Back in 2007, Booker T. & the MGs were playing here in Austin, with Eddie Floyd on vocals. It was general admission, so we got there early to get a spot right at the edge of the stage. They were, of course, off the hook fabulous, and I was flailing about like a madbrain when they played Green Onions. After they finished, Steve was toward the back of the stage, then looked and pointed right at me, walked to where we were standing, and handed me the pick he just played with. He then walked back, turned and winked at me. Still have that pick somewhere - really should have it framed!
Back in 2007, Booker T. & the MGs were playing here in Austin, with Eddie Floyd on vocals. It was general admission, so we got there early to get a spot right at the edge of the stage. They were, of course, off the hook fabulous, and I was flailing about like a madbrain when they played Green Onions. After they finished, Steve was toward the back of the stage, then looked and pointed right at me, walked to where we were standing, and handed me the pick he just played with. He then walked back, turned and winked at me. Still have that pick somewhere - really should have it framed!
Back in 2007, Booker T. & the MGs were playing here in Austin, with Eddie Floyd on vocals. It was general admission, so we got there early to get a spot right at the edge of the stage. They were, of course, off the hook fabulous, and I was flailing about like a madbrain when they played Green Onions. After they finished, Steve was toward the back of the stage, then looked and pointed right at me, walked to where we were standing, and handed me the pick he just played with. He then walked back, turned and winked at me. Still have that pick somewhere - really should have it framed!
Man, he was brilliant. When I was a teenager, I saw Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, which blew me away. It was done en repertory with Hamlet so the major actors one night became minor actors the next. Very clever.
Shortly after his first album was released, one of the promo guys from his label took Todd to radio stations all over the country. That can be a rather brutal slog for the artist, especially all of the morning show drop-ins, breakfast meetings, & long drives that get them up way, way earlier than they're used to. None of them ever looked like they were having much fun â until Todd.
Todd Snider bounced his way into KPIG bright and early one morning and proceeded to charm every single person in the building, and then every single person tuned into the station. Laura Ellen & I took him to breakfast afterward at the Red Apple Cafe just down the street. At this point, Laura Ellen had been riding herd on wayward DJs â mostly young, mostly men â for a couple of decades. She could look one in the eye, cut right past all of the superficial bluster & bravado, find the scared little boy who was really in charge, and put him in his place, generally without saying a word.
Todd was a different story. Over the course of the next hour or so, I watched Todd Snider turn the fearsome Laura Ellen Hopper into a friend for life. An actual friend. For the next 10 years or so, Todd would call her to ask for advice on dating, home repairs, or other random topics â or to play her a snippet of a song he was working on. He'd leave messages on her answering machine at 2am after a show. And when Laura died in 2006, he sent a beautiful hand-drawn sympathy card.
He was also a brilliant songwriter & a very entertaining performer. But I'll remember him primarily as a good man. A very good man.
Shortly after his first album was released, one of the promo guys from his label took Todd to radio stations all over the country. That can be a rather brutal slog for the artist, especially all of the morning show drop-ins, breakfast meetings, & long drives that get them up way, way earlier than they're used to. None of them ever looked like they were having much fun â until Todd.
Todd Snider bounced his way into KPIG bright and early one morning and proceeded to charm every single person in the building, and then every single person tuned into the station. Laura Ellen & I took him to breakfast afterward at the Red Apple Cafe just down the street. At this point, Laura Ellen had been riding herd on wayward DJs â mostly young, mostly men â for a couple of decades. She could look one in the eye, cut right past all of the superficial bluster & bravado, find the scared little boy who was really in charge, and put him in his place, generally without saying a word.
Todd was a different story. Over the course of the next hour or so, I watched Todd Snider turn the fearsome Laura Ellen Hopper into a friend for life. An actual friend. For the next 10 years or so, Todd would call her to ask for advice on dating, home repairs, or other random topics â or to play her a snippet of a song he was working on. He'd leave messages on her answering machine at 2am after a show. And when Laura died in 2006, he sent a beautiful hand-drawn sympathy card.
He was also a brilliant songwriter & a very entertaining performer. But I'll remember him primarily as a good man. A very good man.
From my good buddy Greg Ellis · I met Todd Snider when he was 19 or 20. He came bounding into Sundance, fresh from Oregon. His energy was welcoming and frankly, a trifle overwhelming lol. Weed and age are no friends to specificity so the details are fuzzy but that day Todd became a regular. Bobby and I would feed him songwriters like he was a ravenous baby bird. I watched him go from jumping up on stage between bands at Pepperâs (where he bussed tables) singing songs about overweight moped riders to growing into a songwriter of incredible songs that mixed humor and depth. At some point I wrote what im pretty sure was the first story about him-a short piecece about how, citing Terry Allenâs rules for songwriters, Todd refused to pay a ticket ai he could apend a night in jail. We both left San Marcos about the same time I think. He went to Memphis, looking for Keith Sykes; whom Bobby had turned him onto. He found him and that led to his first record deal, with a record produced by my friend RS Field and he was off to the races. Over the years I would see him on the road and he was always so glad to see me. I asked Todd for two favors in all the time I knew him. He did them without hesitation and they made a huge impact on people I loved. Anyone who knew Todd knew what a truly extraordinary person he was. I know we are all hurting. A bright, bright light is gone.
Shortly after his first album was released, one of the promo guys from his label took Todd to radio stations all over the country. That can be a rather brutal slog for the artist, especially all of the morning show drop-ins, breakfast meetings, & long drives that get them up way, way earlier than they're used to. None of them ever looked like they were having much fun — until Todd.
Todd Snider bounced his way into KPIG bright and early one morning and proceeded to charm every single person in the building, and then every single person tuned into the station. Laura Ellen & I took him to breakfast afterward at the Red Apple Cafe just down the street. At this point, Laura Ellen had been riding herd on wayward DJs — mostly young, mostly men — for a couple of decades. She could look one in the eye, cut right past all of the superficial bluster & bravado, find the scared little boy who was really in charge, and put him in his place, generally without saying a word.
Todd was a different story. Over the course of the next hour or so, I watched Todd Snider turn the fearsome Laura Ellen Hopper into a friend for life. An actual friend. For the next 10 years or so, Todd would call her to ask for advice on dating, home repairs, or other random topics — or to play her a snippet of a song he was working on. He'd leave messages on her answering machine at 2am after a show. And when Laura died in 2006, he sent a beautiful hand-drawn sympathy card.
He was also a brilliant songwriter & a very entertaining performer. But I'll remember him primarily as a good man. A very good man.
It's with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia. I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him. To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career. He really appreciated each and every fan for their love. I also wanted to thank Dr. Couceyro and the whole medical staff, as they have been extremely supportive and helpful during this difficult process. Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace. I will follow your wishes. I hope you all can respect our privacy during these hard times. Further information will be provided at a later date.
See you and we see you Legend.
Latifa , Lilty and Aken
I listen to music while at work with my iPod classic. Got over 12,000 songs on it. I have it on album shuffle. Last I was listening to on Friday was Eric Clapton. When that ended just a few minutes ago the next album that pops up: Todd Snider - Happy To Be Here
Thatâs a nice legacy your leaving.
That is sofa king sad. 
