Derek Bell [RIP]

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 11:38 am

Excuse the double posting but for those of you who don't read the ITM Forum, just heard the news on the radio that the Chieftains' harper Derek Bell died today.

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 11:43 am

More detail here:

http://www.rte.ie/news2/2002/1017/chieftains.html

Teri-K · Post by **Teri-K** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 11:53 am

Very sad news.

T

TelegramSam · Post by **TelegramSam** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 11:55 am

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 11:57 am

More sad news. He'll be greatly missed.

MurphyStout · Post by **MurphyStout** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 12:44 pm

Very sad news. Derek was a great harper, a great human being and one of the funniest people I've ever had the pleasure to meet. He will be missed.

LeeMarsh · Post by **LeeMarsh** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 1:15 pm

The music will be less with his passing
even as it grows from the weight of the loss.

A lament for music,

Lee Marsh

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-10-17 15:16 ]</font>

AnnaDMartinez · Post by **AnnaDMartinez** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 1:17 pm

That's why we need to treasure these musicans, they just don't live forever!

DRC · Post by **DRC** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 2:11 pm

I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to see Derek Bell only ten days ago (Oct 7) at the Ryman in Nashville, which was The Chieftains 40th anniversary tv taping titled "Down The Old Plank Road". He was a superior, versatile musician with a great sense of humor and did a spectacular ragtime piano solo in the finale of the tv taping. He was a treasure to the Celtic community and to the world. He will be missed but his musicianship and memory will live on.

Denny

Liam · Post by **Liam** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 2:31 pm

Men like him enrich the world because of their music, and when they pass they can never be replaced in our hearts. May God enjoy his new Harper and we thank him for lending him to us for a while.

Ron Rowe · Post by **Ron Rowe** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 3:55 pm

What a tragic loss, so much of O'Carrolan's music would be unknown today if not for him reviving it. I am so grateful I had the chance to meet and talk a bit with him last year. His passing will leave a great hole in the music community, but his contributions will lift many a heart for many years to come.

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 4:07 pm

My God! This is terrible. I wonder what the minor surgery was.

J

Jeferson · Post by **Jeferson** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 4:26 pm

Wow. What a character!

I've seen the Chieftains perform live only once, and Derek was memorable in that he charmed the audience.

For those looking for a glimpse at both his music and his goofy banter with the audience, I'd recommend "A Celtic Evening with Derek Bell". It's 70 minutes of live recording, released in 1997. A treat.

He'll be missed.

Jef

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 5:36 pm

Strange, and unexpected news.

As the old Irish phrase goes:

"May God take a liking to you but none too soon, for sure he must be knowin' - that earth has angles all too few, and Heaven is overflowin'"

He may have been the most 'colorful' member of the Chieftains, but there is no question as to his musical strengths. May God rest his soul.

brian_k · Post by **brian_k** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 6:06 pm

Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam; go sábhála ´Iosa a anam.