Friends and fellow Stickists... As you see from the post above I am selling my Stick... I am stepping away from playing and performing out for a number of reasons. 1. I injured my right middle finger doing martial arts, and the repair is surgical and requires 3 months of the whole hand being immobilized. Which means I can not work practicing acupuncture for that period of time. it is frustrating that I am so limited to what I can do tapping and also making chords. 2. My creative "well" has been dry for some time... I keep trying to push it , sitting in my home studio "trying" to create something and all too often I am just frustrated and sad... to continue on this way hurts my spirit and I am going to change the focus of my creative endeavors. 3. I started playing the bass in 1968... In that time I have had the pleasure and honor to play and tour with many wonderful cats, most notably Taj Mahal, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Scott Cossu. Ive shared the stage with Billy Cobham, Hot Tuna, Andy Narell and others. So, I have had a very good run, but it is time to do something different. I still have my 2 West African Ngoni's I will continue to play at my leisure. At 70... my time on the planet is limited and I want to make the best use of this I can... My beloved wife Debra, has just retired and we are going to do some traveling, make art together etc. I have been a practicing acupuncturist/ trauma healer for 42 years. this is my Raizon Detra! I will continue to practice medicine, qi gong, meditation etc.In closing I just want to acknowledge ALL that I have gotten from you WONDERFUL folks on this forum... What a rich and wonderful community that has developed over all of these years. The encouragement , knowledge and wisdom that you all have generously put out on this forum is truly magnificent!!! Recently the passing of Emmett and Greg has been hard on the community. However, ALL of you carry on this beautiful legacy. I want to also acknowledge particularly my long 20 year relationship with Greg... He was my mentor and teacher. When he first got his diagnosis he shared this with me and asked me to keep it to myself. Holding this over the last year was heavy and difficult...Steve Adelson whom I studied with over the years. He is a fine teacher with much wisdom and creative juice and got me over my fear of theory... Don Schiff... another wonderful player, friend and mentor. Don was always so generous with his time and energy with me... Me, calling and playing something I was creating and he giving me feedback... Gene Perry... a wonderful soul who I had the privilege of spending time with... I wish you all so much creative joy and happiness in your endeavors!!! somebody!! buy this wonderful 12 String grand... Trey Gunn said it has the best bass end of any Stick he has every heard!!! bye for now

You wrote...I started playing the bass in 1968... In that time I have had the pleasure and honor to play and tour with many wonderful cats, most notably Taj Mahal, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Scott Cossu. Ive shared the stage with Billy Cobham, Hot Tuna, Andy Narell and others. So, I have had a very good run, but it is time to do something different.

On my side I started to learn guitar in '69 and didn't play with big names like yours but I played a lot. Now (I'll be '72 in September) I'm also thinking about selling some instruments...Chapman Stick Grand, Megatar Toneweaver and others...I played my whole life and I want to enjoy the years I still have in front of me. I've been through a cancer between 2012 and 2015...I'm lucky and something like this makes you think differently.

So...I understand you perfectly. Good luck.

I look forward to everything you do next, whatever or wherever it is and I hope it feeds you in all the ways you need!

Randy...

I've enjoyed our brief chats over social media & private message years ago. I can totally relate to "well running dry". Sort of going through a little of that myself now.

Agreed: life is short. I very much respect all that you do. And, how did your acupuncture work slip past me? I've been receiving acupuncture for the last year and a half...and I LOVE it. I'm a big believer in it.

All the best to you and your spouse. Check in every so often...

B

We love you Randy Clere and I hope that your hand / finger heal up fast.

I recall quite clearly how quickly Greg acknowledged your observations on posture, he really valued that perspective as it made him much aware of how held his back, elbows and arms.

I also recall you were in the car with my while we were picking up pizzas for FHA 2013 and I got pulled over!!! Remember that?! I had an expired tag, and rolled through a stop sign while on my phone. The cop just felt bad for me I think, crazy to think he only wrote me up for the tag...

I hope that you have beautiful trips in the very near future with Debra. Maybe drop us an image from time to time if you think to - big hugs and big respect to a Stickist legend.

I know what injuries are first hand being a mason as I deal with as I write. they affect not only physically also mentally. heal up - get back this community needs you. "It aint over til its over".

I feel like we’re ships passing in the night. I just picked up the Stick a year ago last December (I’m 73) and feel like I’m on one of my life’s last great adventures! Blessedly I’m healthy and no arthritis or other disabilities getting in the way (though I needed a cortisone shot in my shoulder. It was “singing” while trying to play Bach’s prelude in Cmaj but it wasn’t singing in the right key! )

Best wishes for the adventures still to come in your life!