now we have featured Todd Snider before and he makes me laugh but this is precess . . . . . Louie Louie!
If anyone noticed the similarity between Todd and John Prine’s talking between songs on stage there is this!
Makes John seem succinct!
"It’s hard to accept that Todd Snider (@toddsniderlive ) is gone. It’s shocking, heartbreaking and feels so unfair. Todd meant so much to us here at Oh Boy on many different levels, it’s been a struggle for us to find the right words. So we will spend some time sharing memories, stories, pictures, and of course songs over the coming days.
One thing that we’ve never really properly acknowledged is that working with Todd allowed us to become a “real” record label - not just a vehicle for releasing John Prine music. He laid the foundation for much of what we do now in supporting the next generation of performing songwriters.
On a personal level, he was so kind and generous with everyone here (and with all the Prine family), especially after John passed."
We are saddened to hear of the death of Todd Snider (59) and news is still coming in and unfolding that may be distressing to some
His label issued the following announcement:
Aimless, Inc. Headquarters is heartbroken to share that our Founder, our Folk Hero, our Poet of the World, our Vice President of the Abrupt Change Dept., the Storyteller, our beloved Todd Daniel Snider has departed this world. Where do we find the words for the one who always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essence with words and song while delivering the most devastating, hilarious, and impactful turn of phrases? Always creating rhyme and meter that immediately felt like an old friend or a favourite blanket. Someone who could almost always find the humour in this crazy ride on Planet Earth.
He relayed so much tenderness and sensitivity through his songs, and showed many of us how to look at the world through a different lens. He got up every morning and started writing, always working towards finding his place among the songwriting giants that sat on his record shelves, those same giants who let him into their lives and took him under their wings, who he studied relentlessly. Guy Clark, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker.
How do we move forward without the one who gave us countless 90 minute distractions from our impending doom? The one who always had 18 minutes to share a story. We’ll do it by carrying his stories and songs that contain messages of love, compassion, and peace with us. Today, put on one of your favourite Todd Snider records and "play it loud enough to wake up all of your neighbours or at least loud enough to always wake yourself up.” We love you Todd, sail on old friend, we’ll see you again out there on the road somewhere down the line. You will always be a force of nature.
I found this from Angel K who seems to know . . . :
"I need you to understand that Todd Snider is dead in large part because a Utah hospital decided, erroneously, that he was homeless, and more importantly, and in what should be an indictment of this vile society we're living in, they decided that being homeless meant a person didn't deserve care, and it didn't matter how sick he said he was or how much pain he told them he was in, they had who they assumed was a homeless man they deemed inhuman and undeserving arrested instead of giving him the care he was fighting to receive. He has died from *untreated* walking pneumonia because hospital staff routinely neglect homeless people and send them out to die."
Angel Kirchner
To summarise : It seems that he was hospitalised some weeks ago now with suspected pneumonia and then was released, attacked on the street and then it would seem re-admitted but then discharged from Hospital and refused re-admission upon which he was then arrested by police and following his release turned away by a further two more hospitals as staff seem to have been of the impression he was homeless. . . . he was found and pronounced dead some days later . . . .
Todd Snider - "Visions of Johanna"
Dig This said "It is with an earthquake ache that we submit to the loss of Todd Snider at the age of 59.Throughout his career, Todd studied at the feet of songwriting visionaries like Kris Kristofferson, Jimmy Buffett, Guy Clark, John Prine, and Jerry Jeff Walker, sharpening his skills with each interaction with his heroes. Todd had found himself the torchbearer for their type of live-it-to-learn-it songwriting, and has mentored artists from Hayes Carll to Sierra Ferrell along the way.He had become the heartbroken troubadour, the wry observer, and the brilliant itinerant.Today was Todd's time to present his ticket to ride to the Mystery Train conductor.His finale was not pretty.God knows Todd deserved better but I imagine he carried all the laughter, smiles and tears one troubadour could be expected to shoulder in a single, shining lifetime.Sleep Well My Friend."
Dig This