John "Marmaduke" Dawson of NRPS

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 22 Jul 2009 7:41 am

JOHN "MARMADUKE" DAWSON (1945-2009)

John passed away peacefully on July 21, 2009 at the age of 64 in Mexico, where he had retired several years ago. It is with great sadness that we relay this news, and extend our deepest condolences to his family and all his many fans out there.

His songs inspired us in so many ways. His energy, passion and commitment to the New Riders brought us all so much joy over the years. We can all be thankful that his music and legacy will live on forever.

I never met him, but his songs and unique voice were a positive influence on my own music during my formative years. Peace.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 22 Jul 2009 9:25 am

I was just listening to the first NRPS album the other day. His voice, while thin sounding, fit the music perfectly. Of course, Jerry Garcia's pedal steel playing didn't hurt the overall sound.

RIP indeed.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 22 Jul 2009 9:37 am

I'm saddened to hear this. I knew he was not well, and in particular not well enough to perform with the current version of NRPS. Thanks, Marmaduke, for all the music.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 22 Jul 2009 4:41 pm

Received via email.

Fred Campbell wrote:Wow, what a shocker.

I really respect his songwriting. One of his songs, "Glendale Train", was so authentically old-timey that I thought it was an actual folk ballad from the pioneer days until he told me he wrote it.

I got to play with him and Rusty Gauthier in the 80's and 90's. The NRPS were travelling around playing clubs mostly in the Northeast as a trio. Who needs bass and drums when you've got Marmaduke wailing on the 12-string, Rusty playing every stringed instrument under the sun, and lots of good 3-part harmony? He had some very loyal fans, people who would drive hours to see a show. I really miss those days. RIP John.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 22 Jul 2009 5:04 pm

Sad to hear. We lose another one from the Bay Area "home team" of musicians and a member of the extended Grateful Dead family.

The last time I saw him he was playing in that incarnation of the New Riders in the early 90's. It wasn't the greatest mind you, but he still had the unique voice.

It was a pretty big deal, in a small kind of country bar in Carmel Valley on the Monterey Peninsula where I was living at the time.

A lot of the old hippies came in from the hills to park their old pickups and VW buses in the lot in between the Jags and the Mercedes.

I will always remember one of the early times I saw Marmaduke with the New Riders at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco in May, 1973 in what was the original Bill Graham "Day on the Green." They were the opener, with Waylon Jennings and the Waylors in the middle, and the Dead were the headliners.

Truly one of the most magical musical days of my life.

I'm smiling as I'm thinking of John in his distinctive voice singing the Peter Rowan penned tune, "Lonesome L.A. Cowboy"...

"So many pretty people in this city, and I swear
Some of them are girls

I meet 'em down at Barney's Beanery
In their platform shoes and spit curls

I buy 'em drinks, we stoke our hopes
And try to make it one more night

When I'm left alone at last
I feel like I'll die from crying"

Rest in peace, brother Marmaduke.

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 22 Jul 2009 8:57 pm

AND TAKE A LAST, FLYING LOOK
AT THE LAST LONELY EAGLE
HE’S SOARING THE LENGTH OF THE LAND
SHED A TEAR FOR THE FATE
OF THE LAST LONELY EAGLE
FOR YOU KNOW THAT HE NEVER WILL LAND

Thank you John for this and many, many other beautiful songs that have made me feel pretty darn good for the last 40 years (give, or take a few years)

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 23 Jul 2009 4:15 pm

One of the true originals. Those songs still hold up today-I know we play them all the time. I grew up on the NRPS and Dawson's tunes, he will be sorely missed.

JB

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 26 Jul 2009 3:37 am

NRPS is playing next door to my gig next Saturday.
Playing in sight of eachother and I won't get to hear them ..My Condolences to family and friends..
Hook

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 10 Aug 2009 11:43 am

wow,, so sorry to hear this

.. RIP Marmaduke.. You and Buddy were the reason I play the steel to this day... I remember those days,,, John slamming that open G chord to Henry while Buddy and David played steel and tele licks over it..It opened my ears up to country, even though it wasn't accepted by ""real"" country players of the day... Another one down.. We are losing friends and mentors by the dozen it seems.. thanks for posting this b0b.... bob

David Rupert · Post by **David Rupert** » 4 Sep 2009 5:51 am

This is indeed, sad news.

John Dawson, David Nelson, Buddy Cage...& the rest of the New Riders, were a very big part...of my life. And, still are! I started listening to them, in the early '70's. They...were, my Favorite band!!

Buddy Cage, was the main reason/influence...for becoming a steel player.

The New Riders of the Purple Sage, were a very special band!! Magical, cosmic...country rock!

Rest in Peace, John Dawson.

Jim Ives · Post by **Jim Ives** » 4 Sep 2009 7:09 pm

I wonder what Marmaduke and Jerry are doing right now. If they have weed in
heaven, they're digging it right now.
Jim

Mike Poholsky · Post by **Mike Poholsky** » 5 Sep 2009 7:26 am

That's sad news indeed. John & NRPS were one of introductions to country music and the steel guitar for me. Looking back at those days, around '70, I didn't know jack about country music or steel guitar, but I got my start listening to Johns' music & NRPS. RIP

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 5 Sep 2009 8:57 am

Very sad news. He was a distinctive singer with a very recognizable voice, and just a tremendous performer in the 70's. I saw probably one of the best country-rock double-bills ever in the mid-70's: NRPS and the Flying Burrito Brothers at UCLA's Royce Hall. The place was packed and both versions of each band were probably the strongest stage versions (this was when Joel Scott Hill was fronting the Burritos, and he and Gene Parsons' harmonies were so tight I thought they were Siamese twins), with Sneaky and Buddy on steel. Dawson had boundless energy on stage and had the crowd wrapped around his finger.

There was a jam with everybody at the end. I'd list the songs, but there seemed to be people burning rope all over the place and for some reason it made me forgetful.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 10 Sep 2009 7:03 am

'Listening to Marmaduke and Jerry G. this morn'!
http://www.archive.org/details/nrps1970 ... sbeok.shnf

This is a great show.
A great recording of Dawsons vocal, Jerry is playing some great live Pedal Steel at this point. Check out "Live and Let Live" for some classic country... the next one has a good Steel break, too (songs #4 and #5).

That archive.com site is great for pulling up live shows.
I put in "New Riders" (in quotes), and 6 pages of live shows came right up... I scrolled right to the early 70's... I'll be listening to some Buddy Cage years when I get my 2nd cup of coffee.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 9 Oct 2009 7:27 am

I met John a few times.
Buddy Cage's girl knew mine and she brought him to my studio.
He said he was going to jam with some old friends,
NRPS, and they would be surprised because they had
no idea he was around Massachusetts at the time.

I brought my early digital recording gear and got
the night down, and it was a great one.
Two steel players, lap/fiddle and pedal.

The guitar picker had just left Rick Nelson's band
2 weeks before the plane crash,
and had a far away look much of the night,
but played with fire.

A year on NRPS stopped into my local music store,
and I reminded John about the tape we got to him,
and he sat an talked for an hour or so
about horrorshow gigs on the road and such.
Very funny man.