Rest in Peace...Imemine

Yesterday, I got some news that made me very sad. Someone I have worked with making music passed away suddenly. I have written songs and recorded them with a number of talented musicians from all over the world. I have never met any of them face to face except for Alexander.

The man who passed away went by the artist name Imemine. His real name was Roger. I don't even know his last name. What I knew of Roger was this - he loved his family, worked hard to make a living and that included traveling for work which constantly took him away from that family he loved. He was a grand musician who, because of his work, didn't get nearly enough time to make music. He was funny and enjoyed a good laugh. He was opinionated and didn't shy away from hot topics. He sometimes blew up and would get angry and let people know it. Even though I never met him I considered him a friend, of sorts.

There are many people "in my life" whom I've never really met. My Internet life is full of people that I have come to know and, yes, care about. I wonder how that's even possible. How is it possible to feel grief over someone I've never laid eyes on other than a blurry digital photo on a website. For some of the people I'm "met" on the Internet, I have at least heard their voices either through their music or from chatting. For others, I only know them from their status updates, their tweets and the occasional email. Yet, in some small way, they are my friends. Not the kind I'd feel comfortable with stopping by their house or anything. But I do feel their sadness when they are sad, their joy when they are joyful. And when I heard that Roger died yesterday, I did cry.

Once Roger was flying into Milwaukee and had a short layover for his work. He emailed me that morning and asked me to drive up there to have a beer with him. It was a weekday and I was at work so I couldn't go. I wish I had. I really wish I had. I know Roger was somebody I would have really liked in real life, not just Internet life.

Cheers, brother. Have a beer on me. And thank you for all of the wonderful music, my friend.