Dear friends, To say that today was the most moving day of my life would be to make an understatement as vast as the cosmos. I just got home and wanted to remember some of what happened - because I am - shall we say - not quite sober at present and I know that I'll want to remember this later. But I thought I'd share it with you now - because I'll bet that somewhere tonight you're raising a glass in E's honor too - and feelin' the power of the mojo. The Eric E.Stanley BeBop Boogie & Blues Mojo! Love & irie vibes of Jah oneness, Ron ****************************************** Memorial Service for Eric E. "Rick" Stanley, It started off with the sound of Muddy Water's "Hoochie Couchie Man" slinking through the P.A. system at the Arthur Ashe Center then it turned into a huge New Orleans Jazz Processional a thousand people long complete with wailin' Dixieland Blues horns that snaked outside around the block and then back inside with Rick's pallbearers carrying his ashes into the center in an ornate ebony African chest with a Blues harp on it where it was placed on a special table at the foot of the stage. All throughout the huge Jazz Precessional, friends laughed, cried, hugged each other and shared memories of Rick with each other. We felt the music wash over us and we felt his spirit with us. The 360 degree spectrum of the thousand plus people present gave proud testament and regal dignity to the amazing man Eric E. "Rick" Stanley was and the deep and far reaching impact he had on all those around him and especially the city he loved - Richmond. A stage and sound system had been set up and the floor was packed with people reaching up into the bleachers. The mayor came and gave a speech. Governor Warner sent an official proclamation from the Governor's office expressing his deepest condolences on behalf of the entire state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. All three area TV stations sent news crews and footage of Rick's memorial service and precession were shown on the evening news. Friends, family and Rick's lovely wife Marilyn and daughter Erin, all shared memories and love for E. Musician after musician sang his praises and testified to how much he had done for music in Richmond. Several ministers testified that while Rich was not a "religious" person - that he had always said "Me & Jesus - we got us a cool relationship." But that E was a very spiritual person that indeed had the true love of God in his heart - his love for his fellow man. I'll say amen to that. An amazing collective of some of the finest muiscians in the state - from all genres of music - assembled and began playing some of E's favorite songs "Christo Redemptor" as a Jazz Spiritual with incredibly moving clarinet, sax and trumpet solos then keyboards and rhythm section kicked in and slid it into a hot and pulsating rendition of "Sweet Home Chicago" that rocked the house in true "BeBop, Boogie & Blues Review tradition! Then it all broke loose, Rick's ashes were picked up once again and carried outside New Orleans Jazz Funeral-style with the band leading the way wailing a soulful rendition of "When The Saints Go Marching In". The Processional then carried Rick's ashes across the street to Dabney's Restaurant & Jazz Club on Robinhood Rd. where everyone present in the packed to the walls club was treated to a huge Soul Food buffet of fried chicken, roast beef, potatoes, rice, vegatables, desserts, and downhome sweet tea. At this point, stories, legends, myths, alcohol and impressive displays of delightful and bodashus BS ( The kind E. loved! ) began to ensue and love and irie vibes began to flow in a most amazing and profoundly moving way. The mix of people and the representation given to E's memory was a moving and humbling testament to the special and unique character E. truly was. If you judge a person solely by how much money they made in their life Rick was no millionaire, but if you judge a person's wealth by how much they were loved and how much love they gave back - and inspired in others - then Eric E. "Rick" Stanley was one of the richest men that ever walked the planet. And he had style too. Yessir! I'm talkin' STYLE! Rick Stnaley had some style! After the entire bar at Dabney's had enjoyed a beautiful and delicious soul food dinner - the entire bar - and I mean the ENTIRE bar - everyone in the house - was served a shot glass of Jack Daniels - brought out all at once on huge trays - and we all raised our glasses and toasted Rick and shouted out our love for him. We felt him with us. We all felt the special love and spiritual connection Rick was always able to conjure with his music - and his smile - only we felt it this time as pure energy - the cosmic kind that brings people from all walks of life, from all over the country - the world - people that might not normally ever know each other - Rick brought us all together - as the better side of humankind - and had us all toast a shot together and feel the power of his righteous & wickedly wonderful mojo. That was the kind of man Rick Stanley was. His whole life - he never stood in a line he didn't start. So Rick, ...bro ...I know you're lookin' down and smilin' today brother because you got a send-off like none I've ever seen before and will likely never see again. You were as inspiring and outrageous in your passing as you were in your life. And that's saying something. You're a class act and a hard one to follow. You inspired so much love, fun and good times to so many - that so many came to give testament and to share & reflect that love back is moving beyond words. It can only be said in song - because music has the power to say what words and images can't. It is it's own dimention and it's own force of nature. You taught me that - not just with the music you played - but with your life. The Pen is mightier than the Sword - but a mean guitar riff and a fatback boogie beat will kick both their asses! Muddy Waters, a Jazz precession a thousand people long, a proclamation from the Governor, a speech by the mayor and Jack Daniels for everybody - on the house. Yes sir, Mr. Eric E. "Rick" Stanley - you had style brother - you had STYLE!!! God bless you - you were one of his most beautiful creations. We love you, we miss you, we'll never forget you. with deep respect, Ron Smith CafeMojo.org
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