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Remembering Ricky Day. Died Saturday March 17th, 2012 at 12:30pm.

I first met Ricky at the Rockit in the summer of 1997. Bobby Watson brought in this group that he was promoting to the Atlantis All-Stars gig; the Inkspots. We were on a break and Blaine tells us that they're going to go up and play a few tunes. It was: DJ Jones, Ron Eller, 'Chop', and Ricky Day. These guys freaked us out!!! They were so together musically! Thankful, Blaine somehow got Ricky, DJ, and Keith Dindayal in Atlantis.

I worked with Ricky pretty steadily since that day. We did duo gigs together. Played in Atlantis. With "The Perfect Note." Jobbed here and there. And also started, what would become, The DareDevils of Soul with Billy Blackburn and Joey Miquelon. (Also at the Rockit)

We made a ton of music together. Played in a multitude of venues. Night after night and year after year.

And we hung out a lot. I was fortunate to be able to hang with him. He wasn't just an "elder" in my field. He was my friend. He was family. All of my family included him whenever he was around us. He was even there for my mom and siblings when my grandmother passed. We had a lot of history in the time we knew each other.

We all will miss the gift that he had. But through all of us, that gift can carry on because we were able to learn from that gift. Thanks for that Ricky. From all of us who were fortunate enough to witness it, work with it, and admire it.

Say hi to Count, Duke, Frank, Miles, and the whole gang for us.
There'll be a double waiting on the B when you get there.