How to post to CarlSmith.ca
Anyone with a Carl story is invited to post on the site. All you have to do is register and then log into the WordPress administration page. Your submission won’t appear automatically, to avoid getting spammed, I’ll need to approve submissions, but you shouldn’t have to wait too long. If you have trouble, send me an email at patricktaylor@mac.com and I’ll add it to the site for you. Send me a note if you also have some photos to put up.
November 23rd, 2005 at 11:11 pm
I have known Carl (not quite long enough) but since Jesus wore sandals. Thank you Carl for helping me drive my parents nuts in the basement of Reade Street. Practicing on Sunday nights because we had to play the Monday night jam at Spanky’s. Then graduating to Cocagne Cape!!! Man were we moving up, reminds me of Joe’s garage! Thank you for helping me make room for our equipment by moving all the furniture from the cottage onto the front deck so wouldn’t get fried by the elements when it rained…nice try, but we still got fried!!! LOL. This is where you played Danny Ross’ Gibson Ripper base and we told you everything was in F…lol…never knew you could stretch that far. Sweet Home Alabama in F…man you were a Trooper!!! Sunrise and sunset will never be the same without you. We’ll all miss you much…
PS) Save us a spot on the “cloud” beside ya.
November 25th, 2005 at 11:42 pm
I have known Carl (not quite long enough) but since Jesus wore sandals. Thank you Carl for helping me drive my parents nuts in the basement of Reade Street. Practicing on Sunday nights because we had to play the Monday night jam at Spanky’s. Then graduating to Cocagne Cape!!! Man were we moving up, reminds me of Joe’s garage! Thank you for helping me make room for our equipment by moving all the furniture from the cottage onto the front deck so wouldn’t get fried by the elements when it rained…nice try, but we still got fried!!! LOL. This is where you played Danny Ross’ Gibson Ripper base and we told you everything was in F…lol…never knew you could stretch that far. Sweet Home Alabama in F…man you were a Trooper!!! Sunrise and sunset will never be the same without you. We’ll all miss you much…
PS) Save us a spot on the “cloud†beside ya.
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:41 pm
Carl… You’ve been so many things to me over the years; friend, confidant, conscience, drinking buddy, but most importantly a musical kindered spirit. That bond is what brought us together and what’s always kept us close.
It started so long ago; 1973 to be exact. We met on a bus in Moncton. I had a snare drum on my lap and was heading to a pawn shop to get $5 for it. And in walked Carl, sat down next to me and within a week we were playing together. You were my bass player for 5 years until our lives pulled us apart. But neither distance nor time would keep us apart for long.
In the 80’s, the Jams at Steve McArdles cottage with Danny and Steve were always magical and you were always at the centre of it. Then later the jams/parties you and I had with my sister Lisa and Terry continued to build my faith in my music. In fact those jams and our long passionate discussions about music until sunrise were instrumental in bringing me back into being a serious guitar player again and ultimately onto the musical path I’m on now.
And finally last September we got together one more time and got to jam together one more time. Had I only known…
Carl, I know you’re happy now. I could see it in your eyes that day we said goodbye at the hospital. I’m shedding tears, but there is as much joy as sadness now. Moer than ever I know how your spirit is much too big for the body you were dealt with in life.
Thanks for being there for me. Your spirit lives on in my music, because part of it is yours. I’ll be thinking of you often this weekend when I play my first show since we said goodbye. Playing the song “I will remember you” by Sarah McLauchlan will always have an extra special meaning for me.
Rock and Roll man
December 22nd, 2005 at 1:22 pm
Bostford street,where I first met you long ago,still has the house we use to jam at.Every time I drive by it I think about the old band,playing at the Warehouse Pub, and tossing a few back with Don the bartender.Even then,when I was a stupid kid,you cut through the crap and pushed what was really important.Family,friends,fun and the funk.Gotta say thanks for showing me a side to music that has become my personal passion .I know we’ll have a Botsford Street Blues Band reunion.I think Chris B. hit the nail on the head by saying your spirit lives in the music and it’s really cool to think that you’ll be with me every time I play the blues because of what you taught me about it.Thanks brother.I owe ya!
June 8th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
It’s been a little over a year since Chris phoned me. I was so shocked to hear his voice – I recognized it immediately although we hadn’t spoken since 1980(?) – I could barely speak. After I recovered he told me you had left us. I was speechless again. Ha, me speechless! Weren’t you the one who always said my big mouth would get me in trouble someday? Chris said you made a choice, and I’m glad you followed your heart. But I miss you.