Bidding a Mournful Adieu
Nowhere Man & A Whiskey Girl
Derrick & Amy Ross
photo by Jimi Giannatti
Comprehending death is always difficult for the living. We know it is coming, we’ve experienced it deeply time and again, but it is nevertheless devastating and jarring with each cherished darling whose temporal, physical existence ends.
On Oct. 14, 2013, Amy Ross – the singer and pianist of Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl – died from complications of Systemic Lupus. Years of kidney dialysis, and a diagnosis that left the last few years of her life on the other side of the apex of that diagnosis, took its toll on her body. Her love, husband, and songwriting partner Derrick Ross, the duo’s guitarist, chose to join her.
The music communities from Bisbee to Flagstaff are bereaved by the loss of this open-hearted, talented couple whose charm, grace and acerbic wit will be missed by those who knew and loved them. Following their deaths, friends of Amy (40) and Derrick (39) began the cathartic process of coming together to build a float in their honor for the Nov. 3 All Souls Procession (ASP).
Over several weekends preceding ASP, musicians, photographers, artists and writers poured heart-broken energy into a beautiful homage to Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl. Big band letters, NMWG, were constructed to top a sixteen foot long and four foot wide float, end-capped by a piano for Amy with a guitar above it for Derrick.
Spearheaded by Keli Carpenter and Taylor Bungard of The Tryst, the construction’s rapid evolution blew everyone away. Over 40 thoughtful, competent and caring hands were on deck, driven by an urgency of time and emotion, and they deftly pulled it all together. As of Oct. 27, finishing touches such as lights, balloons, flowers and the float skirt were yet to be added, but with the vision of that amazing group of creatives, it is a float that will certainly stand out gorgeously in the All Souls Procession.
Local musician Stuart Oliver offered this quote, from The Healing Wisdom Of Africa by Malidoma Patrice Somé, as a reflection of their passing: “Death is not a separation but a different form of communion, a higher form of connectedness with the community, providing an opportunity for even greater service.”
On Nov. 23, local musicians will pay tribute to NMWG in a benefit show at Plush, 304 E. Sixth St. As of press time, the line up included: Buzz and the Soul Senders, Lonna Kelley, Dylan Charles, Dusty Buskers, Kiss the Killer and Fatigo. Check out the event on Facebook here. Other details forthcoming at PlushTucson.com.
Category: Community, DOWNTOWN / UNIVERSITY / 4TH AVE, MUSIC
