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CRAWLERS GUITARIST RAY BRAND DIES OF CANCER
DECATUR, ALABAMA- Ray Brand, 59, lead and slide guitrist for the
Huntsville based blues band The Crawlers, died at 8:16 pm on July
29, 2005 at his home in Decatur, surrounded by his band mates
and wife, Audrey. Brand had been diagnosed only a week earlier
with terminal cancer that had spread throughout his organs.
Brand spent a number of years as lead guitarist for country outlaw
David Allan Coe. He was also a member of thr rock band Buckeye
in the seventies and performed at the very first Charlie Daniels
Volunteer Jam. As a member of Slaughter Road, Brand opened many
times for the progressive rock band Kansas, befriending the band,
especially guitarist Kerry Livgren. He was employed by Leon Russell’s
Shelter Records for a while, and is credited with naming Pete
Carr’s instrumental album, “Not a Word On It.”
In 1991, Ray, Billy Teichmiller and company formed The Crawlers,
recording a trio of albums, the latest being released just last
year. “Leather and Steel” featured the current lineup
of Billy Teichmiller, Thad Usry, Owen Brown, and Ray. Long time
band mate John Huber also contributed.
Ray acted as co-producer, songwriter and performer on Michael
Buffalo Smith’s 2002 release “Southern Lights”
as well as his 2005 release “Something Heavy,” on
which he co-wrote five songs with Smith.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 3 at noon at Valhallo
in Huntsville. Burial will follow at 2 pm.A Celebration of the
Life of Ray Brand and ArchAngel Benefit concert is being planned
for late August. Details will follow later this week. In addition,
a tribute page to Ray is being assembled for GRITZ. We sure will
miss our brother.
DRU LOMBAR IN COMA
JACKSONVILLE, FLA- Dru Lombar, lead vocalist and guitarist of
Grinderswitch suffered a massive heart attack on Saturday, July
30th and is currently in a coma in the hospital, according to
band mate Eddie Stone.
Dru rocked the house at The Handlebar in Greenville, SC on Saturday,
July 23rd during GRITZFEST, sounding better than ever.
Updates on Dru’s condition will be reported here as soon
as we know more.
LITTLE MILTON CAMPBELL HOSPITALIZED
ALABAMA- Blues great Little Milton Campbell was hospitalized
following a series of strokes on Thursday, and is currently in
ICU, this according to promoter and friend Debbie Dixon. “He
hasn’t opened his eyes in a couple of days,” she said.
Details and updates will be posted as they come in |
