Bob Guida Tribute, 09.13.09
Today, September 25, 2009, marks my one year anniversary of drawing live at the Jalopy Theater. On the evening of September 25, 2008, my husband and I had the pleasure of experiencing the late Bob Guida, playing and singing like a great, big angel. I sketched, and it became the start of my live drawing project and my upcoming exhibition. This sketch now hangs on the wall at Jalopy, right between the refrigerator and the bar.
Bob Guida on 09.25.08. Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 209, all rights reserved
Bob Guida died suddenly on March 11, 2009. On September 13, 2009, the Jalopy hosted a tribute celebration of his life and music.
I never got to meet Bob Guida, to my great regret, but I’m very glad to have gotten to know his wife, Phyllis, a little bit now. I’d often heard Bob described as “a beautiful person,” and Phyllis is like that, too. She spoke movingly and eloquently about her husband, and announced that through the Jalopy, she has set up a scholarship program in her husband’s name. The fund is for young music students who may need a little financial assistance.
Phyllis Guida, 09.13.09. Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009, all rights reserved
This man was not only a widely respected musician and singer, but a cherished friend of many. His friends and family gathered to play music and share memories. The show lasted approximately four hours. I tried to draw everyone, and only got most. I’m working on getting ID’s of everyone I drew that day. In the meantime, here they are:
Pat Conte, Joe Bellulovich, and Mike Conte, 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
Pat Conte, who organized and directed the show, is on the left.
Danny Axelrod, 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
Trip Henderson and Shlomo Pestcoe, 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
Phil Allen, 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
Ernesto Gomez, 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
Guy Valic, 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
Michael Greene, Jack Hirschorn (photographing), and Mike Saccolitti, 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
Peter Kohman and Mamie Minch, 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
Brad Vickers and Eddie Lee Isaacs, 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
The Cameron Brothers and Bob (The Revtones), 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
Joe Bellulovich and Pat Conte, 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
Gary Tabita and Luis Macia, 09.13.09 Drawing copyright Robin Hoffman, 2009
When people speak about Bob Guida, I feel like he was someone who helped his fellow man believe in humanity, just be being himself. As I work on this post I am listening to Bob Guida’s last album, “Believe,” released posthumously. It’s a collection of Gospel songs.
Tags: American Roots Music, Bob Guida, Brad Vickers, Brooklyn Music, Danny Axelrod, Eddie Lee Isaacs, Ernesto Gomez, Folk Music, Gary Tabita, Guy Valic, Jack Hirschorn, Jalopy Theater, Joe Bellulovich, Luis Macia, Mamie Minch, Michael Greene, Mike Conte, Mike Saccolitti, Pat Conte, Peter Kohman, Phil Allen, Phyllis Guida, Robin Hoffman, Shlomo Pestcoe, The Revtones, Trip Henderson
6 Responses
frankie
Friday, 25. September 2009
these are beautiful, robin! thanks for sharing!
frankie
Carolyn Clarke
Monday, 28. September 2009
Hi Robin,
Your work is beautiful, especially the drawing of my beautiful brother, Bobby. Thank you. It was a wonderful day. I know Bobby was with us.
Fondly,
Carolyn Clarke
Robin
Tuesday, 29. September 2009
Thanks so much for writing, Carolyn! It was certainly my priviledge to be there to witness.
Eddie Lee Isaacs
Monday, 12. October 2009
Hi Robin; sorry I haven’t had the chance to meet you, and I was at the Django fest and sitting down the aisle from you while you were sketching. This is a lovely posting, and “Believe”, Mister Guida’s posthumously released cd is certainly “otherworldly”… simply fantastic. This is a very talented man, and you are as well, and thank you for the flattering sketch of me!
Brad Vickers/Margey Peters
Monday, 12. October 2009
It was wonderful to have the opportunity to come together at the Jalopy Theatre to remember and honor Bob Guida. These drawings are lovely, and help to sustain the memory of that beautiful day.
Bob’s own image is, of course, indelible!
Thanks for posting this.
-Brad & Margey
Michael Greene
Monday, 2. November 2009
Hey, Robin, great stuff–I didn’t see you sketching while I was up there playing–it does look like me…good luck with your show. You missed quite a treat not knowing Bob Guida–a one-of-a-kind human being that doesn’t come along that often in life. There’s a big emptiness in my life now since Bob and my friendship went way beyond the music, though it was the music that certainly kept us friends for 30 years.
Thanks for the great sketches,
Michael Greene