Hey there
Dobie!
Have always been a big fan and will
enjoy your music and stylings the rest
of my time! Just wanted you to know that
just this last weekend (Memorial Day
Weekend) KLUV in Dallas had their TOP
500 Countdown and "Drift Away" came out
on top! Quite an accomplishment to be
voted the Number One Song by the
listeners of Dallas/ Ft. Worth! Above
and beyond the likes of Elvis Presley,
Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones and The
Beatles just to name a few!
Congratulations and thank you so much
for the gift of music you've given us
for all these years!
Take care, fine Sir, and may God bless
you and yours!
Sincerely, Anthony and Ann Miller
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just a
quick thank you...for all the memories
drift away fills my mind every time i
hear it... all the best to you Dobie...
and God Bless
Don Capone-------------------------------------------------------
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To
whom it may concern,
My name is David Agius and I am
writing this email to you from Malta.
I lived in Australia for 30 years
between 1963- 1993. I have been hooked
on Dobie Gray music since the early
70's since I heard about him for the
first time.
When I lived in Australia I used to do
radio programs, which I always used to
include Dobie Gray music. Once a year,
I also used to do the Dobie Gray
program. which used to include his
life story plus his records. The
program used to go down extremely well
with the listeners.
Here in Malta I do radio programs
consisting of 50's, 60's and country
music, especially Dobie Gray kind of
music. I still do a program once a
year about Dobie Gray here also, and
it also is enjoyed by my listeners.
I will be most obliged if you could
send me a photograph, possibly signed
by Dobie Gray ,so that I can hang it
with the rest of my collection in my
records room.
Thank you Dobie, for all the you
contribution you had given to the
music world, and all the happiness you
have brought into our lives
Hope to hear from you soon,
DOBIE GRAY NUMBER 1 FAN IN MALTA
David Agius
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Dear
Dobie,
Today my ten year old son, Jacob, who
enjoys listening to music, called me
at work and asked me to bring home my
Ipod. He said he had a music
assignment due next week for his music
appreciation class. His assignment was
to pick a song that represents the
type of music he enjoys listening to.
He then had to answer several
questions including, identifying the
writer, the performer, type of music,
what the song is trying to tell you or
what it means to you. For extra credit
you can bring in the lyrics to school.
They will be playing the song in
school.
Of the several thousand songs on my
Ipod, which is really the "family"
Ipod, he narrowed it down to two:
"Drift Away" and "Train in Vain" by
the Clash ("Say you stand by your
man"). I did not influence him at all
on his choices. He fell in love with
the Clash from our brief car rides (we
live in Manhattan) where we tend to
listen to music as a family. We listen
to very diverse music as a family and
are always (or frequently) willing to
add a new genre or artist to our
collection.
I found his two selections most
telling.
First, it had to be a non-offensive
song and able to be shared in class .
. no easy hurdle. Obviously these
songs would qualify, but so did
thousands of others. Second, he seemed
to find two songs with what I think
have an incredible beat and rhythm.
The lyrics are outstanding, but I
think he was attracted to the beat,
which was so comfortable for him. It
got him up and moving. He kept
listening to the two songs.
In the interest of full disclosure,
the version I had on my Ipod was the
Uncle Kracker version. Even if I could
locate the 45 I had bought as a kid,
it is still likely at my mom's house
and I would not have a turn-table upon
which to play it. I gladly paid to
download the song about a year ago,
finally getting a chance to listen to
a song that meant so much to me when I
was about ten, a year or two after
your song hit the radio. I will never
forget your name or the song that is
indelibly linked to you and my so very
happy childhood that was filled with
music and smiles. Interestingly, I was
about the same age as my son is now!
Finally, he made his choice after I
pulled up the lyrics to both songs off
the Internet because he had to discuss
the meaning of the lyrics as part of
the project. He was so confused as to
why "Drift Away" is now being
performed by Uncle Kracker, a name he
is not familiar with, and Dobie Gray.
It led to a great conversation about
songwriters, performers and re-makes,
and re-releases. What an incredible
learning lesson on so many fronts.
Then, I went to U-tube and there was
your performance from many years ago.
It was incredible. My daughter Ellie
(8 years old) came over to enjoy it
with us. We were joined by my wife who
reminded us that it was now an hour
after bedtime. She was right. After
kissing my two kids goodnight you can
see their joyful smiles as they so
wanted to see more of your
performances, which I had lined up
under the search terms. They were
engaged. Jacob's last words to me
tonight, were what kind of music was
Drift Away called, is it oldies? I
said, "It is likely old because it was
around when I was around, but I would
place it into the R&B category as I am
not that old." He was satisfied and so
was I. I closed the lights and went
back to my room.
I went back to the Internet and found
your website and some great recent
articles on you and your career. What
a ride and what a pleasure it was to
catch up with you and your career and
a very simple time in my life. But for
Jacob's assignment and his great taste
in music, it may have been years by
the time I made the time to research
you or "Drift Away." I printed up some
articles for him and left them in his
room, which he shares with my
daughter.
I can't wait for him to read the
articles. I am more excited to read
whatever he produces for this project.
It will give me even more insight into
his feelings and thoughts.
With today's tragic news of so many
killings on a college campus, the
lyrics of Mentor Williams have just as
much force today as they did over 30
years ago.
"Give me the beat, boy, and free my
soul; I wanna get lost in your rock
and roll and drift away."
Your voice, your melody and your music
still allows us to escape and
contemplate a more peaceful enjoyable
time when life sometimes shows the
world as being so unkind.
I merely wanted to share with you this
enjoyable moment I shared with my
family and I hope it makes you feel as
good as it has made me feel. Wishing
you peace, happiness and many more
years of practicing your craft. You
are making a difference in ways you
may never know. And of course, find
some time for yourself.
Warm regards,
Michael Marcus
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Your wonderful voice and your
beautiful records have meant a
great deal to
me over the years.
I saw you live just once and it
was memorable - at the Paradise
in Boston in
the late 70's after a horrible
bus trip into town. It didn't
stop you from
giving an excellent concert.
Best Wishes
Jeff van Gelder
Fahrenzhausen, Germany
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Hi Dobie-
It's an honor and pleasure to
write to you. I send you much
respect and thanks for the great
music and entertainment you've
given me. I was wondering if you
could help me remember the names
of one of your songs as I'd like
to replace a record I gave to a
friend as a gift. It goes
something like "Those downtown
bars and the honky-tonks, is
where I long to be, it's been so
long since I wrote a song, I
miss the feeling I get playing
with the band." I know it's not
much to go on but if you know
the song I'm talking about I'd
really appreciate your
assistance. Thank you very much
and God bless you...
Larry Sommer
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Hi Dobie,
My name is Cheryl Fabbro and I
live in Sudbury, ON, Canada and
I wanted to email you to thank
you for the song Drift Away.
My brother Mike Savage who was
only 42 years old passed away
this past December 19, 2006 from
a nine month battle of
esophageal cancer. His all time
favorite song throughout his
life was Drift Away. When I
asked him what music he would
like played at his funeral he
replied "Drift Away and make
sure it is the version sung by
Dobie Gray." We have also
included the words to your song
on his earn.
My two older brothers and I
stood at the front of the church
and we led his friends and
family in singing Drift Away. It
was so beautiful and I could
feel Mike's spirit was with us.
I know he is in a better place
now as it was horrific to watch
him suffer the way he did. He
was a fighter and fought a long
battle right to the end. He
leaves behind a son of 12 years
and a daughter just 10 months
old.
My brother Brian Savage who
recently retired from the NHL
and my father John are now
trying to make people aware of
the early symptoms of esophageal
cancer. Mike suffered from
chronic heartburn for 10 years
and it was in fact the acid
reflux that caused his cancer.
He discovered it too late and
that is why he is no longer with
us. I am writing this email not
only to thank you for your
inspirational song "Drift Away"
but I was also wondering if you
would want to help raise
awareness of this deadly
disease? I am including an
article which my brother Brian
and my father John have put
together. Please read it and if
you are interested in helping
out with the awareness of this
disease it would be greatly
appreciated and I know it would
mean so much to Mike.
He loved your music and I only
hope that he continues to hear
it wherever he is now.
If you could respond back that
would be great but if you are
busy I truly understand.
Thank you for your time and
looking forward to hearing back
from you.
Yours truly,
Cheryl Fabbro
This is the link for the article
on my brother.
http://www.nhlalumni.net/
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Dobie:
My wife and I have been married
35 years..and we played you then
and play you now..you have a
great gift..and you sing with
true soul..thanks for the joy
you're given us!
Hope you still are involved with
helping people learn to
read..very impressed when I
heard you were doing that..will
be looking for your new CD..
Happy New Year - you're the best
man!
John wilson
West Monroe, La.
wilson340952@bellsouth.net
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