Y'all, as I'm sure everybody is aware, Flaco Jimenez has passed away. The word "legend" is used too loosely these days, but it is truly apropos in Flaco's case. Six Grammys. Played with everybody from the Rolling Stones to Freddy Fender to Buck Owens to Ry Cooder to Carlos Santana to Wilie Nelson to Dwight Yoakum to ... well, y'all get the picture. Onstage he radiated joy and, on the two occasions I met him, he was exactly that: a kind, joyous soul. I walked away thinking he'd learned secrets about life and the universe that I will never know, and that he was a man wise to the ways of the world but not cynical because of it. I'm so very sad at this news and express sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family and to all who knew him and loved him. I picture him somewhere in the universe now, laughing and jamming with Doug and Freddy. Man oh man, the hits just keep on coming. RIP Flaco Jimenez! We will never see your likes again.
