It was one of those unexpected, fateful encounters. I had gone with my friend, and then band-mate Geoff Gans to Genghis Cohen in Los Angeles to hear some music. It must've been around 1990. And in walked a handsome Aussie singer/songwriter named Grant McLennan. He was in a band called The Go-Betweens, but I didn't know much about them. Geoff introduced the two of us and we spent the evening conversing and drinking at the bar.
I was living in a guesthouse in Santa Monica at the time so I invited him over. We took turns singing songs to one another - passing my old acoustic guitar back and forth till around 4:00 in the morning. We finally fell asleep on my futon. The following morning we had breakfast at a nearby restaurant called "A Votre Sante". (We split an order of scrambled tofu.) It was one of those magical nights and the start of a very special friendship with a man who was not only kind and a true gentleman, but he was also a brilliant artist. And the crazy and almost unbelievable thing was that he believed in me and my songwriting! The next time he came to L.A. we picked up where we left off and played more tunes for one another. He even remembered a few of my songs and made a point to tell me how much he enjoyed listening to the cassette I sent to him in Australia!
Grant sent me three postcards in the coming years which I will always treasure, but there was one in particular that means very much to me. I have never liked my singing voice much but on the card he said, "You also sing like a diva..." Often, throughout the years I've contemplated giving up the crazy dream of pursuing a career in songwriting, but his belief in me is one of the main reasons I've never given up.
Okay, yes - I was smitten by Grant but the only connection he and I had was a musical one. I didn't realize it at the time but he would become one of my all-time favorite singer/songwriters.
Grant McLennan died of a heart attack at the age of 48 on May 6, 2006. I'll never forget receiving that phone call and the devastating news from my friend Rachel. It took several weeks to get over that sadness and still brings tears to my eyes now as I think of him. I'm thankful for the music he left behind for us. I'm also grateful that I was able to spend a little time with this amazing man.
I miss you Grant. I hope we get to sing songs together again some day. Not too soon! But, some day...
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| Thanks to Steven Schayer for delivering this note to me |
To listen to one of my favorite Grant McLennan songs - CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
