Re: A beautiful good bye to Barry
 

http://rockinthebluesfromcanada.blog...ue-11-dec.html

BARRY & LIGHTFOOT R.I.P.

Barry Harvey died in Pickering, Ontario on Dec. 3. He was 56. For 26 years, as business manager of Early Morning Productions, he was the behind-the-scenes whirlwind supporting Canada's foremost musical chronicler, Gordon Lightfoot. A service commemorating Harvey’s life took place in Toronto Dec. 9 with Lightfoot performing a moving musical tribute to his fallen partner. Harvey oversaw Lightfoot’s vast recording and songwriting legacy; tightly controlled access to the iconic musical figure who last year returned to performing from the brink of death with an abdominal hemorrhage in 2000; and deftly handled the demands and needs of the mercurial craftsman who believes in perfection.Harvey was fiercely protective of Lightfoot. If someone cheated Gordon, Harvey would come after them with the steely determination of a seasoned bounty hunter. Not only did he have business savvy, Harvey had road sense (dating from the ‘70s when he was road manager with Chilliwack and Toronto), telling musicians under him, “if I can’t get it for you, you don’t need it.” “Barry was a wonderful personal manager,” recalls Lightfoot. “He did a great job.”

Re: A beautiful good bye to Barry
 

Thank you Char. :)

DSR

Re: A beautiful good bye to Barry
 

Thanks from me as well Char. :)

Re: Barry Harvey
 

Everyone,before the clock strikes 12:00 tonight,let's all have one last moment of silence for
Barry Harvey,before we move on to 2008.

Re: Barry Harvey
 

Thank you. Borderstone. What a good idea. I miss my friend very much.

DSR

Remembering Barry
 

On Thanksgiving day, jbt and I were looking through family photos and albums etc. A few pictures stood out - one in particular of the last time we saw Barry Harvey at the Wolftrap show in August 2006. He was so nice, as usual, and let us backstage after the show even though I forgot to call to set it up beforehand. Considering that it is almost a year since he passed away, I thought it would be appropriate to post one of the pictures jbt took that night.

Re: Remembering Barry
 

Nice picture - what is that in your hand ? Cokes ? C'mon now, what's really in the bottles, LOL.

Thanks for sharing the photo.

Bill :)

Re: Remembering Barry
 

Formerlylavender is right, Barry was always so nice and accommodating. He went out of his way for fl and I, and I feel very lucky to have had the privilege of meeting him. I guess it goes without saying that he is greatly missed by Gord and co.
Thanks for posting the pic fl.

Re: Remembering Barry
 

Billw,

You know us too well at this point, all the drunken mystery is gone!! LOL
And thank you ever so much for the collage of pictures, it's a fantastic way of recalling the great moments/times from the shows.

Re: Remembering Barry
 

Good looking pic, thanks for sharing ! :)

Re: Remembering Barry
 

Hello to all my fellow Lightheads,

I don't post very often but this is a subject very close to my heart. Like most of you I too appreciate all the memories of our wonderful Barry. He was a dear friend that I talked to on the phone several times a month for many years. Ken and I are flying to visit family on Dec. 4th hoping the day will pass quickly. I think of Barry all the time but I think his day will be a hard one for so very many people. He was one of the kindest people I have ever met and I do miss him a lot. I acutally spoke with him the day before he passed away.

Now here is the big question. Who else besides me has an 8x10 picture of Barry signed by him? I will always treasure the two I have.

I wish you all a safe and healthy holiday season. :)

DSR

Re: Remembering Barry
 

I must agree with all the good things that you have said about Barry. He was an exceptional guy, and a guy who felt that Gordons fans were special and treated us that way. Many times he had said to me " just let me know you are around, you are always invited backstage with us ", and he kept his word on that. How many other managers have you ever heard say lines like that? Leslie seems like a nice guy, but I only met him once, I do hope he follows Barrys footsteps, at least to some degree. To Barry :clap:, he sure is missed.

Re: Remembering Barry
 

It's a year ago today we heard that Barry had died so suddenly and so young an age. It was very different at the concerts this past year to not see him and watch how he took care of Gord and how he tried to please as many fans as he could. I often think of his family and how they are doing.

Re: Remembering Barry
 

At 56 I have learned the meaning of, "Gone but not forgotten". What a fine man. I don't think of him as gone, just gone on ahead. It is hard to believe that a year has passed. I miss him so much.

Thank you all for being here. It is comforting to know I am not alone in my feelings.

DSR

Re: Remembering Barry
 

I still do think about him, from time to time. Will never forget my phone conversations I had with him, and to actually see him at The Moncton Coliseum, coming from behind the stage on the left side pacing that floor, looking at the crowd walking in just as concert time was approaching. And then disapearing again to probably go to Gord & the Boys and say something like, looks like a full house...

He was a wonderful man !

To be under the same roof as The Lightfoot Tour, got me goosebumps on my goosebumps... lol !

And then at the end got a strong hand shake, and the rest is history.

Canadain Legend Gordon Lightfoot, in my neck of the woods ! :)

Re: Remembering Barry
 

It's really nice for me to read all of your fond memories of Barry. He sounds like a wonderful man and a great asset to Gordon's team.

It's too bad when managers and others that work with a performer act like they are there to run interference and stop you from ever meeting the artist.
What a wonderful legacy he leaves behind with the fans...really nice to read about.

It's one more thing to appreciate about Gordon Lightfoot. He seems very genuine in his fondness for his fans and his ability to be so down to earth about his fame.
I really love hearing your stories. Thanks :)

Remembering Barry Harvey
 

It's the third anniversay of Barry's death.
I still miss seeing him at concerts, hovering around, doing everything necessary to make sure that the evening was as perfect as possible for the audience, the band and Lightfoot. He did a hell of a job.

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

Yeah, it sure is different without Scary Barry. Although, I think things move along quite well still.

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

I miss him too. I haven't met the new guy, but Barry was so friendly and talkative. You could tell right away that he was "in charge".

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

Barry Harvey was a good friend of mine. We spoke on the phone several times a month, usually having very little talk about Gordon or any one in the band. We were just friends. I had spoken to him on a long phone call just 12-14 hours before he passed a way. I am reminded of Barry every day since my art studio has pictures of him all over. Even an 8x10 signed and framed picture. I will never forget the morning I got the call that he was gone. I was in shock for days since he had told me he was feeling very well.

I have learned to appreciate people in my life more. We just never know when our friend or loved one will no longer be there.

I miss you Barry, :)

DSR

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

DSR
my thoughts go out to you today, and to Barry's family. I never met him, but from the memories you have shared, I can tell he was a good man. It is clear you were a good friend to him. Bless you for keeping his memory alive.
lisa

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

It is very hard to believe it has been 3 years. The last time I saw him I got a picture with him, just to show Char I was brave enough to talk to him. He was very nice, chatty, scary and in a really good mood. I am glad I took the chance.
Scary does not mean he wasn't nice or that he was a bully....he was a big guy who many times had a no nonsense look on his face, he was really tall...and big....
I hope his family has been able to cope in the past years, his daughter was quite nice when she posted here.

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

anyone care to post a picture of him?. i've never seen one

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

Good idea Mende I am sure I have one somewhere but meanwhile and thanks to Mr Google here is Barry on the right with Doctor Jack
http://www.longtailpublishing.com/ja...ics/barryh.jpg

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

(so many people seem to tall to you..hmmm...)
lol
Yeah - Barry could have a look about him that would make him seem scary but he really was very friendly and very 'to the point.' He was a nice guy and always looked after Lightfoot fans as best he could. But Lightoot was #1.
I hope his family are doing as well as can be expected.

NJ/PA trip - April 2002..Barry and his harem...lolol

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

That was a "few" years ago. He looks really young there. The harem picture is how I knew him.

Yes people seem tall to me - because they are! :)

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

Actually, there are three new guys. They rotate. I have no idea as to why but that's the way it is.

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

The two I know, Leslie and Warren have other tours they manage. Don't know of a third.

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

Both Gord and Anne told me about it. I didn't ask for names. And at that point Leslie was no longer with the organization.

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

I think we met the third once maybe twice in 2009.
He was unusually a young African American called Greg and told me he was standing in for Leslie who had a prior engagagement.But whilst no one person will or could ever replace Barry IMHO the three individually have been doing a reasonable job, even if Warren was initially and unfairly compared to a certain German corporal,but at Kingston ON last April I believe the facts were that Gord was anxious to only spend an hour at the backstage Meet and Greet so as there were aound 100 fans Warren fairly organised us all into one line and gently regulated everybody to about one minute each
John Fowles
Poets Day is a term used by workers in the United Kingdom and Australia to refer to Friday being the last day of the work week. It commonly stands for Piss Off Early Tomorrow's Saturday

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

You're right, John - it was Greg. Met him last spring and the poor man was STRESSED OUT. (as in "losing it".) That's a big job.

I was also told that Leslie was no longer with the organization as of last spring. Does anyone know if he's returned? Things change fast sometimes!

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

I think it was in Buffalo in October that Warren mentioned that he wouldn't be in Colorado for the shows. I had told him I was thinking of heading west. I never got out there so don't know who was running things.
What show did you attend MM ? I don't remember a review/report of it.

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

Actually, Char, I traveled to several shows.

Not everyone goes public whenever they have backstage passes (in one instance exclusive backstage passes - no one else was invited... which shocked me!) or phone calls from Gordon. I've told a couple of long-time members about these things as they happened but I chose to keep things, for the most part, private. Is it mandatory to publicly state when & where we've been to GL shows and to share every detail of what happened? And NO - I didn't take photos. The man does NOT like having his picture taken but he does what he has to do to make his fans happy. I tend to naturally respect people's wishes. I do that with everyone.

Not that it would ever happen here but I've seen other forums where it was a never-ending display of one-upmanship. Some people call it a "pi**ing contest." I didn't want to appear to be playing that creepy little game. I enjoy everyone here and seriously love to read about everyone's love of this man's music. But some things I want to keep to myself.

I probably should have kept those silly backstage passes and I thought about that as I tossed them into the dust bin but they just weren't the kind of thing that meant a whole lot to me. It's just not a big deal. Although I did keep them for a month or so. I do love his music but I don't worship him the way other people do and besides - "Heros often fail."

I was merely commenting on the situation with the rotating tour managers because it's confusing to the fans. That's all. However, if I were to spill the beans...... OH MY GOD. But I won't. The beans are going with me to my grave.

And, for the record, I won't be making a peep about future shows I'll be attending, either. It's just not my style.

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

hope all's well, mm:)

i also wondered what your top three live tunes he's done this tour were?

i think char just asked about the "show" part (agreed, some share the "other stuff" but not mandatory i'm sure, lol)...i know she keeps plenty private but shares some of the stuff that other members might enjoy and Gord does the telephone interviews of course so that she would hopefully share with the net people

wow, Gord should have continued with the acting career cos he sure looks like he enjoys having his pic taken, lol...what a glowing smile he has in many of those

all the manager group stuff is beyond me to keep up with but interesting stuff...well, i hope Barry's family doing well at this time...my season's greetings to them all (i agree with deb, he had a wild look in the eyes and i was glad to share his space for a bit...like some have said, he was on top of things and had Gord's best interest, #1)

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

Leslie was with them in Colorado. It sometimes depends on who is available for who is on tour with them.
No, it's not mandatory Misty to post all your experiences, I just think Char was being polite in asking.

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

Speaking of one-upmanship, I took that picture that Char posted of Barry and his harem. It was at the Keswick Theater in Glenside. I remember that I was trying to sell 2MuchToLose's ticket before the show because he couldn't attend. I was not successful selling the ticket so I asked Gordon to sign it for 2MuchToLose right after someone else took my picture with him. Oh-oh I heard Gord doesn't like that so don't make a "peep" about it.

Speaking of being short, notice how Nanci is almost as tall as Barry in that picture? That is only because she is standing on the arm of one of the theater seats.

Great memories which are always really fun to share!

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

You certainly did take that pic Danno - Barry loved it despite sometimes saying he didn't want his picture taken. I am glad I have that memory in picture format. Very special times with so many terrific people...even our short little Nanci. Remember our singalong as we were lost for hours and hours that night? Oh lordy ...
;)

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

Here's a shot of me and Barry sometime around 1995. I gave him the hat. Maybe it was Concord, CA?

Sure miss that guy.

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

I was wondering about that Dan, Nanci was looking might TALL there.

Re: Remembering Barry Harvey
 

If you had been there Brink you could have stood on the other armrest..
lol
;)
thanks for sharing the 1995 pic of Barry here at the discussion board. it's much appreciated!