I knew you had been ill for some time, but I still wasn’t prepared for the news.

I can still remember, clear as a bell, seeing the CD of Sailin Shoes (admittedly before your time) in my stepdad’s truck and it just popped out at me. It was at least a year later that the Stones became my favorite band and I started eating up anything any of them were involved with, and thus Mick Taylor’s guest appearance on Columbus lead my to the Feat.

While it was Lowell George that captured people’s attention, you were right there cooking the Feat’s musical stew right there with him. If he was the road-weary highwaymen, you were the guy living for the moment, enjoying every moment of the ride.

I can recall being so, so excited to see there were tickets for an Atlanta show on the 50th Anniversary Tour, and I got to see you and your bandmates. Of course, I wish Lowell and Richie had been there, but wow, it was still a great show, especially into the acoustic set. Even with everything thrown at you, you still played and sang like you meant every word, which is what I always wanted to see in the Feat.

Rest easy, Mr Barrere, and please say hi to Lowell, Richie, and Neon for us.

Signed,

Zoot Marimba