RIP Richie Hayward: 1946-2010 - Ward Pond's SQL Server ...

Sad, sad news today from the worlds of music and friendship: Richie Hayward – founding member, drummer, writer, and singer in the seminal American rock and roll band Little Feat – Thirty-five years, in round numbers, including the lean years in the eighties when there was no new Little Feat music. Like all great American stories, Little Feat had an incredible second (and third..  Dennis came to rehearsal one night and told us that Little Feat was playing a benefit for the theater (“Feats for Seats”), as several of their family members had served on its Board of Directors over the years.  That night, I met my musical heroes, and I was welcomed into the amazing Little Feat family. In the mid-‘90s, when Little Feat took over their own promotional work and used fan volunteers to great effect, I was the regional FeatFan coordinator for Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Arkansas.  Every time they come to town, Gale and I go to the show and hang with the band, and every time, we spend a little more time there.  Gale took particular interest in Richie’s tour book, a minute-to-minute guide that the road manager assembles for each member of the band when they’re on the road.  Richie went over it with her in great detail, and confessed that he’d never seen anyone outside of the band quite so interested in a tour book. When Richie would come off-stage after a particularly epic show, his sweaty face would split into an ear-to-ear grin as he said, “ My thoughts and prayers go out tonight to Richie’s incredible wife, Shauna, his son, Severin, and the rest of the Hayward and Little Feat families. Rest in peace, Richie, and thanks to you and your family for all the years you spent on the proud highway, bringing joy through your music.