15 comments

1. Richard has been a dear friend for nearly 20 years now and introduced me to electronic music.  His battle with cancer has been heroic and made me admire him even more than I had before.

   There are so few sweet, dear souls amongst us - Richard was among the best and will stay in my heart as a gracious example of how to be.

   – Jo Ann Huffman, Friday, 2 September 2005, 9:04 PM PDT

2. I just found out about Richard, and it makes me so sad. He was just a terrific person. It is hard to think of somebody who was so relentlessly positive and helpful. He was a very talented person, and very generous with his ideas and mentoring. I will miss him dearly.

   – Dana Massie, Tuesday, 11 October 2005, 3:53 PM PDT

3. I played in Richard’s rock band “Salamander” in 1972-74. We had a fun time, and I regret to hear of his passing.

     This is a poetic snapshot of Richard, by my wife Judy, when she came along on one of our gigs in Maine:

   Traveling musician

   on the bunk bed

   practising.

     This isn’t the first time

     he’s been screwed out of a gig

   leans over the guitar

   flesh in mellow light

   very long brown hair

   handle-bar mustache

   getting stocky

   features thickening

   manly strength to his arm

     strumming

     singing quietly

   in the bare room.

    

     - Judy Katz-Levine

   – Barry Levine, Saturday, 15 October 2005, 9:05 AM PDT

4. Wow!  I am so sorry that richard died.  He was my best friend in grade school (sparta, nj).  We tried time and time again to get together in the last few years to no avail.  I was just checking his web site and discovered this today.  He will be missed by many.  My condolences to Pam and his family. H

   – Howard S Raabe, Jr, Sunday, 6 November 2005, 1:53 PM PST

5. I am an old girlfriend of Richard’s from Boston (now Tampa.  He was a fine, extremely creative man with a brilliant mind.  We talked several times a year since parting in the 70s,  Upon learning several years ago of his illnes, I’ve always kept him and Pam in my thoughts.  Please convey my condolences to Pam and please, if there’s any way that I can be of assistance, please let me knowl  Thank you very much,

   Ellie Downes

   – Ellie Downes, Thursday, 1 December 2005, 7:35 AM PST

6. Just found out about Richard’s passing and am still in tears. Like many of you from the Cambridge days of Salamander - we knew him originally by his step father’s name Griggs. I was his younger girl friend for a year 1774-5 just before he left for CA, I accompanied him to the bus in D.C. We have always kept in touch since the days at the infamous “Barn” full of musicians and cats in the mid ‘70's.  Thirty years later in January 2004 my husband Earl son Forrest & I had a great evening together in LA during our cross country travels - he seemed healthy and happy. I am so glad we had the time together.

   I will post photos later. Barn friends - hope you find this -keep in touch, Ellen Chatillon, Gragg Lunford, Pierre Beaugaurd, Doug Jay. Love to all, and especially Pam, Love Lauren d’Ablemont Ragland raglandia@yahoo.com

   – Lauren d'Ablemont Ragland, Friday, 21 July 2006, 8:47 AM PDT

7. I had the pleasure of interviewing Richard about his time with Ill Wind, whose album ‘Flashes’ is loved throughout the world. His guitar playing will be enjoyed for many years to come, that’s for sure.

   – Richard Morton Jack, Tuesday, 24 October 2006, 4:03 AM PDT

8. Hey there - THE BARN friends - the infamous - 1588 Mass Ave - Harvard Square in the 70's - what a time.

   Pierre Beauregaurd - Doug Jay - Ellen Chatillon - Gragg Lunsford - say hello please : raglandia@yahoo.com

   or my web site:  [link]

   let us communicate an incredible time and amazing stories, music and poems.

   Love Lauren d’Ablemont Ragland

   – Lauren d'Ablemont Ragland, Thursday, 29 March 2007, 12:46 AM PDT

9. We worked together in the original Ill Wind, then years later reconnected when he came to a concert I gave at the Ebell Thtre in LA. He was bald, and after all those years of hair, it was a shock, but he was still Richard and we hugged a lot. We visited a little back and forth between LA and San Francisco, kept in touch by phone and talked lots about the illness, all his musical ideas, the old band and cats. I miss his wonderful smile and send warm hugs to Pam.

   – judy frankel, Friday, 25 May 2007, 2:51 PM PDT

10. Well, holy chit. I was talking to someone about poetry and happened to mention Judy Katz-Levine, so I did a web search to find a link to send her. I remember Salamander very well—I was the only non-musician living in the house with most of its original members, or perhaps I should say the members of its precursor band, Blue-Eyed Boy (mr. death). I’m very sorry to hear of his passing. Superb musician, fine human.

    – Freeman Craig Presson, Wednesday, 30 May 2007, 1:53 PM PDT

11. Richard was like a monk on a mountain top for those of us who knew and learned from him about audio and surround sound. I just found about his passing and will miss him greatly.

    – John Loose, Tuesday, 11 September 2007, 3:44 PM PDT

12. Does anyone have any video of performances with/by/for richard.  I do miss him.  Just checking today, that’s all.  howard

    – howard s raabe, jr, Saturday, 1 December 2007, 7:49 PM PST

13. My name is Brittney, Richard was my uncle. I had been thinking about him lately and realized he used to have a website and wanted to google it for good memories.  I came across this one and saw all the nice comments made about him.  He’s the kind of fascinating person you always learn something new about, thats what i love about him.  I’ve always felt as though my uncle and I have had sort of a connection. I was even almost born on his birthday, though i came one day later.  I miss him very much.  I miss his philosophy and his outlook on life, his passion for music, his creativity and uniqueness, his intelligence, and his love for his family and life.  I feel like he left too soon, just as everyone feels when they lose a loved one.  It would make me so happy to hear any stories about him to keep his spirit alive.  I’ll make sure to check this site often.

    -God Bless Richard-

    – Brittney, Sunday, 6 January 2008, 7:10 PM PST

14. Richard - I never knew what a friend I had.  I played bass in the Zvonar Band in Santa Cruz, CA - a long time ago.  Every time I pick up my instrument, I think of Richard and the things we went through together.  We both were led by the same audio engineering gurus - Bob Beede & Brian Eno.  I haven’t seen Richard in over 30 years, but were he to show up next week, I think we could tune up & take off like we always did.  I honor him.  He was more than inspirational, he was a manifestation of spirit itself.  I hope that spirit lives on in the music and hearts of everyone.

    – Koert Maher, Wednesday, 6 February 2008, 9:41 PM PST

15. I sang with the Zvonar Band in the 70's. Richard was an extraordinarily generous musician--in a world full of jock divos, he got excited about other people’s music, and kindly allowed me to do some of my own stuff with him. My favorite song of his from back then was “Motorhome”, this amazing song I still think of whenever I see an Airstream. (Wally Byam! Wally Byam! Wally Byam! Watch ‘im on the TV!)

    He’s lookin’ down at us from his motorhome in the sky now. You blessed us, Richard. Thanks.

    – Catherine LeDuc, Saturday, 5 April 2008, 6:54 PM PDT

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