Topic: Robert Tilling RIP

[Parlor Picker]

I was sad to receive a 'phone call yesterday from Ray Stubbs telling me that Bob Tillling had passed away. Shortly afterwards Roy Book Binder sent me a message with the same news.

Roy actually "introduced" me to Bob back in 1972 and we started corresponding. I say "introduced", because we never actually met in person. I sent him some slides I'd taken of Rev. Gary Davis as Roy said Bob was preparing a book - a book which was not published until some 20 years later. Bob kindly gave me an acknowledgement in the book, although the photos I'd sent were not used.

We kept writing to each other (eventually it became a note with a Christmas card) and spoke a few times on the telephone, always maintaining contact because of our mutual interest in country blues, old guitars, etc.

We have lost a fine man.

http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/displayarticle.asp?id=484453

[Bunker Hill]

What a shock!!!!!

It was only a few months ago that I was congratulating him on the revised edition of his RGD book.  In the publicity for it he even quoted a chunk from a not very good review of mine of 1993.

EDIT: By not very good review, I mean badly written rather than a negative review.

[eagle rockin daddy]

wow,  I wish I had known him.  I love his book.  What can I say? 

Mike

[Mr.OMuck]

I'm very sad to hear of his death. He contacted me sometime in the early '90's-late 80's having found me through Roy Bookbinder and included a bit I wrote on my lessons with RGD in his book. I never saw the revised second edition. To my knowledge he was the first to get a much needed book on Davis out to the public. He was, like me, a painter and art professor. I had hoped to meet him in person at some point but we did speak on the phone once or twice. His good work lives on, and the upcoming bio-pic about Davis should go further to getting RGD the recognition in the cultural pantheon of the twentieth century that he deserves. Thanks Robert.

[Bunker Hill]

Another Robert discussion, of sorts, here

http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?amp;Itemid=60&topic=4634.0

[mr mando]

Very sad news indeed. There's a thread over at the IGS forum collecting memories of Robert Tilling by people who met him at various International Guitar Semiar sessions.

Death don't have no mercy indeed.

[uncle bud]

A video report from the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/jersey/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9376000/9376303.stm

[Richard]

Sad news, he did a lot for bringing artists to Jersey Arts  Centre. We did speak once about the possibility of a joint effort since Guernsey is so lacklustre in that respect but never got together.

[book]

I spoke with Bob, The day before he passed on.....He said he sounded worse than he was....and said he'd be "going home in a few days".  We talked shortly about our meeting back in 1967.   I answered a letter of appreciation that he had written to Rev. Davis.  And introduced myself on the back of that letter....If Mrs. Davis hadn't asked me to write a few letters for her......I mean, if she was shopping or taking a nap that day.....I might have never met the best friend I ever had.....The Lord does work in mysterious ways.    Robert & Thelma spent many summer days at my Brother's house in NY when I was on tour.....Even My 96 year old Mother came to love them like family....Robert was a very special person......to all of us....

[Annette]

Shame he did a great sort of talk at a Gloucester? Blues Festival.

He told a story about a friend who bought him a bottle of wine in return for a favour.

When he got home a few days later his wife had used the wine in a stew.

He later found the bottle of wine was ?50+ - then he held up his bottleneck and announced it as the most expensive bottleneck ever!

He was a very nice man and a store of experience and knowledge.

Annette

[Annette]

Two more anecdotes Bob told at the same lecture were:

Pink Anderson was playing somewhere when Bob was watching - and Pink introduced his "best piece" as his "tour-de-france"!

And when he was having lessons from Gary Davis (he did comment on the smoke from Gary's cheap cigars) Ma Davis went out for some pork chops for dinner - and by the time she got back the sun had gone down and she said "oh reverend you're making that poor boy play in the dark".

They may be apocryphal but funny any way!

Annette

[Bunker Hill]

Just found a mass of correspondence between Bob Tilling and myself dating back to summer 1969. Amongst it all was the attached invitation to attend one of his "showings".

I attended the London event which was held in a "posh" Central London art gallery (see attached) which was situated just around the corner from auctioneers Christie's.