Hi Wamug This may a notice of WAMUGS Bill Parker passing away. If not my apologies
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1744507319196872&id=100009128610156 Another good man gone. Vale (Dr) Bill Parker, renaisance man,... Bill sat at the back of his school class in UK and couldnt see a thing so considered not too bright. Later, the miracle of glasses..... and Dr Bill Parker, microbiologist, self taught musician to performance standard, folk dancer, rowing coach, sustainable house designer and goodness knows what else and a hell of a lot of fun to share adventures with in 'The Red Sea Pedestrians"... We rehearsed every Saturday afternoon for months to develop a sound and style and a playlist, with Bill and David Hoffman combing through hundreds of Klezmer recordings and folk songs , transcribing to written music ( usually printed on the back of used documents of a dubious nature) ....then a unique Jewish or Academic style of struggle for the best result whereby everyone was equal and stood up powerfully for their view or ideas and yet no one was insulted and inclusion in the group as a peer was a given. A powerful result developed and we performed at The Oz concert, various arts council or city council "concerts in the park", at some amazing weddings, a couple of Bar Mitzvahs, music festivals including Nannup, Fairbridge, Bridgetown Rhapsody, Kulcha Club, live recording for the ABC etc, We started out thinking it would be Jewish weddings and Bar Mitzvahs but developed into a 40 minute show act where we came on and played a "show" of great music with a non stop flow between pieces. Melanie Jones transferred her bush dance calling skills across to teaching audiences folk dances from Jewish and Russian roots which was hugely popular. Bill had a wickedly surprising sense of humour that went down a treat. One of our early gigs was a huge wedding in a marquee on Bindoon farm, Son of leading Jewish family marries daughter of major Italian restaurant family ... so we added in a suite of Italian songs and the joy and dancing at the wedding was amazing and we kept the italian and latin stuff in the play list, along with Jazz crossovers derived from Klezmer. Going to the big shows or festivals with the band was good for our family as the band was just one of many good acts on the programme so we got to enjoy the whole show, have trips away, hear and see things we otherwise would not have thought of. Reuben used to come with me often to the Saturday afternoon rehearsals and I reckon he saw a model there of how hard you can work at knocking a band into shape. :-) So now Bill is gone and David has sent this to the West Australian death notices. "Suddenly Monday night, our founding band member, clarinetist, transcribing musician, farmer, Perth Morris Man, scientist and friend. Bill, there was so much more you longed to do. Mel, Paul, David and all Red Sea Pedestrians Klezmer Band members Regards, David Hoffman " For me, there is of course the sense of loss and of compassion for those closest to Bill, but also very strongly a great reminder and a realisation of how fortunate I have been to share so much creativirty and enjoyment with such people as Bill and everyone in that crazy band. chow gary dorn [email protected]
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