Last night my long-suffering Louie-Louie Lad and I saw what was probably one of Glenn Campbell’s last concert performances …And as painful as it must have been for him – it was glorious. If you are not a member of the Louie-Louie Generation (don’t laugh, Big Louie, there are some), Glenn Campbell is a singer and sometime actor who made us all glad we had ears.
Cal, Ashley and Shannon – three of his kids – were on stage and performing magnificently with him. And yes, he can no longer hit those neat high notes … but he can still sing. And play the guitar. And play that guitar while his daughter played the banjo — and manage a marvelous dueling banjos set that had the audience in an uproar.
I must admit that I was in tears when he finished Rhinestone Cowboy, for him and what he gave us, not Robert and the horse.
It was obviously difficult for him to stand and perform in front of that sell-out crowd, but I hope he got as much satisfaction from all the grateful thanks as we had in hearing him.
Thank you, Glenn Campbell.
Alzymers is a horrible disease that takes so many people away from us too early
I’m so glad that you were able to attend. Glen is lucky to have had the success with his career before the fatal illness reared its nasty head. These are memories that he will have for a very short while but that his children will have as long as they live. You know I work with the mentally handicapped adults — Alzheimers, dementia, brain damage, developmentally disabled — and lost my brother to Alzheimers. Be consoled that music is the last facility to go away, with this disease. You were fortunate (ARE fortunate!) to have witnessed and been part of this wonderful occasion. Hugs to both of you.