September, 2016
Greta and I were invited to a tribute gathering this month for English guitar hero John Renbourn. John died at the age of 70 at his home in Scotland in March of 2015. Unfortunately, we had to turn down the invitation to attend. This is the tribute I wrote to be read at the gathering:
Tribute to John Renbourn
My wife Greta Pedersen and I have known John ever since I recruited him as a guitar columnist for Frets magazine in the 1980s.
We have many fond memories of John: from sharing the stage with him numerous times, to editing guitar columns together, and sharing our home with him while he taught at our guitar seminars in Portland, Oregon.
But above all the great music, the thrill of performing with him, and the episodes of laughter we shared, the most indelible memory for us is this: John walking to the store to buy a set of jax, sitting down on our kitchen floor with our 9- and 7-year-old daughters, and teaching them how to play. The gales of laughter we heard, and the image of grandfatherly John sprawled on the floor with our kids will stay with us forever.
-Mark Hanson, West Linn, Ore., September, 2016
One thought on “A Tribute to John Renbourn”
Hi Mark
I’ve just seen this lovely tribute and I can picture John on the floor with your daughter’s. I’m John’s sister Rebecca and it always impressed me how, in later years, he was able to heave himself up on stage after playing the sitar!
I’m contactable at rebecaskin@gmail.com if you want to make contact. Best wishes to you and your family
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