My uncle was only 9 years older then me. For some reason, he always seemed to be older then that to me though. He was my introduction to rock and roll. Growing up in a household where the car only had an AM radio and there wasnt much music around the house by my parents, much that I heard in the early 70's consisted of ABBA, John Denver and Neil Diamond it seems. When I was old enough to spend nights and then weekends at my grandmother's house, my uncle and I would pass much of the time up in his bedroom listening to the records that he had on the little fischer stereo that he had. Albums like Deep Purple's Made In Japan, Styx's Grand Illusion, Electric Light Orchestra's A New World Record, Chicago IX and Santana's Greatest Hits were like night and day to the sounds that I was used to hearing on the radio. I was taken with the power and passion blended in songs like "Smoke On The Water" and "Come Sail Away". This definitely was NOT my parent's car radio. I found myself almost wearing out his copy of K-tel's The Rock Album. That was where I first heard Boston and More Than A Feeling. That song was unlike anything else I had heard up to that time. Soft, lyrical guitar work to start. A singer with a warm, crystal clear voice and an incredible range. Guitar solos that weren't so much based on speed as being lyrical and emotive. I would play that song over and over again up there in that room. I must have driven my poor grandmother nuts, but if I did, she never said anything about it. Other artists I came to learn about and appreciate through him were Simon and Garfunkle and Kansas. His tastes were very eclectic in music and I found mine evolving to be as open to new music styles and artists as he was. Many of the artists that I listen to today, started with him up in that small bedroom all those years ago. Currently, I'm a moderator on the unofficial Boston Bulletin Board where I have met a greatly diverse and talented group of people. Stop by sometime and check us out!
He never married, or even dated much that I know of. He had a hard time finding a job with only a high school diploma and being an epileptic. He always found the time to say "Hi" to anyone on the street and was always among the first to lend a hand whenever it was needed. He followed in my grandfather's footsteps working for the borough works department where he lived. It wasnt glamorous work, but he loved it as it kept him busy and out among the people where he lived. He coached Pony League baseball and took great pride in doing that and the kids he worked with there. He was in Irishman that worked as a bartender in the local Slovak club. ( I STILL cant figure THAT out....)
A lot of people might say that he never really did anything with his life, never marrying, having any children or a high profile job, but when I saw the large amount of people that came to pay their respects during this one day viewing before the funeral I would have to strongly disagree. He obviously touched many people in his short life then I would have ever thought.