Ladies & Gentlemen....Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, featuring Miss Diane Blue.

....and a heartfelt Rest in Peace to the wonderful Jim Mouradian, longtime bass player for The Broadcasters. You've played so many wonderful notes over so many countless shows, this one being your final one. You made it so memorable. RIP to this wonderful musician and man.

About 18 months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Jim after a Ronnie show at Scullers in Cambridge, MA. Soft-spoken, understated, congenial, Jim told me the story about how he came to be one of Ronnie's precious Broadcasters; oh, and how he also made and repaired guitars. We spoke for 5, 10 minutes tops...and that was it. It was a good conversation, nothing remarkable, just two people chatting after an amazing show. I was thankful for the opportunity.

Fast forward to Saturday January 14th, 2017 at The Kate in Old Saybrook, CT, an epic night of music that, sadly, proved to be the final notes Jim Mouradian would ever play. The show ended around 10:45 pm and the sellout crowd thundered for an encore; the lights stayed dark for several minutes, a clear sign that the band was about to return to the stage. As the cheers continued, the lights remained off - until they weren't. Finally, the houselights popped on and a delirious crowd, madly hoping for one more song, fled for the exits.

My friends and I lingered behind, hoping to get the chance to see Ronnie, who briefly came back onstage to shake some hands. He was only there a minute, maybe less, then shuffled off backstage.

Everything becomes a bit of a blur from this point forward, but this is how I remember it.

As a handful of people stood near the memorabilia table, including Ronnie's stalwart manager, Debbie Blanchard, I heard someone ask if anyone had "aspirin," not nearly realizing the significance. Aspirin, huh?

I peered backstage - the door ajar - and witnessed someone laying on the ground, unable to tell who it might be, but clearly thinking it was Ronnie, a man who's had his fair share of well-publicized health troubles over the years. Oh lord, i thought, this is awful. Great show, terrible ending.

For the few people still in the building, there was a chilling air of apprehension and desperation, grave concern for what was going on before our very eyes. Someone mentioned that it was "the bass player" and i once again peered backstage, this time realizing it was obviously much more serious: someone was giving the fallen person CPR, furiously hovering over him with methodical chest compressions.

I couldn't look anymore, engaged in some nervous small-talk, and headed to the lobby. Blaring sirens, emergency lights flashing, first one police car, then another and, finally, an ambulance. Phew, they got here quick, i remarked. That's a good sign, I hoped, I prayed.

It was then that my shocked friends and I headed for the exits - there was nothing useful we could do, best that we safely make our way home on a very snowy, icy cold, surreal New England night.

The next day we heard the incredibly awful news that Jim Mouradian died of a massive heart attack immediately following the show.

Once the news broke, the outpouring of love and emotion for this man was incredible. Tributes came in from everywhere and the central theme was this: Jim Mouradian was a kind and decent man, universally beloved by all who came into contact with him.

The more I read, the more I learned that this man was an absolute legend in the Boston area as a Luthier (guitar maker) and Guitar Repairmen. Who knew? He touched so many musicians lives, helping fix their guitars, becoming one of the best at what he did. But it was his kindness that appeared to be the most important trait this man offered the world. Kindness was the central theme to Jim Mouradian's life.

It made me think back to the one time i met him, nearly two years ago at Scullers, when his simple gesture of speaking to a fan after a show demonstrated how this man lived his life.

Thank you Jim Mouradian for the memories. RIP.

Jim Mouradian Obituary, Boston Globe: [ Ссылка ]

For a further glimpse into Jim Mouradian, go here: [ Ссылка ]

Or here, Jim playing bass in the late 1980s (check out that extended solo around 3:20 mark!): [ Ссылка ]

Or more, here...Yelp! 5 star reviews, what a remarkable legacy! [ Ссылка ]

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