Jim Shortt

[WildcatOne]

Words are difficult to find for this. My good friend Jim Shortt died today at 2AM. He had been in the hospital for more than 3 months, in and out of consciousness after suffering a stroke and then a staph infection that set in after heart surgery. The man touched so many lives it would be impossible to list all of the people he helped. I can say that through the years that I have known him, he did everything he could to promote my music and my graphics here in this region, through not only his position as a music journalist but also as the most informed, respected and knowledgeable musicologist of the Texas and world music scene. He introduced me to Pee Wee Bowen. He arranged for me to sign on as a music professor at the College of the Mainland. He showed up at my gigs, took pictures of the bands I played with and published them. He reviewed "Four Lifetimes" by the Citykings and included a color photo of the band playing live. He organized the bands for "Blues For Becky" here in February 2004. In addition to these works of greatness, Jim Shortt was a down-to-earth friend and a lovable, affable fellow. His gruff voice belied a kind heart and a compassionate soul. He was a decent, honorable man, and decent, honorable men are becoming more and more scarce in today's fast-paced living world, so much of which is driven by instant gratification. Jim worked tirelessly for the benefit of others and it seemed to make him rich enough. That's how it looked to me, anyway. To say he will be missed is a gross understatement. His trail stops where he left it. I hope we all can learn from the example he set by his actions as well as his often too kind words for those of us including myself who deep down knew they didn't really deserve praise...constructive criticism would have been fair...Aw, shoot...I just hurt so bad right now. I miss my friend. His suffering has ended, he's in heaven now, I will never forget this great man. WC1

[pro70z28]

Sorry for your loss John. R.I.P. Jim.

[draglist]

Jim's enthusiasm for the Houston Blues scene was infectious. I was proud to meet him at Blues for Becky. He was all over the place, ensuring that everyone was having a good time and that everyone had a chance to meet everyone else. Jim seemed to me to be the consummate enthusiast. Jim, thanks for all you did for my friend John and for other Texas musicians. Rest in peace. bp

[Gator]

God Speed Jim.

R.I.P.

[RH]

Cat,
I'm very sorry for your personal loss and the loss to his family and the music community at large.
You are very fortunate to have had as a friend a man of his calibre.
You can rest knowing that he has found his reward.

Ron

[bandit]

I'm sorry for your loss, Cat. RIP Jim

[Rapid Randy Baker]

Sorry WC, this is sad news.

[Jerry Gilles]

Very sorry to hear about this John. I know what a good friend he was to you. I sure am glad we got to meet him. I would have to say that my thoughts mirror what Bp already posted. Thanks Jim, and Godspeed.

[WildcatOne]

Thanks and bless you all. I went to Jim's wake yesterday evening. They showed an awesome slideshow of his life. His wife, sons and grandchildren were there. I ran into a lot of folks I hadn't seen in a while. Doug Ardoin, Lynn Raggio, Lanis Neugent, Tom Rodgers, Jim Beauchard, musicians from this area that I've played with over the years. Jim's wife talked to me for a few minutes and she said their house is covered with my graphics...I didn't know about that. She loves them and she said Jim collected them from the first one I made for him up until now...I appreciated hearing that, because I have always thought I was better at graphics than I am as a musician. The guy they had lined up to play keyboards for the ceremony started getting a little crazy, he started talking about this guy that died and how hilarious his funeral was, and all the booze, drugs and hard-living stories about the guy he could get out...I don't need to hear the same stories over and over again every time I get around a bunch of musicians. I get bored and uncomfortable being around them...like the guy thinks I want to hear that crap...at Jim Shortt's wake...after a few minutes he started laughing...loudly...and jumping around, cutting up and carrying on like an idiot. I left. I ran into Pee Wee and Jerry out in the parking lot and I ended up going over to his house and fixing his computer for him...actually Comcast fixed it over the phone...but I got credit for it and a bag of frozen Tamales...next up is to get one of his monitors fixed. I'll call Brother Bill tonight. Then I'll be going to a Phantoms Kruise tonight at the Home Depot down in Friendswood...I know Jim wanted a celebration, but the guy we were talking to just started acting way too casual with the situation and I just walked away from him.