Lois Meis and Denver Joe (Courtesy of David Barber, Rock on Colorado .com)
Joe… How do I explain Denver Joe….
Joe was a pure anomaly, loved by many, probably hated by many of the same…
He certainly did it his way and on his terms…
I first met him at the Cricket, he was the weekend doorman just getting a band together… I’m thinkin’ ‘86 – maybe early ’87. Gary England, Dan Shore, Tom Butters, Tim Kasemaker, Marty Parrot and even Doug Kauffman and a few others would mix and match as needed to make a band. Sherry Grey would also sit in. Sherry’s bass and pedal/guitar player combo, Lois and Dick Meis later became the final product of Joe’s vision… Three lovesick saddletramps … everything was played on the spot – no rehearsals. There isn’t an outlaw country musician on this planet more outlaw than Joe Vasquez. In fact, I think the genre was named after him.
I was lucky to spend a few Thanksgivings with Joe, his mom, brother Frank and son Rio. You are all in my thoughts. I admired him a lot, and loved him like a brother.
During the 14 years that I was a patron and employee of the Cricket, I saw Joe every day. I have many, many stories I will fondly remember and I may share later….
“It’s getting dark, too dark to see” – Rest easy, Joe.
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Denver Joe passes – See Susan Phelan’s posts
From Austin Ross: “We want to remind you all to drink up and be somebody. This ain’t no goddamn coffee house, it’s the world famous Cricket on the Hill” ~ R.I.P, Denver Joe.
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From Heather Dalton:
These photos are from the happiest day of my life. Denver Joe meant a lot to all of us. For me, he taught me so much and was a huge part of my love for this city and every time he played it felt like home. I love you Joey, always and forever.
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From J. Luke Schmaltz:
At the behest of Joe’s son Rio … well … here it is: There were ongoing health problems, so much to where Joe took it upon himself to *gasp* get healthcare.
He had a hernia with ensuing surgeries. Plus, there were heart problems. And, NO — it wasn’t his liver. There were kidney issues, throat issues and … alas … there were a multitude of health problems compounding into a one-of-a-kind case of “We Don’t Know What’s Wrong With You.”
And I quote Joe’s son Rio “He had his doctors in tears. They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. He dealt with the situation with so much grace, only as Denver Joe could do.”
Rio continued … ” He went peacefully, he wasn’t in pain, he was aware, he wasn’t alone (Rio was there by his side) and he was ready to go.”
That’s right. Joe went with his son by his side, in no pain and at peace.
There will be a send-off/memorial/tribute day for our man, Denver Joe, this coming Saturday May 5th at 3 Kings Tavern. Joe’s son Rio explained to me that it was Joe’s idea, should he ever play out again, that it would be at that place. Thusly I do comply.
Lineup to be announced.
Until then, drink up and be somebody!
Joe now joins former Cricket on the Hill owners Chris & Sharon Rawles and Bryan Woodard in that Rockin’ Bar in the Sky…
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Other Notable Musicians’ Deaths…
May 2018
2: Vadim Mulerman, 79, Soviet singer, cancer.
1: Max Berrú, 74, Ecuadorian-Chilean musician (Inti Illimani); John “Jabo” Starks, 79, American drummer (James Brown, The J.B.’s); Wanda Wilkomirska, 89, Polish violinist and teacher.
April 2018
30: Tim Calvert, 52, American rock guitarist (Nevermore, Forbidden), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Rose Laurens, 65, French singer-songwriter (“I Dreamed a Dream”, “Africa”).
29: Zannah Hultén (sv), 62, Swedish musician and voice teacher.
28: Roberto Angleró, 88, Puerto Rican music composer and singer; Larry Harvey, 70, American artist, philanthropist and activist, founder of the Burning Man festival, complications from a stroke; Maya Kuliyeva, 97, Turkmen operatic soprano and actress.
27: Jewel Ackah, 72, Ghanaian singer; Roy Young, 81, British singer and pianist.
26: Charles Neville, 79, American saxophonist (The Neville Brothers), Grammy winner (1990), pancreatic cancer.
25: David Barraclough, Australian-born New Zealand guitarist (The Exponents), pancreatic cancer; Kato Khandwala, 47, American record producer (My Chemical Romance, Breaking Benjamin, Papa Roach), injuries sustained in traffic collision; M. S. Rajeswari, 87, Indian playback singer.
24: Paul Gray, 54, Australian musician (Wa Wa Nee), myeloma; Alain Milhaud, 87, Swiss music producer and manager (Los Bravos, Los Canarios), brain tumor.
23: Don Bustany, 89, American radio and television broadcaster (American Top 40); Bob Dorough, 94, American pianist, singer and composer (Schoolhouse Rock!); Arthur B. Rubinstein, 80, American composer (WarGames, Stakeout, Lost in America), cancer; Art Simmons, 92, American jazz pianist, stomach cancer.