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An Update today from Kenny and Katherine Burrell:
A Message from Kenny Burrell
Dear Friends,
I sincerely want to thank all of you who have donated to our
“Gofundme” request. It is very much needed at this time. Your loving gifts have inspired us to become more giving and respectful of our fellow human beings. As God has shown us, when we help others, we also help ourselves.
In terms of the music, I am extremely grateful for all of your
expressions of love and appreciation. I feel encouraged to continue to do my best.
I am also so very thankful for the help and care of my loving and
devoted wife, who has worked hard to maintain a decent life for us, despite my medical setbacks and the legal and financial issues we are facing.
Thank you, everyone, for helping us get through this crisis. We will
always be grateful to you for your love and caring.
With much love and good wishes,
Kenny Burrell
Update from Kenny and Katherine:
The GoFundMe post described many of the issues facing us, and we would like to specify how your support will help. We will use funds from the campaign to pay for medical expenses related to Kenny's care that aren't covered by insurance. We will also pay credit card bills that have accumulated and become unmanageable. We will use the funds to pay legal bills and put the funds toward any judgment against us, in the event that that occurs. We also will use the funds to stabilize our housing situation, including possible relocation expenses.
Again, we are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support. We cannot thank you enough for your life-changing kindness, compassion, and generosity.
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05-15-2019 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Jazzstdnt
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I am glad to see Kenny getting so much help. Many people want to give back to people who made their life a little less sad.
Also, in my life I am finding out about two brutal money pits for which I should have better prepared. One is the cost of owning a home in Texas. In my lifetime, I have spent thousands on my air conditioning units and will spend thousands more before its all over. The second has been the cost of just living. So many things can go wrong and although I have good insurance, I still have to pay my part. I have spent thousands of my own dollars on health problems and will probably spend thousands more before its all over. But, when I look at the cost my insurance has picked up, I have to say there is no way I could have afforded it and your ol' buddy Alsoran would probably not even be here.
Beware homeowners and those that are aging...
But thankfully, Kenny is able to reap some of the good kharma he has put out to us for so many years.
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Thanks to Dirk/Mark for wiping out the last few soap box pages of this thread, whew, my head was hurting.
Back to KB!
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
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I've been listening to a lot of my old KB records lately, he sounds the same whether he's playing his 50s P-90 ES-175, L-5's w Christian pu's, DA NYer, or his Super 400s.
I'm always amazed at the gorgeous sound he gets.
Further proof it's the driver, not the car.
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There's a nice article about KB and his ordeal on NPR news
Facing Homelessness And Crushing Medical Debt, A Renowned Jazz Guitarist Reaches Out : NPR
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It is great that this story has made National news. Jazz guitar is not high up on celebrity radar and most people have no idea who Kenny Burrell is. But thousands of us have contributed (Pat Metheny gave $5,000!) and I think the Burrells will have a soft landing from this crisis.
Kenny Burrell is pretty much the last living legend from the pre-baby-boomer generations of jazz guitarists. At this point, some of the baby-boomer generation jazz guitar legends have passed on (Larry Coryell, John Abercrombie).
I like a good debate about politics and religion as much as anyone, but there is a proper time and place for such debate. Hijacking a thread about helping an elder Statesman of the jazz guitar world to engage in self serving pontification is selfish and rude.
I too give thanks to the moderators for some much needed editing and also for allowing this thread to remain in a category where it arguably does not belong.
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I heard that Robbie Kreiger from the Doors kicked in 5K too, but admit I had to look up what instrument he plays, wasn't sure if it was guitar or keyboards.
Guess I should've known he played guitar and Ray Manzarek played keyboards, duh.
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Originally Posted by rmpmcdermott
I met Burrell at the 2004 NAMM show at the Heritage booth. That was the year he was captured on video playing a blue KB with Rory Hoffman (who had no idea who he was playing with until after they had played a tune together. It was pretty funny moment) and Henry Johnson. We chatted for awhile - Kenny seemed like a pretty mellow guy. I certainly hope that the financial support allows him to be mellow today and going forward as well.
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That's a great clip. Thanks for posting, HT.
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Helping Kenny is not only a great privilege but also great medicine for your own soul. Kenny Burrell is a gift to the entire world. I am sure that the outpouring of love for Kenny is great medicine for his soul too.
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Originally Posted by Hammertone
Doug
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Originally Posted by Hammertone
2) Why do I bother? Perhaps my guitars would make good coffee tables....
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I donated. Seems the tally is closing in on 2x the target, but based on what his wife posted, they'll need it. And more.
Some notable contributors: Donald Fagan, Pat Metheny, Dickie Betts, Robbie Krieger, John Densmore.....Last edited by BigBear; 05-16-2019 at 03:45 PM.
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Originally Posted by BigBear
Some other notables that I mentioned earlier: John McLaughlin, Joe DeFrancesco, Ahmad Jamal, Branford Marsalis and Jimmy Vivino. Even the Village Vanguard kicked in.
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I haven't been on this site for some time and just came across this news.
It's staggering; I had no idea.
I also did a little reading and apparently UCLA provides benefits and other forms of remuneration. What about SS and Medicaid?
Who knows, man. Sounds awful for KB and his wife to be doing this sort of thing. The indignity of it all.
What a f-ed up country.
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Nice to see 220.000 $ in 9 days so far..
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
I kept thinking Super 400 but I believe that's an L5. Doesn't matter anyway, it's him!
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Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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Donated.
A small price to pay for what he's done for my playing.
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Just wondering if there are any updates on Kenny Burrell's health problems?
Thanks
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I just checked his FB Page and his last post was on 12/31/19 to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
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Below is from Wiki: I don't have any inside info which is why I said "as viewed by some", above since it wouldn't be right or fair to imply something sinister.
" In 2019, concerns arose about Burrell's well-being and living circumstances as he became increasingly socially and physically isolated in his home and major frictions developed between his wife, Katherine Goodrich, 37 years his junior, and others living in their Westwood, California, apartment building. A GoFundMe account was set up to pay medical bills and other putative expenses, which became controversial because he was covered by medical insurance through employment at UCLA and through Medicare.[13] Subsequently, a letter from Burrell was published, providing a detailed explanation of the situation and justification for the GoFundMe campaign.[14].".
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I care a great deal about Kenny Burrell. However, I don't know him personally. I would love to be able to wish him well, as a fan and as someone whose playing has been deeply influenced by Kenny's. OTOH, I'm comparatively nobody and wouldn't want to bug him.
GT
Crimson/Hutchins Gibson l5
Today, 09:04 AM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos