Buffalo lost a musical legend on Jan 4th, 2015. There was a wonderful and moving tribute concert, then a funeral celebration of the life of Lance Diamond, both at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo this past weekend. After those events, continuing on with the business of regular life and doing a video shoot for one of the NYC bands I work with seems like a most lonely affair.
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| Lance's picture on display at Kleinhans |
Over the last week, there were many conversations with old friends and heart-warming stories about one of the best entertainers that I have ever had the privilege to know. We remembered a consummate performer, a true friend, and a beautiful soul. A group of us went in the studio and finished up one of Lance's unfinished original songs to be played at his tribute concert. A whole community of Buffalo musicians played their instruments and sang their hearts out for him at the tribute. People who knew him best got up and shared their heartfelt stories. City and county officials read proclamations and declared Lance Diamond Day in the city of Buffalo and the county of Erie. The Goo Goo Dolls gave an emotional performance of their hit song "Name" - a song they first played for Lance, who said it would change their lives. During the tribute, Lance's hat and scarf sat on a stool behind a microphone and stand meant for him, and remained there at center stage the whole time. At his sister's request, the whole audience stood and gave him one last standing ovation. I felt so blessed to be among this family. I could write forever about all of the beautiful old memories and about the new memories we created this past week.
So many incredible moments stand out. Lance affected everyone he knew, and everyone who saw his shows, in amazing ways - and that's a lot of people. I heard someone on the news say, "If you don't know Lance Diamond, you're not from Buffalo." I believe, as do many others, that Buffalo itself would indeed be a different place if it had not had the distinct honor of counting among its residents the beautiful spirit and person of our friend, Lance Diamond. In the music community of Buffalo, we are like a big family - one that I cherish dearly - and he was like the Godfather of us all.
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| with Juanita Simmons and Sandra Toussaint backstage at the Kleinhans tribute concert |
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| After the concert with Dolly Dee, Joey Diggs and Caitlin Koch |
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| After the concert with Russ and Shawn McQuiller (of Kool & the Gang) |
It's hard to pick one moment to note here from this past week - they all come flooding back. There is a specific one though, that I will try to hold on to forever. Someone (many people actually) remembered a time when Lance was the guy they turned to when they could turn to no one else. Lance had been there for them - without questions or judgements - as a true friend. I remembered a time when I turned to him also. I brightened at the thought that THAT was what I should do now, reach inside and find my "inner Lance" when someone needs a friend. When someone needs a friend, I should be there - like Lance was for so many of us. I am going to do just that and call it "the Lance effect."
I will remember that this week, and this year and hopefully for the rest of my life.
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| Russ and me with Lance - at one of his shows |
As Lance would say, "The show must go on." So I am off to my video shoot. I will entertain and sing and do the best job that I can (another thing Lance would do, and that he would insist that I do too).
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| Last page of the tribute program |
Thank you Lance - for teaching us all so much, for bringing us all together, for showing us all how it's done and for everything you've done to make us all better for having known you.
You are in my heart forever - and with that spark there, I will shine bright as the sun. The show must go on. I carry you with me.
Namaste,
T
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