Jackson Browne Mourns ‘Genius’ Guitarist David Lindley – Billboard

Following the demise of notable Los Angeles multi-instrumentalist David Lindley at age 78 on March 3, his long-time collaborator Jackson Browne shared his ideas in a heartbreaking assertion shared with Billboard.

The proficient musician — whose guitar and fiddle expertise made him a go-to collaborator for icons like Browne, Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart and others — had been sick for quite a few months, in keeping with the Los Angeles Times. A explanation for demise was not offered.

Read Browne’s full tribute to Lindley beneath in his personal phrases, as he remembers the historical past of their fantastic private {and professional} relationship, and the qualities he’ll at all times bear in mind of his late good friend.

David Lindley, the guitarist, lap metal and fiddle participant who gave his character and his inspiration to so a lot of my songs, handed away on March third. The outpouring of affection, and the widespread recognition of his mastery has been very transferring. I wish to be a part of within the resounding refrain of appreciation for his items, however nothing I write appears fairly adequate. Words have by no means been sufficient to explain what David Lindley dropped at a track.

I performed with David for the primary time in a dressing room on the Troubadour in 1969. My good friend Jimmy Fadden of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had introduced him to say howdy, and identified that David had his fiddle with him, saying he would in all probability sit in if I requested him to. I already knew him from the band Kaleidoscope, whose first album, Side Trips, was one in every of my favourite data.

We began to play my track These Days, and my world modified. His taking part in was so emotional, and speedy – it solid a spell over me and everybody there. It didn’t matter that he had by no means heard the track earlier than. What he was taking part in made it extra emotional and extra actual than it had ever sounded within the years I had performed it alone.

David was in England taking part in with Terry Reid once I made my first album. When he got here again, I attempted placing collectively a touring band with him, nevertheless it wasn’t nearly as good as with simply the 2 of us. I made a decision we’d tour that manner, as a duo, regardless of having a single on the charts that required drums, bass, and congas to play correctly. We didn’t even play it. We performed a number of songs I had written up till then, some previous songs we each knew, and songs pals had written. Eventually I did have a band with him, and it was a wealthy and diverse musical setting. We co-headlined a nationwide tour with Bonnie Raitt. That was the band on my third album, Late For The Sky.

David is a really giant a part of me – who I grew to become, and who I stay. No one ever performed like him. In my later bands, after David left to type El Rayo – X,  we’d play the songs’ construction, roughly primarily based on what he had performed, nevertheless it was, and nonetheless is at present, as much as the gamers to summon their very own Lindley nature. Good luck! It’s an excellent factor to go for. He didn’t play the identical factor every time. He was at all times exploring, at all times listening to one thing new. Always within the second.

David’s musical pursuits had been up to now ranging, and his genius so evident, he attracted and performed with lots of the nice artists of our day. Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, Graham Nash and David Crosby, Warren Zevon, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen. But it was his band, El Rayo – X, that grew to become the wealthy and fertile setting that gave him free rein to develop and blend his influences, and create the distinctive synthesis that may now and ceaselessly be referred to as David Lindley.

With Henry Kaiser, David continued the exploration of world music that he had begun in Kaleidoscope. I’m grateful to Henry for posting his Requiem For David Lindley, and for all the opposite posts and clips on the web that attest to the numerous totally different cultures David navigated, weaving them into one world. 

My personal world is shattered by David’s passing. He was my good friend and my instructor. It was with nice pleasure and certainty that I revisited our particular connection over time. I assume I believed that he would at all times be round.

I’ve been struggling to write down one thing and submit it for the previous two weeks. It was arduous to start, and it’s arduous to conclude, I assume, as a result of I don’t wish to let him go. David was type to everybody, and so humorous. Incapable of uttering a dishonest phrase, or taking part in a dishonest observe. There will likely be tribute concert events, and a documentary about him, for certain. There will likely be methods for us to proceed to have fun his life. And everyone knows there’ll by no means be one other David Lindley.