Missing Gene, Grandpap and Annie

I don't know what it is. Possibly it's a part of getting older and look back to see the people that have made such an influence on you throughout life, but I find myself missing certain people lately. Oddly enough they are all influences in the area of music...

1. Grandpap Dunn - He always had time to sit with me, sing to me and sing with me while we puttered in his garden. I miss him as I felt such a connection to him even though I grew up 3 hours away from him. His last words to me were - "Keep working till Jesus comes."

2. Annie Immordino - Annie and I were friends, neighbors and band mates. She could play anything instrument she set her mind to and never allowed the cancer she battled to affect her joy in performing. Annie passed away less than one week of when Grandpap passed - one funeral to the next... how I miss singing with her - joy, energy and sweet harmony.

3. Gene Eugene - I never met Gene, but the music he created, produced and worked on was such a part of who I was and was to become in the 90's. Honest lyrics, honest faith and stiving to grow closer to God all in tune with the melodies he wrote - from the heart.

Read a bit about him - listen to his music - let it reach your heart like it has and continues to touch mine.

The rain makes me melancholy,
Tara




  


Gene Eugene
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gene Eugene

Born April 6, 1961
Canada
Died March 20, 2000
Huntington Beach, California
Gene "Eugene" Andrusco (April 6, 1961 - March 20, 2000) was a Canadian born actor, record producer, engineer, composer and musician. Andrusco was best known as the leader of the funk/rock band Adam Again, a member of The Swirling Eddies (credited as Prickly Disco) and as a founding member of the roots music supergroup Lost Dogs.

Acting

Andrusco was a child actor who appeared in such programs as Bewitched (where he played young "Darrin Stevens"), The Screaming Woman (TV Movie), Gidget Gets Married (TV Movie), Jake and the Fatman, The Bold Ones and Cannon. Eugene was also a voice actor, lending his voice to several animated series, including Wait Till Your Father Gets Home, The Barkleys and The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972-1974).

Music

Many years later, Gene would form a funk/rock band called Adam Again and become the owner of the Green Room recording studios in Huntington Beach, California. Gene recorded and produced hundreds of albums at the Green Room including albums by the Aunt Bettys, The Choir, Daniel Amos, Michael Knott, Crystal Lewis, Plankeye, Starflyer 59, and others.
In 1987, Eugene, Ojo Taylor and another investor formed Brainstorm Artists International (B.A.I.), which became an important label in the development of the West Coast Christian alternative music scene. Though the record label focused primarily on modern rock artists, B.A.I also released significant contributions from early rap and hip-hop artists like Dynamic Twins and Freedom of Soul. It was also at this time that Eugene discovered future Myrrh Records artist Anointed and went on to produce their first few albums.
In 1990, Eugene joined the rock band The Swirling Eddies, where he was known as "Prickly Disco". The following year, Gene, along with Terry Scott Taylor, Derri Daugherty, and Michael Roe, formed the alt-country supergroup, the Lost Dogs. Some of his most innovative work was with CCM pioneer Jon Gibson on the albums "Love Education" "Jesus Love's Ya" which is featured in TIME/LIFE'S "100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music".
Gene Andrusco died in his sleep on March 20, 2000 in his studio. Friends said that Eugene hadn't been feeling well in recent weeks and complained of headaches the day before his death. Eugene divorced singer Riki Michele in 1994, but the two remained close until the time of his death.
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Influence and Tributes

In July of 2000, several artists joined together with Eugene's old band Adam Again, to pay tribute to the artist at the Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois. Performers including The Choir's Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong, The 77s' Michael Roe, Mike Knott, Riki Michele and others performed over two hours of Eugene's music. The show was recorded and released as a 2 CD set the following year.
Also in 2000, The Choir recorded "Hey Gene," a song written about their friend, for their Flap Your Wings album.
In 2001, Daniel Amos released their 2 CD album, Mr. Buechner's Dream, which included a song written about Eugene entitled "Flash In Your Eyes."
Also in 2001, Northern Records released a tribute album called A Live Tribute Recording For Gene Eugene, which featured artists like Starflyer 59, D.A.S., The Violet Burning, Undercover, Michael Knott, Steve Hindalong, Altar Boys and The Prayer Chain.
In 2002, the rock band Jars of Clay recorded one of Eugene's songs, entitled "Dig", for their Furthermore - From The Studio: From The Stage album,
Also, in 2002, singer-songwriter and session-musician Richard Swift (Starflyer 59) recorded Eugene's song "Jimmy", originally featured at Lost Dogs second album Little Red Riding Hood, for his 7" entitled Buildings in America.
"Jimmy" was also recorded by Jesse Sprinkle (Poor Old Lu) on his 2006 solo release The Corner of an Unlit World (Blind Record).
In 2004, for the 20th anniversary of the Cornerstone Festival, a DVD was released entitled 20 Years and Counting, which includes a tribute to several artists that regularly performed at Cornerstone and had recently died, including Eugene, Mark Heard, Vince Ebo and Rich Mullins.
In 2005, Daniel Amos released their DVD documentary, The Making of Mr. Buechner's Dream. The video, shot mostly in Eugene's Green Room studio during the recording of the band's Mr. Buechner's Dream CD, includes a tribute to the late friend and engineer. Archive footage of Eugene in the studio is also shown.