Tal Farlow - A Tribute

So how do you measure a man's life then? Well, there are only 3 things one can leave behind in this world - children, the people who loved him , and, a legacy. Now, of all the things Tal was called in his lifetime, to my knowledge.......Daddy......... was not one of them, but in the 2 other categories, leaving a legacy, and having loved ones...........as Michelle said to me a few days ago, "He didn't do TOO badly, Dan!"

Well, not too badly indeed Michelle! What was his legacy?......well, some of the history books actually get it right - he was the most creative, most vital, most innovative, most influential, most daring genius to ever put hands to guitar fingerboard. And with a little luck, that legend will only grow with time. And what about Tal's ability to touch people? Well, no one had more spirit, or warmth, or invitation, or wit, or humor. Let's face it, folks. We were lucky.......... And believe me, nobody was luckier than me. I was a precocious 13 year old, when someone would put a 10 inch LP in my hand that would change my life forever. I remember, the record jacket had no photo, just a drawing of a man in deep thought, and a description of him as "Lincolnesque" - not a bad adjective for Tal who seemed to effortlessly bring out the best in humanity,..... - for his spirit had it all - humility, sensitivity, generosity, and in the end, acceptance. As I look up, I can see him here - I see him in bass player Gary, I see him in his friend Mark, I see him in his friend Steve, and I see him in his wife Michelle......

When George Gershwin died at the age of 37, he left a melody in need of a lyric, and his brother Ira, who was suffering from the loss, picked up a pen, and summed up what is now wholly evident in this room .......that the essence of what a great man leaves to this world is indeed,a spirit that survives inside the people he's touched, and sometimes..........sometimes.......the people that he'll continue to touch for generations, and generations, and generations to come.