Marc-Alan Barnette said...
John Westwood.
At this point, John is still alive and the family has asked that people stop posting things about him dying until they know something.
I always prefer to talk about who they ARE as people, and any experiences I have had with them. I believe that is always a better course than moaning about them, and the things we all do. After all, if it was ME, I would want to be able to see the things people said about me or have my family see the things people say about me INSTEAD of all the mourning wishes. Here is my "John Westwood" story.
John was my third Australian to work with. I met him either here or Just Plain Folks and I brought him over here, I can't remember. He was always a really good guy, very intelligent, very experienced, but having that hard time that so many people have, that no one around him was into writing, co-writing or doing anything outside themselves. That didn't stop him from trying to organize people, over and over again. He was always trying to inspire others, even when they didn't return the favor.
His first trip to Nashville was part of a TIN PAN SOUTH RAMP BASH. After months of talking here, he booked time with me during that time. It was great to meet him face to face and he had that dry sense of humor that Aussie's often have. It also gave ME a great opportunity to work with one of my friends I had never worked with, an amazing Aussie transplant named CHRISTINE PARRI. She is stunning, beautiful and an amazing voice. But at the time, couldn't afford my services, but was a great one in the community, hosting writers shows, and being a ton of fun to be with.
John enabled her to work with all of us, through his tour, and together we wrote one of my favorite female songs, "DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN'T MEANS ANYMORE.
It is the ultimate in "female empowerment" songs. One of my favorite lines came directly from John,:
"Only windows I do now, are windows of opportunties!!!!" Was a lot of fun. The only problem was that Christine had trouble saying the word "CAN'T" and sounded like....well, a slang part of a woman's anatomy. That was a pretty funny thing. But she nailed it and we had a great time. Later on she performed it live and we finally got it recorded.
That wouldn't have happened without John and I hope the experience was a good one for him. It sure was for us.
It is the ultimate in "female empowerment" songs. One of my favorite lines came directly from John,:
"Only windows I do now, are windows of opportunties!!!!" Was a lot of fun. The only problem was that Christine had trouble saying the word "CAN'T" and sounded like....well, a slang part of a woman's anatomy. That was a pretty funny thing. But she nailed it and we had a great time. Later on she performed it live and we finally got it recorded.
That wouldn't have happened without John and I hope the experience was a good one for him. It sure was for us.
We also got to know his wife Robyn and see them a few times over the years, the last being a Ramp bash a couple years ago. He always tried to inspire others and always made a difference in people's lives. I regret never being able to help him find co-writers over there, but he had a couple here that sure were better having known him.
John Westwood made a DIFFERENCE. That is the best thing that can be said about anyone.
John Westwood made a DIFFERENCE. That is the best thing that can be said about anyone.
MAB
Damn well stated, brother. I'm sure that John would have appreciated all of that. As you know, he passed, this morning.
As for me, I was fortunate enough to be the first collaborator that John had on the Ramp. Whiskee Queen, recorded on a four track tape, in my living room, with absolutely no idea what the heck I was doing. Still, John was ecstatic - and so was I!
As for me, I was fortunate enough to be the first collaborator that John had on the Ramp. Whiskee Queen, recorded on a four track tape, in my living room, with absolutely no idea what the heck I was doing. Still, John was ecstatic - and so was I!
We finally met at the Bash you described - we had a ball, and killed a couple of bottles of Macallan scotch over that few days. We had a do-over at the Lyric Springs Bash.
John and I spoke on Skype at least once a week, mostly about how to reinvigorate the Ramp. Of course, we had more than a few laughs about more than a few Rampers, too - he was my sounding board and a great partner.
As you know, I quit drinking over three years ago. But, at the 2017 Bash, I WILL tip a glass of fine scotch, in his honor!
Rest easy, JDub, we have it from here!
John and I spoke on Skype at least once a week, mostly about how to reinvigorate the Ramp. Of course, we had more than a few laughs about more than a few Rampers, too - he was my sounding board and a great partner.
As you know, I quit drinking over three years ago. But, at the 2017 Bash, I WILL tip a glass of fine scotch, in his honor!
Rest easy, JDub, we have it from here!
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