Deeply saddened by the loss of Dan Hicks from Throat and Liver Cancer .
He led Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. He is perhaps best known for the songs "I Scare Myself" and "Canned Music." His songs are frequently infused with humor, as evidenced by the title of his tune, "How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away?" His latest album, Live at Davies, was released in 2013, capping over forty years of music released under his name.
His music and great (truly great) albums were instrumental in me falling deeply in love with contemporary roots based American music (I shy away from the catch all marketing term Americana) he carries the essence of North American music in his soul, Western Swing, County, Blues, Jazz, Mariatchi, Tex Mex, all weaves together in a colourfull tapestry of sound and uniquely powerful song imagery.
It was my friend Loudon Temple who first tuned me in to Dan when he did the record fairs, he always had some little gems set aside for me when the fair came to Inverness and I always had a special gig on in the Phoenix Bar for them all for after shenanigans. Loudon with the help of Dan, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Mickley Newbury, and other songwriting giants set my musical compass for true north and the cornucopia of great music that surrounds my life now. Yet there will be those still who have never heard Dans music, I strongly advice you do so now, its never to late for greatness.
A true Americana founding father.
Happy celestial trails Dan Hick.
Rob Ellen