Recently I’ve been thinking about the past. All the experiences I’ve had, people I’ve met, music I’ve made and things I’ve written about. When the years pile up, it can be staggering all the things that can be created over time.In this pileup you can also lose touch with all of these things and take them for granted. To the point where suddenly things just disappear. This happens when you stop investing your energy into things you care about – for example this site. But frankly the last thing I expected was someone attacking my site. I really have no other explanation for how Page 3 of my Dad’s Biography page just up and vanished. But that’s what happened.
Recently there has been some renewed interest in my website, more letters from Doug and Jimmy fans, as well as some of my Facebook friends who were sharing tidbits from my site – like Dad’s ironic essay, Things Downbeat Never Taught Me and other some things. Thankfully a reference to something I had written in a post alerted me to my AWOL page 3. Indeed this was one of my favorite pages as Dad was at the height of his career during 1953-1954. Nominated as Best Jazz Guitarist by the premiere magazine, Downbeat and the toast of the town in Paris, Jimmy was the “it guy” during those years. Not that he still isn’t for many of you guitarists.
Thankfully I was able to resurrect the missing page from some backup SQL files, so I am thankful for some of the job skills I have built up outside of music. Fear not fans (if I have any left) I will resurrect myself (musically) too, one day. In the meantime, I will be more vigilant. After all this thing that I’ve built up here – although it belongs to me – it really belongs to everyone and I’m grateful to be able to share it with all of you. Thanks also to everyone sharing my site with friends and fans.
Keep the Raneys alive!
Cheers,
Jon
