A father and son tribute

On Valentine's Day, Bert and I went to listen to one of our personal favorite performers. His name is Steeve Tucker. We had known Steve for years, as our friend the Late Ben Arnold had been good friends with him. We had heard him sing with different groups around town. But, my personal favorite way to hear him was alone. I particularly loved his covers of Jackson Brown's songs "A Taste of Something Fine" and "These Days" when he sung them at Ben's memorial service three years ago.

At that same memorial service, we had had the chance to hear Steeve's son Brian play, and from him, our favorite cover will always be the song "Alleluia" which is featured in the first Shrek movie. We've since heard Brian a number of times at the Nomad.

I'll always appreciate both Brian's and Steeve's clear bell like voices. As I said with regards to both of them, they can do their own material as well as Jackson Brown's material almost flawlessly and make it sound like it's really no effort.

What was especially cool on Thursday night was hearing Steeve do a set and then let Brian do part of a set, with him singing some background vocals on some of Brian's songs.

I'm reminded by that of just how much we take for granted in our parents. When we don't realize how much we should value them is when they're gone. I will always treasure the times I had with my Mom and my Dad. I loved the long car rides Mom and I used to take to go visit my grandmother in the Upper Peninsula or her Aunt Ethel in South Haven. I loved working with Dad in his studio in the clay. I loved the times I'd work with either one of them in the kitchen, as they both helped me realize I could do things for myself.

Parents should also realize that the time they have with their children should also not be taken for granted. How many parents have I known who have been frustrated with their children more times than not?

Thanks Steve and Brian for that example.