Funeral For a Friend: Canada Bob RIP

I read an email from Canada Bob's sister, Tracey, Tuesday morning.  While I attempted to drink my coffee, I no longer cared about breakfast.  All I could do was sit there and cry and try to type a response to her.  Tracey told me in her e-mail that Bob had died suddenly on Sunday (August 13th, 2023) and his funeral was scheduled for the following Wednesday.  Canada Bob RIP.

Bob or "Canada Bob" as I called him due to his strong Canadian accent (eh) started calling during the pandemic.  At a time when the entire planet was feeling isolated and unsure, this guy living alone in an apartment in Essex called me and kept calling me.  I put Bob on my show a lot.  He had a very unique sense of humor and he was nuts: both of these qualities I truly adored.  Bob always had something to say in a very unique and humorous way.

Below is the picture Bob's family used for his funeral. I asked Tracey if she had any other photos, but she said Bob was very humble and didn't get in many photos.  It's a great picture of Bob but it looks nothing like what I thought Bob would look like.  He probably thought the same of me.  Bob was not on the internet in any capacity.  Neither of us ever knew what the other looked like, not that it mattered.

A couple of years back, Bob made sure I played a request for his mom on her birthday and even put that sweet lady on the phone to speak with me.  She must have thought I was nuts too.  I guess I am because I did it.  I did it because I knew it meant something to Bob.  I think he knew her health was failing and he wanted to do something special for her.

One year, Bob mailed a check to me.  It was a donation for the Salvation Army Red Kettle fundraiser.  I help raise funds for the Red Cross every December and Bob wanted to support me.

Bob called me 3-5 times a week every week for the last three years. Every time he called, he was in high spirits (with the exception of right after his mom's passing).  He made me laugh pretty much every time.  Whether it was suggesting "blue" as a Blue Plate Special theme or letting me know that his consulting services were available through RJ Melnik Consulting (Bob's initials and name), he was just a good, funny dude.  I'm sure Bob made his share of mistakes and had his life struggles, but the Bob I spoke with daily was solid sunshine and always easy to laugh.

Tracey asked if I'd play a song for Bob.  I suggested "Touch of Grey" since the Grateful Dead was one of Bob's favorite bands and it was a joyful song about getting older.  Tracey asked if I could also play "Free Bird" for the family.  Tracey asked if at all possible, if could I play the songs at 11am on the day of Bob's funeral.  She said that would give the priest time to speak and the family would listen to the radio at 11am to hear the songs.  Out of anything I could possibly do to honor Bob, playing requests and saying something about Bob at his funeral... while on the radio, well, I don't know how I could possibly be a part of anything that Bob would love more.

I have been in radio for a lot of years.  I have never been part of someone's funeral while on air.  I am still beyond sad, but I can't help but smile thinking of how much Bob would love this.  I will miss your calls and our chats so much.  Thank you for sharing your life with us... with me, Bob. Canada Bob RIP.  Shine on you crazy diamond.

UPDATE: Tracey just sent me pictures from Bob's funeral.  They put a WCSX sticker on Bob's casket and buried him with some WCSX shirts that I had sent Bob.  The ribbon on his casket spray reads "Canada Bob."

Syd Barrett passed away 11 years ago today (July 7), and besides being Pink Floyd’s founding guitarist/frontman, one of his other biggest contributions to the band’s history is serving as the inspiration to “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” an epic and favorite among fans the world over.

The song was split into nine parts that book-ended Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, with parts one through five acting as side one/track one and parts six through nine as side two/track three.  Out of the band for several years due to various mental issues, Barrett coincidentally went to visit his old band while they were recording the album, and the day he arrived in the studio was the day they were laying down the lyric for “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”

Of course, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” isn’t the only tribute track in rock history.  In honor of the anniversary of Barrett’s passing, we assembled a playlist of other notable tribute songs and who they honor.

Pink Floyd – “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”
Alice Cooper – “Desperado” (Tribute to Jim Morrison)
AC/DC – “Back In Black” (Tribute to Bon Scott)
Neil Young – “The Needle & the Damage Done” (Tribute to Crazy Horse bandmate Danny Whitten)
George Harrison – “All Those Years Ago” (Tribute to John Lennon)
U2 – “Angel of Harlem” (Tribute to Billie Holiday)

Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock reporter. The first man she ever loved was Jack Daniel.  True story.