Kevin's Comments
My first contact
with Jackson was really very funny; of course funny after
the fact, not funny at the time. It was an evening a few
years ago when I was still building in my parents’ garage.
The phone rang and when I picked it up the voice said “Hi,
Kevin, this is Jackson Browne. I just played one of your
guitars that belongs to Bo Radis.” Then he said how much he
liked it and that he wanted me to build him one. Well, it
was almost surreal to me. It was in the evening, I was alone
in the shop, somewhat discouraged as I remember it, and here
I get a call out of the blue from a Rock legend. So the
first thing I said was “Are you really Jackson Browne?” like
some hayseed from the sticks. Jackson laughed very
good-naturedly and assured me he was indeed Jackson Browne.
And then, having established his true identity to my
satisfaction, we proceeded to plan his guitar.
Now one thing I want to say about Jackson is
the absolute class of this artist. I can imagine that a
mega-star of Jackson’s caliber could easily expect to be
treated as royalty. But not once was there a scintilla of
any of that from him. I think Jackson could tell that I
deferentially wanted to make allowances to him out of
respect but he would not hear of it. He said he understood
how hard I worked and he wanted to be treated no differently
than any other client. At that moment I knew the quality of
the man behind the stardom. When I was ready to deliver the
instrument to him, he actually profusely apologized that he
was so busy and unable to make it down to the shop to pick
it up right away so he was trying to figure out when he
could come and pick it up. Not once did he even imply that I
would be expected to take it to him (which of course I
immediately insisted on doing—for which he was genuinely
appreciative.)
These two anecdotes I
think speak so much about him as a person. There are many
other stories. I could mention the generous invitation to
his studio during some recording and treating us to lunch;
his accommodating some of our good friends over in Japan
while on tour there; his calling me letting me know on more
than one occasion when he would be playing in our area; none
of this did he have to do. So Jackson Browne is solid gold
in my book. It is an honor to know him.
And then there is the
music. I think someone has called him the “Keats of Rock ‘n
Roll”, meaning of course that he is a consummate poet and
wordsmith. From the deep sense of poignancy in “The
Pretender” to the brilliant sense of joy and bounce in the
infectiously compelling “Nino”, he conveys so much with the
deft word and perfect turn of phrase. The co-author of the
Eagles “Take it Easy” knows how to write lyrics and melody! |
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