Author Topic: RIP Dan Hicks (Read 226 times)

dfung60 · « **on:** February 07, 2016, 12:46:19 PM »

Too many musican obits these days. Dan Hicks passed away at the age of 74 yesterday in Mill Valley. I loved his wit, and the unique jazz/swing blend he played.

I worked at Apple during its extravagant peaks in the 80's. Usually we did holiday parties on a divisional basis, but I remember one year we had an gigantic all-company bash at the San Jose Convention Center. The headliners were a show by Ella Fitzgerald and Huey Lewis and the News, at their peak of popularity. Over the course of the night there were other bands (Tower of Power, Lavay Smith).

And in one empty hall, there was a little jazzy combo... I immediately recognized it was Dan Hicks (this would have been Acoustic Warriors days) and dragged my group in to hear him. I think he was kind of bemused that he was only playing to about 2 dozen people, but we made up for that with great enthusiasm.

A great guy who will be missed.

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2016, 03:11:04 PM »

We used to listen to those first few Hot Licks albums back in the early 70's. It was, and still is, great stuff.

Here's a couple live tunes from 1972. The vocal arrangements, the bass lines, all of it swings.

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2016, 03:31:22 PM »

And this from Austin City Limits in 1989.

lbpesq · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2016, 11:13:51 PM »

I remember when he played as Dan Hicks and The Stinking Badges, one of my all-time favorite band names. (I'm an unrepentant Bogie freak). Too many, too quickly, it seems.

May The Four Winds Blow You Safely Home

Bill, tgo

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2016, 08:21:09 PM »

Well crap.
And crap again.
And BTW, is it just me, or does 74 seem to be the new 27?

Peter

ed_zeppelin · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2016, 07:58:52 AM »

quote:I remember when he played as Dan Hicks and The Stinking Badges, one of my all-time favorite band names.

I've always thought How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away? was one of the funniest song titles ever.

My favorite Dan Hicks record is Beatin' The Heat, with Bette Midler, Elvis Costello, Brian Setzer, Tom Waits and Ricky Lee Jones (with Greg Bissonette on drums). I've got a very worn out cassette in a box somewhere. Time to get a new CD, I think. Thanks!

By the way, does anyone else think his fiddler, Sid Page, was one of the all-time greats?