Fri., May 9 – A celebration of the life of Scott Gibson
May 8th, 2008 by Amanda Schurr in Arts, Music, News
Friends and Loafers,
Make plans to come by The Distillery (108 44th Ave. E., Bradenton, 739-7845) tomorrow evening, Friday, May 9 from 10 p.m.-2 a.m., for a musical celebration of the life of Scott Gibson, beloved friend, artist and Sarasota fixture. Gibson died Tuesday at age 41.
Members from local act The Big Kahuna Band, Chris Guertin and Dave Clegg, were set to do a gig with their old pal and colleague Scott tomorrow night, and per Chris’ My Space bulletin, “We’re gonna go ahead and do it, and we’re inviting all that knew him to come out & play.”
See you then, and check back here at The 941 for more images, sound files and memories of a true Sarasotan whose presence touched so many in this community and beyond.
May 11th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I am writing to the family of my dear friend Scott B. Gibson. I first met Scott 35 years ago through my Brother John Beck. We grew up in the same small neighborhood together. John and Scott use to play together and Scott would spend time at our house. I remember his amazing parents~ Charles and Paula and the great fish pond we use to love to see when visiting. I can only begin to convey that Scott was well designed with an uncany wit and the purest heart of anyone I have ever known. His friendship with John has been a paramount dynamic throughout not only my life as well the life of my brother’s. I knew Scott as a presider, provider and protector. When Scott,John and I would go somewhere I always felt safe walking between the two of them. Scott would always call me “honey” whenever something in my own life seemed to not make sense. Scott was, is and always will be my Warrior! Somehow he just knew how to make that better for me and I believe for everyone. I have known Scott, through his earliest days when he and John would play out back of the Gibson’s home. I can only being to tell his family that I loved him immensely, that his amazing smile and even more crazy laugh will resignate with me eternally. Scott to me had an “incandescent” presence. I can only begin to convey the height and depth of my heart in regard to Scotty. I want his family to know that I am and always will be forever grateful for sharing him with me if only for a little while. Both John and I are forever changed because of Scott. We laughed, lived and loved with him and I want his family to know that dynamic. I can only leave you with these words ” I truly love your son~ Scott~ to me was the very best of men. And in my heart he will remain just that way.
My dearest personal regards,
Lisa L. Beck
May 11th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
What can i say about my friend Scott”the hurricane”Gibson. A force of nature to be reckoned with. A man tortured by music and women. One of my dearest friends. Someone so connected to his feelings and the spiritual realm around him. Someone able to listen to you no matter how far out there you might be at that moment. The hand i could count on to pull me out of self doubt. My voice of reason. The magnet drawing me back to reality. Scott is the guy i would call to get me through the things like this. Now is the time to remember everything we loved about scotty, his voice , his honesty and of course his laugh. In wine there’s truth, in life there’s death. A lesson i’m still not ready to learn. However, i for one, feel a little safer with him watching over me. Although i would much rather him be a phone call away. Even if the chances of him answering are slim to none. I will miss our tennis matches of phone tag. Trying to leave a message and all i hear is “mailbox full”. Throwing my clenched fists in the air yelling “Scott Gibson check your voicemail”!One of us finally getting through and the other doesn’t have time to talk. I’ll remember being in Key West talking to you for the last time, although i didn’t know it then. “must be nice” were your last words to me, and it was!
Finally i want to say from one self proclaimed ‘master of the universe’ to another…i love you and miss you deeply. My heart aches for my friend. In the lyrics of Billy Joe Armstrong “so make the best of this test and don’t ask why, it’s not a question but a lesson learned in time’ it’s something unpredictable but in the end it’s right, i hope you had the time of your life”
Scotty i will miss you forever, remember you often and live in your honor.
Love, Bronwen
May 12th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
My time with Scott was few and far between but always a time to remember. The first time I met him was on my birthday and never having met me shows up with a fabulous gift in hand. A black cowboy hat with a red star and told me his friends said it was gay and to give it to the next hot girl he sees. Well apparently the shoe fit and I will treasure it always. I remember the nights walking with Bronwen her phone on speaker as Scotty sang through the line “Purple Rain” as his phone lay on the stage. I thought there would be so much more time and memories to be had. Scott you were a shining star with amazing intellect and energy. You will be missed dearly and I know you have many angels to watch over but check in on me every now and then I certainly need it. Much love always….
May 14th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
This message goes from my heart to the family and friends of Scotty Gibson and particularly to his brother, Terry, who made the tremendous effort of finding my cell phone number on one of Scotty’s old cell phones and leaving me a very personal message about Scott’s passing. That really touched my heart just as Scotty did so many times. One of Terry’s voicemail comments was:….”well if this is the Randy that Scotty spoke of often, then please get on this Blog and make a comment”. So here goes…. As others have written, Scotty was a generous, wonderful person who did touch many people through his music, his words and his actions. He certainly made a difference in my life and I thank him for all that he gave me.
I am also thankful to see that their have been a number of wonderful memorials and on-going musical events in Scotty’s honor. That’s what he would have wanted and I am sure that he’s been smiling his great smile down on all during all of those events. I was in New Orleans when I heard of Scotty’s passing and had some travel difficulties to get back Florida to attend those events. Also, the last time that Scott and I had some real quality time together was in New Orleans at one great day and night during the Jazz Fest. He was doing one of his grueling road trips from New Mexico to St. Pete, and stopped in NOLA for one night that I think turned into two…in typical Scotty fashion…as he always grabbed for all that he could find in music and food and friendship. I certainly toasted him many times during my stay there in NOLA this year. I know that those toasts reached him.
One final comment about Scotty’s wonderful, giving nature. Scotty gave me a talisman necklace that I still always wear around my neck and next to my heart and I will wear it for the rest of my life to show my respect and admiration for him. I had lost a couple of talismans that I got in Australia and Scotty knew how much they meant to me. He calls me one night and says “Randy, I have another talisman that I have that I want to give to you”.
I thought that he meant something like a “spare” that he had lying around his house. Later that evening, we see each other at the Thirsty Whale and he takes this beautiful purple glass terrapin talisman from around his neck and puts it around my neck. He said that he it got about 12 years ago in Taos, NM and with his big wonderful smile, “Randy, I want you to have this”. It is around my neck now and over my heart….just as Scotty is with me in my heart.
Thank you, Scotty, for being you! With loving regards to all his friends and family, Randy
May 16th, 2008 at 8:12 am
To all Scott’s friends and relatives,
I send you all of my prayers and condolences. I had known Scott for 20 years now even though I had not stayed in touch. He was always there in my head whenever I wanted to play the guitar because he was the one who set aside time to teach me. I have never heard anyone else grace the strings of any instrument the way he did. I remember him playing flight of the bumblebee as if it were a dove basking in the sun. He was always so full of life and this seems to be what is unfair. I want to screem at the heavens WHY??? It wouldn’t give him back though. For all of us who shared event a glimpse of Scott’s life, I can only say it is us who have been so truelly blessed!
Sincerely,
Frances Brown