Dean and I swapped gigs occasionally. He was a good player and friend, and a real steel enthusiast. He contributed regularly to the Forum. His opinions were well thought out and well written.

My deepest sympathies to Dean's family and others close to him. Words cannot express.

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Dean's friends are working with KPFA/Berkeley, CA on a special hour of music in his memory that will air soon, we hope. I can keep you and others posted. All suggestions for music selections are welcome. They can be sent to me at sonia@soniacoleman.com .

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I sent a email to KPFA encouraging them to do the memorial for Dean Forshee, and asked they make it available as an online broadcast so everyone can hear it. I hope they follow through.

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What a wonderful idea, Bob. I hope others will do the same. I think it would be important and wonderful if the broadcast were available online. We're still working with KPFA on arranging and scheduling the event and any support via E-Mail that folks send will let KPFA know that Dean had friends in the music world who want to see this happen. The E-Mail address for KPFA is:
kpfastaff@yahoo.com .

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Nick Reed, Owner
WEKT Radio, Elkton KY

My hearfelt condolences to his family and friends in this untimely tradgedy.

May God bless him, his family and friends always,

Godbless Dean Forshee

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Chip
Williams U-12 8X5

{{ POST YOUR REPLIES TO THIS RANT IN "OFF TOPIC", PLEASE. -b0b- }}

[This message was edited by b0b on 05 February 2000 at 02:23 PM.]

They are thus to be regarded.'

The way the television media described the last few minutes and moments of the Alaska Airlines plane crash, it must have been as "close to hell" as it could possibly get for everyone on board that plane.

I didn't know Dean Forshee personally but part of his written legacy is here on the Steel Guitar Forum.

Please spend a few moments, as I have, looking through some of Dean's postings.

You can easily do this by tapping the Search link on the top of each of the Forum pages, place Dean's name in the author line and his posting will come up.

Rest in peace, Dean!

Jetliners are magnificent pieces of modern technology. And when flying in one, one is so completely and totally dependant on that machine's integrity and soundness. And when they fail, one has what must seem an eternity of complete helplessness between the beginning and the end of the crisis. The saving grace is just that the crises are statistically few.

I met Dean in 1980 when he came out to audition for my spot in the band I was leaving. For some reason, he never followed through. I didn't think anything of it at the time and soon forgot it completely. Until about 3 years ago when I first signed on this forum. Dean saw my name and right away got in touch. He confided in me that after hearing my play and sing, he chickened out. I was shocked cause frankly, I ain't that good and he was. Never the less, he and I got much better acquainted over the past few years via this incredible medium and this incredible forum. I could usually count on some response from him on one of my off beat comments or observations. I came to expect them.
I had just recently got ICQ and found his number but he required authorization to be added to my contact list. I was waiting for his reply. His reply that will never come.

This event hit me real hard. When an airliner goes down in Africa or Asia or South America, it all seems so distant and abstract. I never felt too much direct sadness or sense of loss at the news. This is so much different. I can't discribe it.

Thank you Sonia for your personal reply to my message to Dean. I know you had way too many things to help with. I appreciate you taking the time to write.

My sympathies and prayers to his loved ones.

Mikey

One thing that really fascinates me, is watching the coverage of an airplane crash. I can sit for hours in front of the TV watching the same stuff over & over. I always read the passenger list to see if I knew anyone on that flight. I am always relieved that I don't know anyone. This time proved different. When I read his name, the first thing I did was post a topic here to find out if it was indeed Dean. I was praying that Dean himself would answer that it was not.

Sorry to ramble. This hit me hard after the recent death of my sister.

God Bless Dean and his family

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Carter D10 8p/10k
www.sinkler.com

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kd...and the beat goes on...

God Bless you and to Dean "God Rest Your Soul" We will all miss you.

He lived for several years in Northwest in the late 70s and early 80s, and we've been great friends all these years. It is really heartwarming to read all the things from people who knew him (or didn't know him at all) through his music.

A couple of weeks ago Dean had a little lapsteel and amp up for sale on the Buy & Sell Forum and I called him up and we made a deal.
He mentioned that he would try to ship it out before he was to leave for a trip to I didn't pay too much attention where to. He sent it out on the day I understand that he was scheduled to leave, and I received the guitar and amp not too long ago and absolutely love it.
Now, I don't know how shall or will feel the next time I pick this guitar up to play it. I think, I'll do my best to play it in the memory of somebody I didn't take up on my opportunity to learn to know better when there was still time to... maybe my way of sending prayers out to him and his...

We all got so used to these news of airplane crashes, served to us by the news media in a very unpersonal way... ValueJet, TWA, Swissair, Agipt Air and now Alaska Air... and somehow all we hear is "X-number of passangers or crew memembers" not humans or fathers/mothers, sons and daughters, oncles and aunts and grandparents or just friends.
We are led to believe that there a are "only" 100, 200 or so "fatalities"... Well, maybe we also think of their immediate families... But, it can NEVER happen to ME. Imagine, 100 or 200 out of 250 Millions people in this country alone, chances to win the lottery seem greater.
We are so numbed.
But, Dean Forshee's passing shall show us how far out ONE human reaches out. We now all miss him and all of a sudden we became part of something we thought only happens in our TV.

... J-D.

[This message was edited by J D Sauser on 07 February 2000 at 07:08 AM.]

I actually visited my sister in California in early December and we were in all the places on shore from which the news reports are emanating, near the crash scene. On my next walk on that beach, I will have a prayer.

I will try to get out to Walnut Creek on Saturday.

Thanks Sonia, for keeping us all informed, and please pass on my condolences to Susan and all those who were close to Dean.