[alex]

I was extremely disheartened to learn of Terry's passing.
My heart goes out to Roz, his Son and his two Daughters, Gord and his Bandmates.

In the past ten days, many of my thoughts have been of "Cousin Clem" and some of the times I had spent with him.

I wish to proffer a Terry story, or two (of many, many..):

While up at the old family cottage, on Lake Simcoe, in the 70's and 80's, Terry and his Son and I often fished together (both on the ice and from my boat) and we all shared most enjoyable times together.

On one occasion, in the early 80's on a beautiful summers' day, in the late afternoon, Terry said he had to check in with Roz. So, from the kitchen of the cottage, he phoned in.

He came outside with a very long face.

He had just learned that his mother had passed, under tragic circumstances.

Suprisingly, I thought TC would immeditely wish to return to Aurora, where he lived, at the time. But he said: "Let's go out and fish some more. There is nothing I can do about this, now. I want to think." We went back out, ostensibly, to see if we could take a Walleye or two. Needless to say, for the next three or four hours, we did not talk that much, but he was emphatic about being out on the water. The lake was unusally calm and we were about 3 miles out, abeam the Big Bay Point Marina, on Long Shoal. It was a gorgeous late afternoon, which sequed into a beautiful sunset, whith every imaginable pastel colour of the rainbow in display. We even witnessed an exceptional and rare green flash, as the sun dipped below the horizon. I don't recall if we caught any fish, that early evening- or even if either of us got a bite. Terry was obviously deep in thought and I did my best not to impose upon his shock and grief.

Even in his grief, he still managed to shatter the silence and crack a few of his jokes- albeit half-heartedly, between puffs on his omnipresent big cigar.
After dark, when we returned to the cottage, he thanked me for providing him with a fine place to think, before he went to "deal with this".

I saw TC as a very private, deep-feeling person, who it was my priveledge to know. He just happened to be one masterful musician, as well.

Another reminise:

Back in 1981, TC also gave me an introduction to Ed McGlincy, now deceased, who had made an outstanding dreadnought six-string guitar for him. (He made one for both Gord and Terry. Both of them played their McGlincy's, both on stage and in the studio, as their primary 6-string instrument, throughout the 80's and 90's.). Ed reportedly created only nine guitars in his career as a Luthier. Three very lucky Canadians, myself included, are in possession of such a masterwork.
I was fortunate- make that blessed- that he had crated one for me. Mine, reputedly, was the most ornate and lavish one, he had ever made.
As a collector of many stringed instruments (I have owned as many as 20, at any one time), I consider my McGlincy to be my finest. It sounds better than my Martin D-50 (which I have sold.)

As recently as June, of last year, in Elmira, NY, Terry negotiated with me to trade his Country Genetleman, his on-stage Martin AND his old (albeit road-beat-up) McGlincy, for mine. I told him I would seriously consider the offer.

I last spoke with TC when he called me at home, in the autumn, before a concert in Troy(Albany), NY (I now live in upstate NY). He had invited me to drive up and come see him, after the gig (and, oh- bring your McGlincy, too!). I aplogized that I had a firm, prior commitment and I would be certain to meet with him when Gord next toured, in the spring of 2011.

I am now eternally sorry that I had missed this opportunity to see him, one final time...

Whenever I look at the McGlincy, I will forever think of that sweet, wonderful man: Terry Clements