R.I.P. JIMMY CARL BLACK

Jimmy Carl Black, one of the original drummers with Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and former New Mexico resident, died of cancer Nov. 1 in Germany, where he'd lived for more than a decade.

Born in El Paso, Texas, Jimmy lived in Albuquerque and Taos for a few years in the early '80s. He had a local blues and rock band called Capt. Glasspack & His Magic Mufflers. And, as I've bragged about for years, he played drums on "The Green Weenie" on my album back in 1981, which made him the Indian of my group.

I knew in my heart when I saw him last year playing at The Outpost in Albuquerque with Eugene Chadbourne (when they played in Albuquerque last year as The Jim & Jack Show ) that it would be the last time I'd ever see Jimmy. It was a great night. Several of his kids drove up from El Paso for the show and Jimmy, although already suffering from his illness, ( "It's a mild form of leukemia," he told me) was in fine form.

My review of that show, which mainly consists of memories of JCB, is HERE and my snapshots from that night can be found HERE.

Better yet, enjoy some of Jimmy's music HERE.

Adios, Lonsesome Cowboy Burt!

UPDATE: The original version of this incorrectly said Jimmy was born in Anthony, Texas, not El Paso.