Jay Gabbard is dead. You probably didn't know him unless you were from Juniper Hills or went to Frankfort High in the 70's. A very talented guy hampered and ended by the old demon alcohol. He always reminded me a little of Roy Clark from Hee Haw with a very dark side. He almost literally killed me a few times. Most recently at Thanksgiving when he stepped on my foot. He would make the scene in the garage when we were playing and depending on how drunk he was, would want to "produce". I had to set limits which made me "uncool". Served me well at my day job.
He could catch a football, paint, and tune a guitar by ear making him a renaissance man in our parts. A descendant of the mountains, he carried that Eastern KY paranoia in all his dealings. His relations brought bushels of mountain grass with the pissing of summer lawns. He was a good argument for weed over alcohol (except when it made him psychotic).
He was too shy to publicly perform. My lieutenant, Mike Feedback, captured many a session on his trusty tape recorder and always claimed the best stuff went undocumented. Legend has it that he got up to jam with Bonnie and Dave at the Pizza Inn Lounge and passed out guitar in hand after he was introduced to the crowd. I know Mike and Ronnie D will miss him greatly. I miss him too.