Remembering Randy Oliver

djz0966 · June-2nd-2009, 09:01 AM

As a friend and fellow musician who played with Randy Oliver, I wanted to give people a chance to remember and reflect on his impact on those of you who post here. 9 years ago yesterday was the day of his passing and I thought it appropriate to bring his memory to our minds. I read the thread that started the day after he left and was amazed at the outpouring of love for him.

If you want to leave a message or thought about Randy, maybe we can do that here and I can pass on those thoughts to his Mom.

Gary Sisco · June-2nd-2009, 10:44 AM

Randy was the best and nicest online friend I've made. A genuinely nice guy. I had a mix tape in progress to give him when I got the news he'd died, and it stayed on my stereo counter for years afterward, until finally I moved last year. A good guy whose memory reminds me of good times.

Steve Reynolds · June-2nd-2009, 11:59 AM

Randy's memory is of good times for me before the darkness

I remember making him cassettes of Cecil Taylor's early music

9 years....

He was a very nice man

Jimmy Cantiello · June-2nd-2009, 01:39 PM

Randy Oliver was the consummate gentleman. Not only was he a gentleman he was a gentle man. Although I never met him in person I feel fortunate that he was my friend. I miss him and think of him often.

Valerie · June-2nd-2009, 01:39 PM

i absolutely cannot believe it has been 9 years since Randy's passing. i have nothing but sweet memories of this special man. thank you, djz, for this post. there are many of us still around here who will appreciate your sharing his memory with us. i send my very best to you and to Randy's mother.

Kevin Bresnahan · June-2nd-2009, 03:32 PM

I remember getting a package of Hank Mobley CDs marked "Return to sender" that I had sent to Randy. I couldn't open the package for months afterward.

djz0966 · June-2nd-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Cantiello

Randy Oliver was the consummate gentleman. Not only was he a gentleman he was a gentle man. Although I never met him in person I feel fortunate that he was my friend. I miss him and think of him often.

Randy was also the consummate pianist and vocalist. I had the pleasure of playing with him (drums) for about 2 1/2 years. And listening to some of those recordings, I am blown away by some of the things he did. For those who didn't know, he was a music minister and seminary student at the time of his passing. The seminary awarded his degree posthumously to his family. He was only 39.

Valerie · June-2nd-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djz0966

Randy was also the consummate pianist and vocalist. I had the pleasure of playing with him (drums) for about 2 1/2 years. And listening to some of those recordings, I am blown away by some of the things he did. For those who didn't know, he was a music minister and seminary student at the time of his passing. The seminary awarded his degree posthumously to his family. He was only 39.

thanks, again, djz. Jazz Corner was definitely blessed to have him here and you were so fortunate to have him in your life in the flesh.

Ron Thorne · June-2nd-2009, 08:05 PM

I agree with what everyone before me has stated about this gentle man. I feel privileged to have "known" him even though we never met in person.

Randy and I shared several things in common (in addition to a love of jazz), including my Florida roots, and ministers in my family and my wife's as well.

I saved the last couple of e-mail exchanges I had with Randy for a long time but they got lost in a transfer of computer files, unfortunately.

I can still remember Randy calming things down at Jazz Corner when tempers flared and reason went out the window.

We miss you Randy Oliver.

John L · June-3rd-2009, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djz0966

Randy was also the consummate pianist and vocalist. I had the pleasure of playing with him (drums) for about 2 1/2 years. And listening to some of those recordings, I am blown away by some of the things he did. For those who didn't know, he was a music minister and seminary student at the time of his passing. The seminary awarded his degree posthumously to his family. He was only 39.

I am sure that many of us here at Jazz Corner would love the opportunity to hear those recordings.

I remember that shocking first post by Josh Heisler about Randy's sudden death as if it were yesterday. Cold chills!

djz0966 · June-3rd-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John L

I am sure that many of us here at Jazz Corner would love the opportunity to hear those recordings.

I remember that shocking first post by Josh Heisler about Randy's sudden death as if it were yesterday. Cold chills!

Those recordings are on cassette tape (if you can believe it) and some of the singing is sub-par. (Randy would never run anyone off-he would just make the best of it.) But you still hear his keys and his baritone voice come through.

But I have converted some of those recordings to mp3. If there was a way I could post them, I would do it. Any suggestions?

Ron Thorne · June-3rd-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djz0966

But I have converted some of those recordings to mp3. If there was a way I could post them, I would do it. Any suggestions?

I'm sure that someone here at Jazz Corner will offer a viable suggestion to help make this happen, djz. Lois may even have a workable idea.

Gary Sisco · June-3rd-2009, 06:11 PM

Anyone with both a burner and a cassette player could do it.

Lois Gilbert · June-4th-2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djz0966

Those recordings are on cassette tape (if you can believe it) and some of the singing is sub-par. (Randy would never run anyone off-he would just make the best of it.) But you still hear his keys and his baritone voice come through.

But I have converted some of those recordings to mp3. If there was a way I could post them, I would do it. Any suggestions?

we can do it - in fact it would be an honor. I remember talking to Randy's mom after his passing. How is she doing? Do you want to write me off board and I we'll upload them and give everyone a link to them

it's lois@jazzcorner.com

Peace and light and please let Randy's mom know - he is still in everyone thoughts and she and the rest of his family are in our prayers.

hornplayer · June-5th-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djz0966

As a friend and fellow musician who played with Randy Oliver, I wanted to give people a chance to remember and reflect on his impact on those of you who post here. 9 years ago yesterday was the day of his passing and I thought it appropriate to bring his memory to our minds. I read the thread that started the day after he left and was amazed at the outpouring of love for him.

If you want to leave a message or thought about Randy, maybe we can do that here and I can pass on those thoughts to his Mom.

Wow. 9 years? It somehow doesn't seem so long ago.

I was just thinking about him the other day. What a lovely man he was.

A. Kingstone · July-6th-2009, 01:08 PM

I always enjoyed discussing box sets with Randy. Thanks for the memories.