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November 5, 2005

Goodbye, Reggie ()

by fluffy at 11:10 AM
Yesterday I heard from my mom that Reginald Gammon died. He was a very important artist in the 1960s civil rights movement, an amazing portrait painter and printmaker whose work has been in museums and galleries around the world with chapters written about hiim in art history textbooks, and most importantly, he was a very close friend of my family, and a great guy. The few times I got to talk with him were great experiences, and we will all miss him.

There is plenty of information out there about his history and his artwork, but not a lot about him personally. He hung out with the likes of Louis Armstrong. He'd heard of Shooby Taylor's escapades second-hand back when he was first trying to break into the jazz scene. Much of his work was portraits of jazz musicians. He was passionate about his art, and loved showing his paintings to people. He had so many that his art studio was almost impossible to walk around in, with massive stacks of them leaning against the walls, chairs, counters, and everything else.

I wish I could say more about him but I never really got much of a chance to get to know him. His friendship with my mom started when I was in grad school, but only got prety strong when I'd already left for New York, and so I only had a few opportunities to talk to him, all of which were great. From my mom talking about him I know that he was an avid lover of movies and music, and that he'd been having complications due to diabetes for quite some time, and he and his wife were the friendliest people around to anyone who was willing to be friendly in return.

The thing I do know for certain is that he will be greatly missed, and I wish I'd had more chances to know him.

Comments

#6665 11/05/2005 01:33 pm Goodbye Reggie
I just got off the phone with Jonni, Reggie's wife of many years. Reggie was one of my oldest friends - He was best man at my first wedding in 1959. We drove together from NYC to DC for the March on Washington in 1963. I taught Reggie to drive, and we lived in Greenwich Village East a couple of blocks from each other for many years. Reg, as you know from his work, was an incredible jazz fan, but I was always fascinated that he could whistle entire symphonies. We did a lot of things together in those Village years while we shared hundreds of cups of Bustelo coffee in his apartment or mine. In those years Reg lived on E. 9th Street, while I lived on E. 6th Street. I was there when his apartment/studio caught fire and burned up his entire lifetime of work. Reg didn't paint anything for over a year, but then recovered with a single line: "Well, I guess I can't copy my mistakes, so I'll start painting again." The magnificent work that came after the fire is history. Since 2001 Reggie and I have written more than 250 letters (all snail mail) to each other. Fortunately I have saved every one and while I'm not sure what I'll do with them, it is nice to have this legacy. I shall miss Reg very much. Our close friendship goes all the way back to the mid 1950s.
#6677 11/08/2005 07:42 am
Services for Reggie Gammon will be in Philadelphia (his remains are being returned to the city of his birth). Friday November 11, at 22nd and Reed Sts (St Simon Church), at 11:00 AM.
Nice to discover him mentioned like this .
Thanks
One of Reggie's nephews.
#6680 11/08/2005 01:43 pm More on Reggie
Thank you each and all for posting on this blog about Reggie. I have since heard from friends and relatives of Reggie and appreciate connecting with a community of people who were connected with Reggie during his important life. As we all know, he leaves an incredible body and legacy of work which will undoubtedly enrich the lives oe people for many generations to come. I am sure that when painting in the future is studied in art classes, one of the styles will be that of Reggie Gammon. For me, he was the painter man, and I am so grateful that a great part of his life coincided with a great part of mine - I am much, much richer for the connection.
#6682 11/08/2005 04:39 pm
I think everyone who ever met him or seen his artwork is better for it. His end definitely came too soon and too suddenly, but at least he left the world a better place.
#6717 11/13/2005 06:26 pm
I met Reggie about 4 years ago at New Grounds Print Workshop in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Backelite connected us. I think we were talking about old fashioned toasters. He thought it was pretty funny that I knew that word.

About 6 months ago Reggie and I started writing letters. He told me he liked to write letters but that he hardly ever got any back. I said I would write back. He told me to save them in case he got famous. I never received his last letter. Maybe someday it will show up.
#6719 11/13/2005 07:15 pm Re: More on Reggie
Bill Perry
Thank you each and all for posting on this blog about Reggie. I have since heard from friends and relatives of Reggie and appreciate connecting with a community of people who were connected with Reggie during his important life. As we all know, he leaves an incredible body and legacy of work which will undoubtedly enrich the lives oe people for many generations to come. I am sure that when painting in the future is studied in art classes, one of the styles will be that of Reggie Gammon. For me, he was the painter man, and I am so grateful that a great part of his life coincided with a great part of mine - I am much, much richer for the connection.


He spoke of you often.
#6720 11/13/2005 07:49 pm
I was just asked to share this information about a memorial service for Reggie in Albuquerque:
Memorial Gathering for Reginald Gammon

Due to the overwhelming response we decided to move the memorial to a larger space. The new place, date and time are:

Albuquerque Museum
Monday, November 28, 5 - 8 PM.

Anybody who would like to share a short story about Reginald Gammon please, give me a call at (number removed). I will be in Philadelphia for the funeral Thursday and Friday so it might be best to contact me afterwards.

Please, pass this message on to those who express interest in attending.
#6723 11/14/2005 12:33 pm Reggie's Funeral in Philadelphia
What a great and very special event Reggie's funeral was in Philadelphia on Friday. I was among about 175-200 people who came to say farewell to this great man. Included among the guests was Ricky Mayhew, the last of three artists left living who started Spiral (Reggie was one of 15 members of this great group). Reggie is part of a very special family - they are loving, fun, funny, wonderful and have the warmest way of including any outsider into the family group. I was delighted by all of them, his young grandchildren, his chidren, his sisters and cousins. It was indeed a spectacular event and you could feel Reggie's presence everywhere. They buried him in a plaid shirt - which is too appropriate for words.

A visit to his sister Russe's house is like stepping into a Reggie Gammon museum. The walls of her wonderful house (where she has lived since 1948) are covered with Reggie drawings, paintings, photos, awards.

I was personally hosted by his grandchildren Aaron & Nancy Lee and life couldn't get any better than this.
Bill P