rb608 wrote:

Ah, Steve Goodman. The good die young.

Indeed. I was lucky enough to see him perform live several times.
Besides being a fabulous songwriter, he was a joy to watch perform.
His enthusiasm was totally infectious, and he was an underrated guitar
player and vocalist.

Moments I remember:

Singing "The Ballad of Penny Evans" and having a crowd of 5,000+ so
quiet at the end that you could hear a pin drop.

Playing "City of New Orleans" when a string (or two) broke. He
just kept time with his foot, kept singing, unstrapped himself from
his guitar, grabbed another one and resumed playing without missing a
beat in the song.

Finally, singing "A Cubs Fan's last Dying Wish" when he was well
into chemo for leukemia, looking frail and already bald from the
treatment. Sensing that the song held even more meaning than usual.
In the same set he sang "The Dutchman", and I doubt there was a dry
eye in the house after that one.

He was gone less than a month later.


Chuck Vance (he truly was one of the good guys)