Gary Waldman RIP

[charjo]

Hi Active Melody members,
I have sad news today. Gary Waldman has lost his battle with lung cancer and passed away earlier today. Gary was very active on the website 3 and 4 years ago. Gary was a state gymnastics champion, marathon runner, accountant, husband and proud father of two boys and a daughter. He loved music and especially blues. He was a very quick study and his guitar playing was progressing rapidly up until his untimely diagnosis. I befriended Gary on the website and loved his tongue in cheek sense of humour. I am very happy that we made the effort to meet up for a great weekend of music and guitar (and beer) in Nashville in early August 2017.
I am off to work but will post some of Gary’s guitar playing when I get back. Rest in peace, Gary, I’ll miss you buddy.
John

Topic

[Bryce-AKguitar]

Gary was a good guy. I’m glad I got to know him a little while on the forum.

-Bryce
Anchorage, Alaska

[Richard G]

Sad to hear that John, my condolences of course go to his family and friends. It’s untimely news like that which unfortunately emphasises how vulnerable we all are and underlines the importance of enjoying all that is ActiveMelody and the satisfaction we get from playing blues guitar.

Richard

[Billy]

Sad news, my condolence to family and friends.

..Billy..

[johnstrat]

I am very sorry to hear of Gary’s death. He was a kind and talented man. His rendition of Carlos Santana’s Samba Pa Ti was a demonstration of the playing skills he had achieved. And brought me into private message contact with him about playing it so well. He was nothing but utterly kind and supportive. I pass my sincere condolences to his family and all who new him. He sure was one of the very good guys.
JohnStrat

[scattercreek]

John,

I am very sorry to hear about Gary. Thanks for the update. I remember when you and Gary went to Nashville. Please accept my condolences.

Gene

[charjo]

Here’s Gary with one of his later posts. I never quite got this one up to the speed Gary did. He was very annoying and inspiring.
John

EP245 – Jam Band Blues Lead, GaryW

[richard t]

From the very first time I heard him play, I knew he was special. Great guitar player.
RIP Gary. You will be missed.

[Canada Moose]

So sad to lose such a fine person. Goodbye Gary and thanks for your inspiration.

Here’s one of my favourite Gary W posts:

Dream Solo in Progress – Blues in D

[charjo]

Thanks, Roger. That was truly a great one.
John

[Billy]

That was a great piece of playing, 1st time I think I had hear of coffeebreak grooves was when Garry wrote about it and used one of Costa’s backing tracks, great choice Roger.

..Billy..

[Dave K]

So sorry to hear about this loss. I have only been a member for about a year and a half, so never really got to hear his playing or interact with him, but from the two videos that have been shared here I can tell that he was a great player.

My condolences to you, John, and the rest of the Active Melody community who were lucky enough to get to interact and become friends with Gary. Thank you for sharing this.

[brian-belsey]

I am very sorry to learn of Gary’s passing. The examples above of his playing are definitely impressive.

[charjo]

Here’s another inspiring post from Gary. He challenged one of his boy’s to a Samba Pa Ti showdown with a 1 month preparation time. Here’s what he accomplished.
John

Samba Pa Ti (for Two!)

[Billy]

I recall sitting watching this video, it so made me want to be able to play this song,

..Billy..

[Sal]

Gary was a very talented person,and a great guy also! So sad to hear of his passing,and wish his family well!!

[JoLa]

This is sad news, indeed… I remember Gary, a great player! My deep condolences to the family and thank you, John, for remembering him. Glad you two have met, I remember your post about that, too.

JoLa

[brian-belsey]

A sensitive and, as you say, inspiring performance.

[Martyn in France]

I’m really sorry to hear this news, condolences to his family. He was a fine player.
Martyn

[sunjamr]

I remember Gary’s posts very well. Thanks to AM, his playing will continue to inspire us, even though he has passed away. When I was a kid, we were told that so many people were working on a cure for cancer, that a cure would surely happen within the next few years. But now – many decades later – there is still no cure, and it can strike any of us at any time. The best way we can honor those who have passed is to remember them, as we are doing now.

Sunjamr Steve

[James B]

I remember Gary’s excellent posts with his new Ibanez semi hollow body. And I remember Gary always replying to others posts in a kind encouraging way. Blessings to his family. We’ll miss you on the forum Gary.

James

[smilefred]

Too sad to hear that! I remember his posts. He will be missed. My condolences to his family!
Ale

[sunburst]

Sad to learn this about GaryW.. he was the one that made me pull the trigger and buy the PRS .. I rmembered sharing here.. he was inspiring for sure and very sorry RIP GaryW and my condolences to his family loved ones and friends.

Sunburst John

[Brian]

wow, so sorry to hear this. I do remember Gary’s video submissions. So sad to lose a part of the AM family. Thanks for letting us know about this John.. and for being a good friend to Gary.

[sciencefiction]

So sad to hear of Gary’s passing. My condolences to his family and friends. Gary was quite the joker and such an outstanding, inspirational guitar player. I bought my PRS because of Gary’s post on EP203. I don’t think you could pick any of Gary’s posts that wasn’t out of the park–before or after he got sick.
RIP, Gary.
Larry

[Scott M]

Sad news to hear of Gary’s passing, such a talented and inspirational player, great that you guys made the effort to connect, brings home how fragile life can be and how important it is to live in the moment.

Scott

[Don D.]

I’m sorry to hear Gary is gone. I always appreciated his skillful playing.

[Author]

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