tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906592073741094057.post3512180057849388118..comments2019-03-05T12:46:40.925-08:00Comments on Away at Home: Guitarist Jimmy Ponder (1946-2013)Colter Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12761608560131003343noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906592073741094057.post-62088829739160015622019-03-05T12:46:40.925-08:002019-03-05T12:46:40.925-08:00Jimmy lived in NJ for a while. I first met him at ...Jimmy lived in NJ for a while. I first met him at a small Jazz club, "Struggles", in Edgewater NJ. I sat in with him on Chromatic Harmonica and Guitar. Only my guitar was an Ovation with four strings. I was a Uke player. Never learned six strings. I took the Ovation, used the middle four strings and tuned them to A>D.F#>B and played chord changes etc like a six string guitar. It worked. I was also self-taught. Jimmy gave me one lesson at his home. Didn't matter to him that I played that weird guitar as long as the music was cool. I eventually moved to six strings. I told Jimmy that he should sing some tunes like George Benson. He had a good voice and eventually did sing some tunes on his albums.Lost touch with him. Years later heard he moved back to Pittsburgh, but had no contact info on him. Just today 3/5/19, I was talking to a buddy of mine in NJ, who I performed with for a number of years. He mentioned Jimmy and Struggles and the light went on. Brought him up on the Web and found out about his passing. Too young. Too soon. Gary Mettler 3/5/19Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906592073741094057.post-52410265700085468162016-12-21T17:23:29.129-08:002016-12-21T17:23:29.129-08:00"A note on a staff never moved anybody"
..."A note on a staff never moved anybody"<br /> Jimmy Ponder<br />That last time I saw and sat with Jimmy in his apartment was a very poignant moment for me, and I believe for Jimmy as well. He had less than 2 months to live, and had been trying to keep his privacy, but he wanted to go home for a while and I ended up being called to come over after not being able to reach him for a long few months. All pretense was dropped that day as I told him that the thought of not being able to talk to him every day (we spoke at least once a day for years before he disappeared into a series of hospital rooms) made me sad. I then told him that I had realized that every time I picked up a guitar we would be having a conversation. He smiled and grabbed my hand. It wasn't the "Big Money Grip" that I used to kid him about, but it was a strong grip from a man who was dying and knew it. He then asked me to put Johnny Adams' "One Foot in the Blues" on the CD player and we listened for a bit in silence to that. Then I sensed his fatigue and told him how much I loved him, gave him a hug, and drove the 40 minutes home in a fog.<br />I did not know how long he had, but I knew it was not long. I never saw him again.<br />Nor did I know I would be diagnosed 3 years later with a rare, incurable blood disease that made it likely I would soon be able to once again touch this most complex man whom I missed so dearly every day since that last day in July of 2013. <br />It is with anticipation that I await that day. <br />Jimmy was, as Cool Hand Luke was, a "natural born world shaker". He sure as shootin' shook mine.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09648873761042398113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906592073741094057.post-48430380094483535182013-10-30T12:04:02.917-07:002013-10-30T12:04:02.917-07:00Thanks for the great words on Jimmy. We were so fo...Thanks for the great words on Jimmy. We were so fortunate to be dear friends AND students of this master. When I saw him on Labor Day he was speaking of the Fretboard Mag night at the James Street and how much it meant to him. The world (my world) will not be the same without James Willis Ponder.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11026722989407098061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906592073741094057.post-15417364684710392372013-09-17T19:07:38.119-07:002013-09-17T19:07:38.119-07:00RIP Jimmy. Met him in 1967 in Atlanta when he was ...RIP Jimmy. Met him in 1967 in Atlanta when he was with Charlie Earland. He was very kind and helpful to me as a younger guitarist. I always enjoyed hearing him play....he was the real deal. Jazzgitahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08914110096430797449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906592073741094057.post-40788849820277497442013-09-17T16:25:29.536-07:002013-09-17T16:25:29.536-07:00It's a powerful and poetic appreciation. You h...It's a powerful and poetic appreciation. You honor him and your friendship likely gave his complex life a lot of joy. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17014948132397187919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906592073741094057.post-51253078208930591812013-09-17T12:58:06.262-07:002013-09-17T12:58:06.262-07:00Thanks for posting this. The world was richer for ...Thanks for posting this. The world was richer for having known him, but sadder now that he is gone. Phat Man Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10038781486216317446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906592073741094057.post-17136163024719084302013-09-17T08:55:28.905-07:002013-09-17T08:55:28.905-07:00Thank you for sharing this. Jimmy will be sorely m...Thank you for sharing this. Jimmy will be sorely missed.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11666094612407059268noreply@blogger.com