In Memorium: Henry Lewy
Henry Lewy, with Andy MarkleyI have a friend who knew him well, and he visited him occasionally as he began his long decline. He said he was a remarkable fellow, who remembered well the folks he had worked with over the years. If you want to know more, there's a story about him on Joni Mitchell's site, here.
- Joni Mitchell - Edith and the Kingpin (from The Hissing of Summer Lawns, with Henry Lewy as engineer)
posted by Sam Ritter @ 10:27 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Hi Dad.
When we were meeting with Bob in New York, he told us that he was proposing a documentary about Lewy's life. He wanted to record his story before he passed away. That may not be happening now, though maybe they'll still make something about him.
I knew Henry Lewy for 56+ years. There was never a more sensitive, sweet spirit on this earth than Henry. Whenever I asked how he was, his answer always was "Wonderful." And indeed he was wonderful.
Anita: From what I've heard from various friends who knew him, he was exactly what you say, and he occupied a big place in many people's hearts. One of my buddies remarked how unusual it was to find someone of his kindness and caliber in the often egomaniacal music business.
I recognized the name as being a producer. Sad to hear about him dying.
What a nice surprise to find the photo of Henry and me on this blog. A friend sent me the link. The photo was taken by my friend Rick Cahill at Juniper Recording Studio in LA, circa 1982. It was originally published at Henry's page on the Jimmie Spheeris Memorial Gallery. Jimmie was a longtime friend who thought Henry might like my work, so he put us together.
Henry kindly produced a song of mine called "The Iron Fist in the Velvet Glove" as a demo to help secure a recording deal for me. He paid for the sessions out of pocket, as I was a starving artist... just another small example of his boundless support for artists and the muse.
Henry was attracted to the song for it's quirky lyrics and story -- and for the fact that I'd written it using one of Joni Mitchell's open guitar tunings. He once told me he had played the track for her and she was pleased to see someone using one of the many wonderful tunings she's developed through the years.
Although the track was shopped around, none of the labels would bite... A&R people universally agreed it was simply too odd to be commercially viable. It's interesting to hear this unfinished, unpolished track after all these years. It holds up fairly well and in some ways works as a foretaste of music recorded decades later. After Jimmie and Paul died, I put my guitar away and still can't bear to listen to my stuff very often. This track always reminds me of Henry's kindness, vision, taste and brilliance. I'll always remember him with gratitude and respect.
- andy
art101.com
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