I had this post started since last year but never posted. I saw another blog yesterday mentioning Leon’s passing at 69 years old on Thursday. I never bought a record by him but I loved his songs and his appearances on Saturday Night Live in the 70s. This was back when Lorne Michaels would actually take a chance and let someone play that wasn’t on the charts or “hot.”
I have a friend…Chris who would play his songs on guitar and sometimes goof around on popular songs in Leon’s style. Redbone was one of a kind and a part of my childhood growing up.
He was a hell of a guitar player that played in a twenties – forties jazz and blues style along with his deep voice.
This was on Leon’s website…
“It is with heavy hearts we announce that early this morning, May 30th 2019, Leon Redbone crossed the delta for that beautiful shore at the age of 127. He departed our world with his guitar, his trusty companion Rover, and a simple tip of his hat. He’s interested to see what Blind Blake, Emmett, and Jelly Roll have been up to in his absence, and has plans for a rousing sing along number with Sári Barabás. An eternity of pouring through texts in the Library of Ashurbanipal will be a welcome repose, perhaps followed by a shot or two of whiskey with Lee Morse, and some long overdue discussions with his favorite Uncle, Suppiluliuma I of the Hittites. To his fans, friends, and loving family who have already been missing him so in this realm he says, ” Oh behave yourselves. Thank you…. and good evening everybody.”
Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone, oh honey
Though our friendship ceases from now on
If you can’t say anything real nice, it’s better
Not to talk at all, is my advice
You go your way I’ll go mine, best we do
Here’s a kiss, I hope that this brings lots of luck to you
Makes no difference, how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
You go your way I’ll go mine, best we do
Here’s a kiss, I hope that this brings lots of luck to you
Makes no difference, how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
Very mellow.
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Good song. Just scanned over his biography, I knew his name but not much of his music… didn’t even realize his career got going in toronto. Hope he appreciates people talking about him now that he’s gone, after all!
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The irony didn’t pass me when I posted it. I started this back last year when I watched an old SNL with him on it. He was very good at what he did.
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Good music. He looks exactly like my ex-husband when he was a younger man (minus muttonchops).
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He was really good…Leon…don’t know your ex-husband lol.
I remember him on SNL…he was different. When Lorne would take chances.
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Too far back for me to remember…the SNL that is
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I was lucky enough to see Redbone one time at McCabe’s in Santa Monica. It was 5/2/2011, always remember that date as the day Osama Bin Laden was killed. Anyhoo, Redbone and his pianist put on an astonishing show. His whistling doesn’t get enough credit. Nothing about him gets enough credit. He was a wonderful one of a kind.
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You are right. He never got enough credit for what he did. He had to come here but it was probably never publicized. I would have seen him without doubt. You are fortunate you got to see him live.
He was very authentic in his delivery of an earlier time.
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Age of 127? DAYUM.
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Lol…I think Leon wrote it… he must have known.
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Nice tribute, Max.
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Thank you both.
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