Charlie A

[Carl H.]

I was just on his website, I didn't even know he was ill.
http://www.gigdust.com/

[Eulipion2]

Carl,
Wow, thanks for pointing this out! I haven' been on the forum in a couple weeks, and haven't looked at Charlie A's site in about as long.

I've bought at least two mouthpieces and a bunch of gig dust and crud patches from him. He was always a pleasure to deal with.

RIP

[Bill Mecca]

Wow, I'm stunned. Does anyone know when he passed?

My dealings with Charlie were minimal, and order here and there, and testing out the BBQ mpc, but he treated me very well.

It's a sad day.

[retread]

Charlie was a fine gentleman and a pleasure to talk with. He will be missed.

[Paul Coats]

I just received word. Charlie Andrews died this morning, Wednesday, April 6, 2005, after a long fight with leukemia.

Charlie continued to play gigs, he told me, the last time we talked. He would sit on a stool to play, he was too weak to stand, but he would play, all the same.

Charlie was a good friend, to me, and to everyone who knew him.

He will be missed.


http://www.gigdust.com/images/Charlie.jpg

My interview with Charlie Andrews here:

http://www.saxontheweb.net/Coats/CharlieA1.html

[JMac]

Man-

I knew he'd fought an illness this past year (undisclosed) - but I thought he was over it. In all my dealings with him, he was absolutely great. Reminded me of the way Santy Runyon and his crew would treat customers - always a kind word, eager to correct any problems, and oftentimes a small gift to boot.

It's a shame this has happened when his BBQ is finally taking off. People like him simply can not be replaced.

Well - I guess he and Santy are havin' a big ole time right about now - I'd like to hear that blowin' session.

[Super 20 Player]

Like the rest, I was aware he was ill, but didn't know the details. My sincere condolences to the family and all those who personally knew him. He made a difference, and he will be missed.

[cmhbob]

Wow. I was just browsing the site last night, looking at a Runyon Custom.

:(

[Bill Mecca]

Thanks Paul.

I lost my dad last June, after a nearly 10 year battle with leukemia, when it decides to take you, it takes you, no ifs ands or buts. I hate that disease.

Thanks for the details. Wondering if there is information on funeral arrangements?

[larry]

I also am saddened by his passing - he was a gentleman and always treated me professionally and with respect. I wish I had the chance to meet him person.

[Santee>]

I thought the doctors finally found out what was wrong - I think it was a bacterial infection in his left lung? I was praying Charlie would finally recover from the major stuff after that discovery! He was battling a few different things though I guess.

It's a very sad day 'cause he's been taken from us, but I'm totally confident that he's in the absolute best hands - with Jesus Christ. He was a man of faith and of morals, and I'm so honored to have known him :) .

http://www.aaronsantee.com/Charlie_A_We_Miss_You.gif

[kcp]

I've just read my email a minute ago and found-out about this very sad news.
I really liked Charlie, he was a kind and true person. May he rest in peace.

[SAXISMYAXE]

I'm utterly and totally shocked. I too had no idea whatsoever that he was ill. I am stating the obvious when I say that he will be sorely missed. My deepest condolences to his wife and family. I'm truly saddened by this news

[gary]

Well -censored- !!!!!!

I have prayed for him every night before bed for the last several months. We shared the same disease and he told me some stuff about his but he never let on that he was losing the battle - no plays for sympathy whatever. I feel like crying. This makes me very sad.

Oh well, at least he's going to have a great repair tech waiting for him where he's going. :sunny:

[LarryG]

Charlie always took the time to jot a note on his packing slips to me. Sometimes a "Thanks a Lot!", sometimes a "You will really enjoy these reeds!". Nonetheless, he always took to the time to be a genuine, nice human being. I will miss his notes.

I lost my mom to leukemia 4 years ago, after a 17 year battle with that s-o-b'in of a disease. My prayers go out to his wife and family and all who knew him.

Larry Geiger

[Chris S]

I'll add my condolences here. I only ever ordered some gig dust from him, but I was impressed with both Charlie and the products that he sold. You could tell that he was a musician who happened to do business, not a businessman who sold musical paraphernalia.

It reminds me of something a teacher said to me some years back....

A true musician never retires, they play until they die.

This was the case with Charlie, a true musician.

Sincerest regards to all who knew him,
Chris S

[Helen]

I am very saddened by this news. The sax playing world lost a very kind and gentle soul today. Charlie was a wonderful man, and a real friend to the sax players who he had contact with.

I never got a chance to reply to the last email he sent me a few weeks ago. I knew he was ill, and that things were dire, but I guess I kept hoping there would be more time.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this very difficult time.

[rcwjd]

Charlie spent hours helping me find just the right bari mouthpiece - on the telephone and by email. Everytime I ordered those Fibracells from him (he got me hooked on them), there was a little note from him thanking me for my order. He would do all that whether you ever ordered anything from him - he was just genuinely interested in people and an all around pleasure to talk to. You really hate to hear this kind of news. He was one of the good guys in my book. I agree with the other poster - I know he will be jamming away with those who passed before him.

[fieldmarshall]

I wish I could have met him. I remember how excited he was about his new mouthpiece. I just got an email from him on Saturday the 2nd, he didn't mention he was so ill. That's a trooper.

Curt "FM" G

[Tim Price]

My deepest condolences. How sad.

We lost a great man and great musician.

[madav]

Like others I knew Charlie was ill, but had no idea of the details. It's great pity to have lost such a gentleman

[Paul Coats]

Charlie Andrews is at Moore Funeral Home in Sardis , Ms.

For those that wish to send flowers, I have located these two florists:

Flower Boutique
299 Highway 51 N
Sardis, MS 38666

ph 662-487-0080

and

Sardis Florist
211 Dunlap St
Sardis, MS 38666

ph 662-487-2531

[Hurling Frootmig]

I saw this come across yesterday on a variety of mailing lists that I'm on. Like a lot of the people on this board and in the sax community I found Charlie to be a great guy to do business with. My thoughts are on the family and I hope that they understand how much he will be missed by a lot of people who never actually had the good fortune to meet him.


Ed Svoboda

[ddrumman2004]

My name is Richard Parker....I'm a drummer and had the pleasure of playing drums behind Charlie Andrews for about 2 years back about 5 to 6 years ago. He was an outstanding sax player and a wonderful human being. We played many local joints around his home town of Sardis and even Dad's Place in Memphis. It was a shock to me to hear that he had passed.
I have played with other horn players but Charlie beat them all. He was smooth, had great timing and he was just a lot of fun to be with on stage.
I will miss him as will the rest of the guys that played in Southern Connection Band. Rest in peace Charlie....have a great time jamming in heaven with all the great musicians that went before you.
Richard

[Fergie]

It's been heartwarming to read all these posts regarding Charlie. I was his web designer - or "webmistress", as he liked to refer to me ;)

Charlie would call me every week - just to "check on me". We'd talk about anything and everything - hunting, what his dogs had been doing, etc. Sometimes we'd even talk about work :D Most of the time, his wife Linda would join in on the conversation... I could hear her in the background gently reminding him or correcting him (she was Charlie's "backup brain", and he dearly loved her.)

You should all know how much he loved his emails and phone conversations he had with you. He absolutely loved being able to meet people through his web site. GigDust.com wasn't a money-making venture for Charlie - it was his passion. He felt it was his duty to offer what he considered to be the best products at the best prices for his fellow musicians.

Linda is going to continue to operate GigDust.com, and I'm going to help her as much as I can. This is what Charlie would want us to do. I know that this wonderful community of musicians and friends will patiently support us as we find our way without Charlie...

As I said on his website, I'm sure going to miss Ole Charlie :cry:

~Julie Ferguson
"Webmistress" (I kinda like the sound of that...)
www.gigdust.com

[Keith Ridenhour]

Charlie was a saint. Honest, open, a joy to write to and he was kind enough to send me a cassette tape of some heavy tenors back in the "day". He will be missed and I'm sorry I never had a chance to see him in person. I sent him lots of pics of my house as I did various repairs and my wife and family. He felt like a friend. K

[Mark R]

Charlie was everything you have all stated here. I really can't add anything besides that when I first started reading the thread I felt a sigh of sadness yet relief knowing how ill Charlie had been when I first met him in Nov.2004. You can imagine what a giving, caring and dedicated musician he was letting me come by his place the day he had just gotten back from a hospital visit....he was eager to hear someone else play the BBQ prototype. He had already sent some out for players to check out but hadn't heard anyone (besides himself) play one live. The sparkle in his eyes and smile on his face after I exclaimed how great I thought the prototype was let me know he knew he was on the right track. Charlie was all about making and developing things that enhance our lives as saxophoists.

I also offer my condolences to Linda and Fergie. For now the heavens smile and earth cries for the loss of such a fine gentleman. I miss you Charlie, you were such a beautiful soul brother :cry:

[Harri Rautiainen]

Fergie,
thanks for joining the SOTW forum and your warm words of our beloved Charlie.
I got to know Charlie A. when Paul wrote his interview (http://www.saxontheweb.net/Coats/CharlieA1.html) for Sax on the Web. Later on I had many e-mail exchanges with him, and am a satisfied user of GigDust.

Charlie forgot his password a couple of times, but we will remember his name for a long time to come.
my condolences to Linda and you,
-Harri
_______________________________________________
P.S. Besides having a short notice of Charlie's death on the Sax on the Web main page (http://www.saxontheweb.net/) I just added a banner linking to Charlie's gigdust.com site. Please pay a visit.
Thanks,

[wersax]

So sad; Charlie will be missed. God bless...............

[T-MAN]

My condolences and prayers go out to Charlie and his family. :( He was a very friendly and helpful person--that's what I'll remember most about him. I feel like a part of him is still with me, though, as his BBQ mpce is still rockin' with me.

[Saxhound]

I'm also stunned. What a great loss to our community, as well as his family. I only spoke to Charlie once about a very minor order snafu. We spent 45 seconds discussing that and 45 minutes talking about music. He had a way of making you feel like you had been friends for years.

Does anyone know if there is a preferred memorial contribution organization?

[jr!]

I know I'm a bit late, but I too would like to offer my condolences.

Having only bought a few sets of Fibracell reeds from Charlie after finding out that even with the exchange rate & the shipping he had the best price, every transaction went smooth even orders I placed at odd hours and on weekends.

I still hope to add a BBQ mpc to my collection in the future as well...

What a loss, you will be missed.

[Ms. Charlie A]

Hi to everyone who has left a message about Charlie. On April 6`th Charlie died in his sleep at the hospital, he was never in any pain, He like everyone else thought he would yet again get back on his feet, but God had other plans. His heart is what he died from, He said if He could not hunt and fish which He loved as much as playing the sax He was ready to go, but He had gotten His beloved BBQ off and running and I will try my best to give the same great service that He did on all orders from the web site www.gigdust.com. Once again I want to thank all of you for the kind things that were said about Him. His word was better than a written contract.

On behalf of Charlie A`s Family thanks for all the prayer.

Linda A