Gene Gilliam: August 10, 1936 to December 31, 2024.

[David Hager]

Friends,

Some of you may have heard already that a long time member of the
Seabold Music community, Gene Gilliam, left this life on New Year's
eve at the age of 88. For those who did not know Gene, he was a
"regular" at Second Saturdays for many years. Sometimes known as
"Dobro Gene," for his go-to instrument, Gene also was master of the
Pedal Steel guitar.

He was an excellent musician in his own right, and was called on
regularly by other performers to provide backup for their
songs. Sometimes this happened with little or no advance
notice. Brilliant and adaptable, he seemed able to accompany almost
anything, whether he had ever heard it before or not. On some
occasions, he was asked to back up so many other performers that he
seemed that he got little rest during the shows.

But what distinguished Gene was not even so much what he contributed
to the music, but his kindness and generosity. Gene had an ever
present smile, a kindly and playful twinkle in his eyes, and a
personal warmth that lit up any room that he came into. Although I
never got to know much of the details of Gene's life, his very way of
being spoke so beautifully that the back story seemed far less
important than the power of his presence.

Dobro's in Heaven? If there were not some there already there,
there is at least one now. And Pedal Steel too. Play on Gene, your
music to the ears and to the soul is something sorely needed
today. And always. You are fondly missed, but not forgotten, Gene.

"God bless us, every one!" --Tiny Tim

For the Crew,

David

(Original Message from Charliss below)


>Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2025
>From: "charl...@aol.com" <charl...@aol.com>
>
>Subject: Gene Gilliam
>
>To all friends of Gene:
>
>Harold Eugene Gilliam (Gene, Geno, Gill.)
>
> August 10, 1936 to December 31, 2024.
>
>At 88 yrs, which Gene pointed out was the number of keys on a piano,
>Gene has passed peacefully.
>
>To all of us who have heard his music, hearts will break for what we
>know we will never hear again.
>Gene was too humble to know his gift, but his gift was that he
>played his music from his soul, and we were all blessed to be
>touched by his gentle soul as we listened to his music.
>
>Charliss
>
>
>P.S. I only have a fraction of the email addresses of Gene's
>friends. Please forward this to the many others who would want to
>know of Gene's passing. Thank you all.



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David C. Hager
Tel. 1 (206) 409 3437 (voice and text)
www.davidhager.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-c-hager-48948/
Email: da...@davidhager.com



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------------------------------------------------------
David C. Hager
Tel. 1 (206) 409 3437 (voice and text)
www.davidhager.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-c-hager-48948/
Email: da...@davidhager.com



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