Dave Carter

Well, New Mexico is still tentatively on. I managed to get the follow-up doctor’s appointment rescheduled to Monday the 12th, although I was warned that I could expect a long wait. No problem. I’ll just take a couple of good books with me.

I spent last night with my legs elevated, as per orders. Can’t claim to have seen much difference in the swelling, but I’ll give it a go again tonight. Patience is apparently not my strong suit at the moment, though.

I got an advertisement for the local folk music festival in the mail yesterday. I used to love going to that, even if it is a zoo at times. I was reading over this year’s guests, who include Richard Thompson (oh yeah, baby), Bruce Cockburn, Roger McGuinn and Robin and Linda Williams. Then my eyes caught sight of Dave Carter and Tracey Grammer. And my heart did one of those sad little flip-flops that hearts do sometimes when suddenly reminded of something sad.

Dave Carter died unexpectedly on Friday, July 19th. He was only two years old than I. He had a fatal heart attack while in Massachusetts, getting ready to play a music festival there. The mailing I got must have gone out just about on the same day he died. He and Tracy Grammer weren’t exactly big name stars, but they had some of the tightest music and lyrics out there. Joan Baez, who has helped many younger rising stars, had only recently made plans to help promote Carter’s songs. Carter and Grammer’s most recent release, “Drum Hat Buddah” didn’t have a mediocre song on it. If you are interested in finding out more, there are a lot of sites out there, but Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer is a good place to start.

Meanwhile, I am reminded yet again of the irony that man may produce immortal art, but he’s only given a limited time in which to create it.