Photo: Henry Stull, drummer | Michael Morrow Summed This Week’s Losses Up: It’s been a tough go in the Mike High City this last week. Personally, in my circle, we lost Aaron Garcia , Henry Stull and Harry Williammee. I know as we’re all getting older… smh, we’re going to lose friends. These are all people who either I had the pleasure of working with or knew in the music business. I just want to honor their memory. Their love of music.
Remember to enjoy the good times with your friends. Don’t take time for granted.
They will be deeply missed.
# # # # #
Aaron Garcia Passes
Colorado Music Network on Facebook: We are heartbroken to share the tragic news that our brother, our leader, and the heart of 78 Bombs Aaron Garcia passed away unexpectedly and peacefully this week.
Love and Peace to his wife and boys, his family, his musical family, and all his many friends. Our hearts are with you all.
“Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies.”
RIP, brother Aaron. Your spirit will always be part of us all
Dave Fox: Just such terrible News for our Denver Music Community… Aaron Garcia has passed on. There are certain people in a music scene that become the glue. Aaron was one of these people. He brought together circles of people and made bigger circles. He had a way of making music happen and throwing shows and loving people. I am deeply sorry for all of his giant family and to all his wide sphere of friends. You will be missed, Aaron. You made us all your people.
https://youtu.be/aXbEg5svxBY?si=jxxmbxOMcm0Ibw5Q
Ryan Chrys: Bear Butte, it is a magical, mystical, and very sacred Native American place … a lone mountain that looks over Sturgis and the Black Hills. It is a protected park and houses artifacts and sacred prayer flags of the Lokta, Cheyenne and other tribes. For years I have wanted to make the hike. Yesterday morning we had the day to rest before our night gig. It was a window and upon hearing the news, I decided to do it in honor of my friend Aaron Garcia. Glenn joined me and we took Aaron up there on my shoulders and in my heart and he flew from the top, free forever into heaven. I left a piece of me there for Aaron and for all the Native American people whose prayers float over the valley. It was an honor to stand there and to offer my words and heart. For anyone in the area I recommend it highly. It is an extremely powerful place. My deepest honor, love and respect to Aaron, the Native American tribes this land belonged to, and the people of South Dakota . . . Well wishes for flight.
Austin Ross: Tough weekend. Aaron Garcia . Another good friend lost his brother. My band is in disarray. Other bands broke up. But in times of adversity we come together and we grow. Last week I posted I wanted to stop doing my band at the end of the year. The next day I posted a wise friend gave me some sage advice. That wise friend was Aaron Garcia. In honor of his memory I’m not going away, I’ll continue to play music with all the passion and heart that Aaron gave us all.
Tommy Kaui Nahulu: The Denver music scene just lost a great artist, a great human, and a great friend. One of it’s greatest supporters too. Seriously. Sending my best to all he loved, and all who loved him.
Aloha oe, Aaron Garcia.
Kathy Taylor: Struggling to find the words to share my heartfelt sadness and disbelief over Aaron Garcia’s passing. If you didn’t know Aaron he was a genuinely kind, caring, talented soul. Playing all genres of music he makes everyone around him feel connected That comes thru with the outpour of recognition and support Aaron has been receiving. | I’ve known Aaron for decades. Recently he has been hosting Tuesday nights open mic night at Jake’s Roadhouse. Welcoming many new artists to the stage while making them feel at home in the ever-growing Denver music scene. Saying Aaron will be missed is an understatement. | Last night as I watched the sunset, I was thinking about Aaron and so many other family members our music scene has lost. When i looked down there were fresh white roses lined along the water’s edge. They smelled so good I gathered them up and brought them home. | Loved and missed but never forgotten. RIP, my friend.
# # # # #
Drummer Henry Stull Passes From Stage IV Cancer
Randy Terry: So sad. Cancer takes another one. I will miss you, Henry Stull. I played in 4 bands with this guy: Squeeler, Force of Habit, Styx Zen Bonz and one more. I can’t remember what we called ourselves. Long time ago.
Photo. Henry Stull | From his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/henry.stull.3
(Would love to give photo credit but not named.)
# # # # #
Musician Harry Williammee Passes
Steve Pavey: Just heard the heartbreaking news of Harry Williammee passing. It’s hard to describe the feelings I have right now. Harry is going to be missed. Sending my deepest condolences to Barbara Williamee and all his family.
https://www.facebook.com/harry.williammee.5
* * * * *
OTHER NOTABLE MUSICIANS’ DEATHS
From Care2 via Jock Bartley on Facebook:Trump shut down our LGBTQ+ suicide and mental health hotline, but CANADA opened a US toll-free number to theirs… so our citizens can get help anytime, at no cost: 1-877-330-6366
Kindness & empathy[should] have no borders.
Warning Signs of Suicide – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or if you want to discuss, call the old numbers at 800-273-TALK or 800-273-8255 for English and 888-628-9454 for Spanish. Learn the signs of someone who may be contemplating suicide.
If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost, please check them out at http://www.wikipedia.com
Posting for my Veteran/singer/songwriter/musician friend Troy Hoss: Heavy on my heart so here goes: This is a very real problem … 22 Veterans a day surrender to their demons. #SuicideAwareness | Call Veteran’s Hotline: 988 #1 or 844-647-1354
August 2025
11: Hemanta Dutta, 83, Indian dramatist and lyricist; Celso Garrido Lecca, 99, Peruvian composer; Chuck Girard, 81, American musician (The Castells, The Hondells, Love Song), cancer; Sheila Jordan, 96, American jazz singer; Gabi Novak, 89, Croatian singer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Girard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Jordan
10: Graham Fenton, 76, British singer (Matchbox); Bobby Whitlock, 77, American singer, songwriter (“Bell Bottom Blues”) and musician (Derek and the Dominos, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends).
9: Bjørn Kjellemyr, 74, Norwegian jazz bassist; NoB, 61, Japanese singer (Make-UP, Project.R), kidney cancer.
8: Judy Bailey, 89, New Zealand-Australian pianist; Arlindo Cruz, 66, Brazilian singer-songwriter and samba musician (Fundo de Quintal); Santi Sardi, 56, Indonesian singer; Ari Varjus, 66, Finnish composer and lyricist.
7: Brandon Blackstock, 48, American talent manager (Kelly Clarkson), melanoma; Osvaldo Piro, 88, Argentine bandoneonist and conductor.
The bandoneon (Spanish: bandoneón) or bandonion is a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay. It is a typical instrument in most tango ensembles. As with other members of the concertina family, it is held between the hands, and played by pulling and pushing air through bellows, routing it through sets of tuned metal reeds by pressing the instrument’s buttons. Unlike most accordions, bandoneons always employ the same sets of reeds to produce their sound, and do not usually have the register switches common on accordions. Nevertheless, the bandoneon can be played very expressively, using various bellows pressures and other techniques. The left and right hand have different timbres due to the wooden box on the left side which gives the left hand a nasal and muted timbre, in contrast with the right hand which is usually bright and sharp.