Post by strat-0 on May 22, 2007 19:10:50 GMT -5
I hate to start this on a downer, but...
I originally posted this at CE, but I don't think it was viewed by more than a couple. At least, I sort of hope that's the case. Thanks, Thorny.
It was a pretty significant event for us live music people in Birmingham and for me personally. We actually knew each other a pretty good bit from playing the same venues and events and stuff. 54 years old. Too young. The word from his fiance is that he did indeed OD (on something or other). RIP, Topper...
...Sad day for live music in Birmingham. Shared many a venue with this guy. He had a lot of class. The Mojos even had an original tune about him that we used to play regularly. He'll be missed. He was a big coke head and boozer, too...
Local musician Topper Price dies
Friday, May 18, 2007
MARY COLURSO
News staff writer
Terry O'Neil "Topper" Price, one of the most recognizable figures on Birmingham's music scene, died Wednesday at his Southside apartment.
Mr. Price, 54, a blues-rock singer and harmonica player, made his fame here over 20 years with colorful, gritty, sometimes wildly exuberant performances at nightclubs and festivals.
The cause of his death is unknown. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office is awaiting tests. Mr. Price's fiancee, Kelly Casey, said the musician wasn't suffering from illness. "I'm supposed to be planning a wedding, not a funeral," Casey said. "He was an incredible guy. He had one of the kindest hearts I've ever met in my life."
Funeral arrangements were incomplete Thursday. Casey said cremation was likely, followed by a memorial service. Mr. Price was born in the Plateau community near Mobile, and had no close relatives in the Birmingham area, she said.
The musician, did, however, have many friends, fans and colleagues as the result of his frequent concerts at nightspots such as the Garage, 22nd Street Jazz Cafe, Metro Bistro & Market and Ona's Music Room.
Mr. Price also was a mainstay at the City Stages festival, Birmingham Jam, Do Dah Day and events organized by the Magic City Blues Society.
He performed throughout the Southeast and occasionally sat in with high-profile acts such as Gregg Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Delbert McClinton and the Subdudes.
"Topper gave a lot of joy to people in this town," said Paul Walters, president of the blues society. "There was something magnetic about him. He was the top harmonica player in the state, with a unique and powerful style. When you're talking about blues in Birmingham, you're talking about Topper Price."
Mr. Price didn't usually discuss his past with outsiders, but during an interview several years ago with The Birmingham News, he mentioned a tough childhood that was eased by his love of music. "Music has been a salvation for me my whole life," said Mr. Price, who started playing in bands as a teenager.
Mr. Price recorded two CDs during his career, "Long Way From Home" and "Nature (Part 1)." Casey said he had recently completed his third disc, tentatively called "Nature (Part 2)," in a home studio and was looking forward to its release. "It was an extremely long time in the making," Casey said. "But it was the most important thing he had going on. He was very, very proud of it."
During his performances, Mr. Price played a wide variety of material, including originals, soul standards, rock tunes and blues classics. Eddy Arnold's "You Don't Know Me" and Howlin' Wolf's "Worried About You Baby" became two of his signature songs.
Debbie Bond, an Alabama blueswoman and longtime friend of Mr. Price's, praised his instrumental skills and ability to lead a band. "He could definitely put on a show," Bond said. "His musicianship was at the highest level."
Mr. Price wasn't formally known as a teacher, but he did have an influence over young musicians, including soul singer, harmonica player and "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks. Hicks said he would sneak into nightclubs as a teenager to hear Mr. Price perform, and was influenced by his showmanship. Mr. Price would drop to his knees during solos and moved on stage with flamboyant passion. "He was not only a harmonica player, he was an entertainer," Hicks said. "He taught me the difference. I remember when he was playing at The Mill; there was a banister on stage and he used to wrap his leg around it. That really struck me. He was one of the finest harmonica players that I've heard. He had a great voice. He was the real deal - a bluesman."
I originally posted this at CE, but I don't think it was viewed by more than a couple. At least, I sort of hope that's the case. Thanks, Thorny.
It was a pretty significant event for us live music people in Birmingham and for me personally. We actually knew each other a pretty good bit from playing the same venues and events and stuff. 54 years old. Too young. The word from his fiance is that he did indeed OD (on something or other). RIP, Topper...
...Sad day for live music in Birmingham. Shared many a venue with this guy. He had a lot of class. The Mojos even had an original tune about him that we used to play regularly. He'll be missed. He was a big coke head and boozer, too...
Local musician Topper Price dies
Friday, May 18, 2007
MARY COLURSO
News staff writer
Terry O'Neil "Topper" Price, one of the most recognizable figures on Birmingham's music scene, died Wednesday at his Southside apartment.
Mr. Price, 54, a blues-rock singer and harmonica player, made his fame here over 20 years with colorful, gritty, sometimes wildly exuberant performances at nightclubs and festivals.
The cause of his death is unknown. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office is awaiting tests. Mr. Price's fiancee, Kelly Casey, said the musician wasn't suffering from illness. "I'm supposed to be planning a wedding, not a funeral," Casey said. "He was an incredible guy. He had one of the kindest hearts I've ever met in my life."
Funeral arrangements were incomplete Thursday. Casey said cremation was likely, followed by a memorial service. Mr. Price was born in the Plateau community near Mobile, and had no close relatives in the Birmingham area, she said.
The musician, did, however, have many friends, fans and colleagues as the result of his frequent concerts at nightspots such as the Garage, 22nd Street Jazz Cafe, Metro Bistro & Market and Ona's Music Room.
Mr. Price also was a mainstay at the City Stages festival, Birmingham Jam, Do Dah Day and events organized by the Magic City Blues Society.
He performed throughout the Southeast and occasionally sat in with high-profile acts such as Gregg Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Delbert McClinton and the Subdudes.
"Topper gave a lot of joy to people in this town," said Paul Walters, president of the blues society. "There was something magnetic about him. He was the top harmonica player in the state, with a unique and powerful style. When you're talking about blues in Birmingham, you're talking about Topper Price."
Mr. Price didn't usually discuss his past with outsiders, but during an interview several years ago with The Birmingham News, he mentioned a tough childhood that was eased by his love of music. "Music has been a salvation for me my whole life," said Mr. Price, who started playing in bands as a teenager.
Mr. Price recorded two CDs during his career, "Long Way From Home" and "Nature (Part 1)." Casey said he had recently completed his third disc, tentatively called "Nature (Part 2)," in a home studio and was looking forward to its release. "It was an extremely long time in the making," Casey said. "But it was the most important thing he had going on. He was very, very proud of it."
During his performances, Mr. Price played a wide variety of material, including originals, soul standards, rock tunes and blues classics. Eddy Arnold's "You Don't Know Me" and Howlin' Wolf's "Worried About You Baby" became two of his signature songs.
Debbie Bond, an Alabama blueswoman and longtime friend of Mr. Price's, praised his instrumental skills and ability to lead a band. "He could definitely put on a show," Bond said. "His musicianship was at the highest level."
Mr. Price wasn't formally known as a teacher, but he did have an influence over young musicians, including soul singer, harmonica player and "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks. Hicks said he would sneak into nightclubs as a teenager to hear Mr. Price perform, and was influenced by his showmanship. Mr. Price would drop to his knees during solos and moved on stage with flamboyant passion. "He was not only a harmonica player, he was an entertainer," Hicks said. "He taught me the difference. I remember when he was playing at The Mill; there was a banister on stage and he used to wrap his leg around it. That really struck me. He was one of the finest harmonica players that I've heard. He had a great voice. He was the real deal - a bluesman."
