Maynard wrote:
HE WILL NEVER BE GONE.... HE HAS LEFT US PHYSICALLY BUT LIVES IN ALL OF US. I OFTEN SIT AND WONDER.......WHY ME!! WHY DID THIS GREEN 22 YEAR OLD KID FROM THE HILLS OF TENNESSEE GET THE OPPORTUNITY AND ADVENTURE TO TRAVEL THE WORLD WITH THE HIPPEST MAN AND BAND ON THE PLANET ..........AND GET TO DO IT FOR 24 YEARS................ BLESSED......... YES, BEYOND WORDS, I LIVE EVERYDAY TO BE THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THE EXPERIENCES AND LIFE'S LESSONS AND LAUGHTER I WAS BLESSEDWITH. TO SHARE MONTHS AT A TIME IN TOUR BUSSES, BACKSTAGES, AIRPLANES RESTAURANTS AND AIRPORTS.......ALL WITH MY BEST FRIEND.
YES, I MISS HIM TREMENDOUSLY EVERYDAY BUT WITH A JOY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING HIM SO CLOSE FOR SO LONG......... AND I MISS ALL OF YOU TOO. AUGUST 23RD LET US ALL CELEBRATE THE TIME WE HAD HIM AND THE LEGACY OF HIS MUSIC HE LEFT US.
WITH SINCERE LOVE,
ED


To everyone here, I first knew of Maynard in '68 when I started playing trumpet when my first teacher told me about the amazing Danny Boy by Maynard. I was 12 then. Then when I first went to high school in 1970 I went to band class and Maynard was being played on the turntable in the band room. Then within a year I had a lot of vinyls of Maynard I had purchased from an oldies record store. '73 was my first concert witnessing this magician. Then in 1978 I went backstage and met him and the band. 40+ shows later, and a huge discography later I'm blessed to be here on the forums with you all taking in every special posting that really inspires me. You all have the legacy of Maynard within you. May God bless you all.

Bill Hocking