread... 13 years ago! No wonder I forgot about it, However, I think I remember that Guy ended up being unable to place a nice headstone on Larry Young's grave. I believe that his family denied it due his Muslim faith not allowing things like this. Quote
sonnymax Posted March 10, 2016 Report Posted March 10, 2016 Islam forbids erecting structures over graves, although a simple marker or stone inscribed with the name of deceased is allowed. Mr. Sterling's intentions were no doubt honorable, but his ignorance of Young's faith and it's practices is slightly distressing, especially in light of his efforts to raise money for an inappropriate cause. Quote
paul secor Posted March 10, 2016 Report Posted March 10, 2016 I don't knock good intentions, even if they're misplaced. If all intentions were good ones, this would be a much better world. Quote
JSngry Posted March 10, 2016 Report Posted March 10, 2016 Or we can simplify and just reinforce the notion that anything you want to do for a dead guy should be run past the family first, period. Quote
sonnymax Posted March 15, 2016 Report Posted March 15, 2016 On March 9, 2016 at 5:19 PM, paul secor said: I don't knock good intentions, even if they're misplaced. If all intentions were good ones, this would be a much better world. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Quote
danasgoodstuff Posted March 15, 2016 Report Posted March 15, 2016 2 hours ago, sonnymax said: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Yeah, but without them you'd still be going to hell, just on a much worse road! Quote
JSngry Posted March 15, 2016 Report Posted March 15, 2016 The Road To Hell, wasn't that one of those movies with Bob Hopeless, Bling Crispy, & Dorothy Unmoored? Not much of a script, but oh, the songs! Quote
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