The Legendary George McCorkle

The Legendary George McCorkle's DownSouthJukin.com interview

As most of you know George is a founding member of Marshall Tucker Band and a current member of the Renegades. Since starting this web site I have the great honor and pleasure of speaking with several of my heroes. George McCorkle stopped by the site one day and signed the guestbook. Imagine my delight! I replied and we went back and forth joking via Email. When I asked him if he would do this interview, not only did he agree, he was truly happy to do it. I spent over an hour on the phone with him just shooting the breeze and having a great time. So, if this interview comes across a little informal, well, it was. He is truly an amazing person with some great stories. Our discussions were not just informative, they were truly refreshing. His outlook on life, music, and MTB are truly awesome. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did getting to know George. I am going to try to present our conversation as close to it's entirety as possible so you may get to know the Man, George McCorkle. Since I began this I have found that George is as sincere a person as you will ever meet and I am truly proud to be able to call him friend. Thank you George. I also HIGHLY recommend his CD American Street. For more about George check out his web site www.georgemccorkle.com. George also endorses Copley Guitars. For info on how to obtain a limited edition George McCorkle "Honey" guitar (only 100 produced and George has #2) check out www.simbaproducts.com

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Good Morning George

Hey Bruce, How are ya Buddy?

Well ya know it is a little early yet here in Arizona, (laugh)

Well, I understand, I live out in the country and I'm up fairly early.

You and me both. Well, if you can call the middle of the Desert the country.

Well, it is. Where do you live?

Well, I am out in the middle of nowhere out by Florence Arizona. Rattlesnake Country (laugh). Where do you live?

I live about an hour east of Nashville. Out in a small town called Carthage Tennessee. It's a real small rural mountain town. It's about, to Music Road in downtown Nashville, about a hour or hour and a half commute. It's really not that bad.

Sounds like my commute. But I just can't stand living in the city anymore.

Well, I think that is one of the reasons we did it too. I don't know, just getting away from the city. I lived in Nashville for years. But it was just time to get out of town. The only time I go into town is for writing appointments and studio work. Besides that I work off my computer, telephone, you know. Everything is getting so high tech. Most of my work is done with a laptop or carrying a hard drive with me all the time.

So what do you do mostly now?

Most of the time, I have a writing job. I write for a publisher, Off The Green Publishing in Nashville and I own a small publishing Company. Ninety percent of the time I write and I produce songs and I do some studio work. My studio work Bruce, is limited to, if someone needs my style. If someone says I want that style of guitar. I'm not a very good chameleon. There are some guitar players in this town (and this is my opinion) that can do anything. I am blessed to live in a town with such talented people. And these guys can adapt to any thing, any style. The best in the world live here. So, why try to compete with 'em when I do one thing and do it well. So when they need that, they call me. But, I don't make that my full line of work.

Well, when people think of that kind of music, you are the person that people think of.

Exactly Bruce! I also do small Acoustic writers shows. I do that quite a bit here in Nashville. And, on the road I do some colleges. Every now and then I will do a few shows with a band. It's a band of five guys I put together here in Nashville I play with from time to time. And then, The Renegades thing has been taken a whole lot of my time. Which, you talk to Artimus about.

Yeah, it's exciting! I can't wait to hear ya'all.

It is, very much is!

Well, I wanted to say, thank you for taking time out of your hectic schedule to chat with me. It is a great thrill for me, especially being a guitarist myself, to get to talk to all my heroes.

Well, I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me because, it is just as much an honor for me to talk to someone that liked something I did (laughs). The way I look at it is I am a very humble guitar player, I am not by any means a "great writer", I continue to work at it hard everyday.

Well, I would have to disagree with ya on that. You are a great writer!

(Laughs) Well, that's ok. I try to keep myself very much in check and continue working hard. That's my work ethic, I am a very hard worker. I like to continue at it, it is a craft, it's an art.

I think, that is one thing I loved about that time and type of music, all the bands from Marshall Tucker to Lynyrd Skynyrd all of 'em, they had a work ethic that,,,, Well, they wrote about what they knew and they worked hard at it, now days everything is pre-fabbed and packaged and slapped on the shelf. There are not a lot of musicians like you around anymore.

Unfortunately, we saw that on Saturday Night Live the other night. It's unfortunate. But, it is a new era. It's not an era that I dislike or anything. I think the bands of the 70's and 80's just had a harder work ethic. If you set out to do it for money, you will never reach your goal. You know, it doesn't matter who you are. It's not a money thing, it can't be. It doesn't work like that. If you set out saying this is just for money, that is what it will end up looking like. But, if you set out playing from your heart, doing what your heart tells you to do, it will end up being good. I think whether or not you "make it" is really irrelevant. What is making it? You know. There are gun slingers in every town that can out play ya. It's just breaks as it went. Being in the right place, the right time, the right combination, you know? Marshall Tucker, Skynyrd, all those guys, had the right combinations. It's not rocket science, it's very spiritual to me.

I think one problem today, is everything is formulated by the labels. They decide on a formula and package it and shove it down the public's throats. A lot of folks say that the music industry is stagnant and there is nothing new coming out. I don't think that it's stagnant, I think it's that the industry does not give a lot of the new, fresh, original music of "original" musicians the shots.

Well, I think you are definately right Bruce in what you said. I don't think the music industry is stagnant. Living in Nashville there is a lot of new talent out there. Everyone is trying to be a leader. But, now days we are dealing with stuff like the internet. Independent artists, they are saying "I can make a living doing this". You know I couldn't have done that 15 years ago. It goes back to the levels at which you want to succeed at. You get independent artist that say "well, my level of success is $100,000 a year, and if my work ethic is strong enough I can make that". So if I sign a record deal, only a very few people are gonna make it within the structure of the record industry, very fortunate people. I'm sure the producers and executives are doing their best to pick the few that they think are the best. But, we are living in a changed era, that's for sure. But, you just have to change with it. Keep goin'.

That is such a great outlook

Then, there comes things like The Renegades for us. We're changing with the era, putting together a bunch of guys that can play. And we are trying to offer up something that we feel that people would like.

Yeah, you are talking about an all star line up there.

(Laughing) I tell you, you get caught up in the middle of the set, saying "this is like a classic rock radio station", (laughs)

Well, you are doing songs by original members. It's not like you are covering music. Cause,,,,, well, your all there. (laugh)

It's sort of strange cause, it's the one time in your life that you play Freebird and enjoy doing it, cause you are playing with guys that had to do with it. You know, I don't think to this day, ever played a concert or club date that someone in the audience didn't yell out "Freebird". I'm sure Ronnie, Ed and them are going "man look at that", (laughs) Now, it's fun to play, and the Atlanta Rhythm Section stuff, all of it, Wet Willie things we are doing, and I had never played 38 special. I always loved it, it was all over the radio, it was very complicated 80's rock.

Yeah, their stuff was a lot more main stream, more radio time. But this new album they got out (Drivetrain) has really broke out of that style.

I haven't heard it yet.

Oh, when I listened to it the first time my jaw dropped. (laugh) There is a lot of stuff Johnny and Donnie wrote. Donnie really pushed his vocals and range. It is an awesome album. Personally, I think it is one of their best.

I can't wait to hear it now that you told me that. I have always been a big fan. I've always been a great fan of Jeff Carlisi. He is a great guitar player.

He is playing with you now in the Renegades.

He was a big fan of Toy Caldwell's, and he can play that style very well. He really is a unique player too. A really good guy too. That is the great thing bout the Renegades. They are all good guys. We are all very happy to be up there, a bunch of smiles, givin' each other five, and stuff. It is really interesting.

Again, I think that is another thing I love about that genre of music. It's a bunch of good ole boys up there having a great time, lovin' what they do.

That's right, that's what I said. If you do it for the fun of it, it will all work. It always does.

Oh sure, you can hear it in the music. It's sincere. But, I tell ya you should pick up the new .38 Cd, it's a lot harder than anything else they have done.

That's great. I will. I know the Van Zant brothers are doing another CD.

Yeah, it's a Country record from what I hear.

I have actually pitched songs to a couple of the producers here in town. I actually pitched songs to the project. I've actually pitched songs to Skynyrd. It's like pitching songs to anybody else. It's like winning the lottery. Ya got me and four thousand other writers (laughs). But that is the great thing about Nashville, I have no priority what so ever, (laughs). I get thrown out the door just as easy (laughs). I am real tough skinned though. No doesn't mean anything to me.

That phrase comes up a lot in my interviews (laugh). When I did the interview with Artimus, well you know how people seem to target him. Well, of course as soon as I posted it, people started talking. So, I called Arti and told him if he wanted me ta pull it, let me know. He said, "Bruce, if you are gonna put this stuff out on the internet, you're gonna have ta get a thicker skin". (laugh) I told him it aint my skin I am worried about, (laugh). But, he is a really good guy.

(laugh) Artimus is a good guy. I have been blessed to know him way, way before he played with Skynyrd. I don't get envolved with the gossip and negative stuff. I don't have that kind of relationship with Artimus. To be honest with ya I don't know anything about it. And it is best for me if I don't know something personally, to just stay out of it.

Exactly

I produce APB's first two records. I have a great relationship with Artimus. We don't discuss it. Even today when we rehearse and play, that is not something that is a topic of conversation. My topic of conversation with Artimus is music. I know Gary Rossington well and all those guys. Michael Cartellone who plays drums with Skynyrd now was my next door neighbor.

Really, I will be seeing Michael in a couple of weeks in California.

Well, you tell Michael I said hello. He was my next door neighbor while he was playing with Damn Yankees.

(Laugh) That was my big joke with him. I asked him how it felt being the only Yankee in the band. He said great, and a Damn one ta boot.

(laughing) Really, Michael is a really good guy. And he is a great rock drummer. I guess we were neighbors for about three or four years. That was before he moved to Atlanta. Right when he got the Skynyrd gig, he was playing with a lot of other folks. He played with Fogerty. He is just a great drummer. You can quote me on this. Michael is a great guy, a great drummer, and I am truly proud to call him my friend. He is just a super person and a very talented man. You tell him I said that. He is a good friend.

I will. You know when I first started the site it was just a few people. Then Michael and Carol came by the site, checked it out, sent compliments, and very graciously agreed to do interviews. That said a lot to me about their character. Here I am some nobody with a little web site and they were so sincere about talking with me. Then the site just took off and almost became a full time job, (laugh)

What do you do Bruce?

Well, I am lead technician or head of Technical Services for the Batteries Plus franchises here in the Valley. I design and build battery assemblies and chargers.

Well, that is a good gig man.

Well, it don't pay as well as Rock and Roll (laugh)

(Laugh) Probably pays whole lot better than I make.

Well, I don't know bout that. (Laugh)

(Laughing) I am just like everyone else, I struggle all the time. But I am happier than I have ever been in my life right now.

Well, I got my guitars sitting in the corner with my cowboy hat sittin' on em to remind me I need to pick em up more.

Well, what more do ya need? (laughs) What kind of guitar do ya play?

Well, I got a Les Paul, an Acoustic, and a custom Telecaster. I love building guitars when I have the time. I have a custom design I am working on now.

Well, I am at it almost all day. Now days if you are not touring as a "Rock Star" you have to be at it constantly. But, I like this end of my life. It is a different aspect than anything I have ever done. You know, touring is like living in a fantasy world. Playing with the Marshall Tucker Band was like living in a whole fantasy world. I just saw the new video that has been released of the Garden State Arts Center in 1981. I just saw that video yesterday. And, it brought back some great memories. It had been less than a year since Tommy had died. So we were trying to rebuild the inner strength of the band. We hadn't had the confidence to play with out Tommy. That was a very delicate time. I can't even imagine how Toy must have felt. But I am sure it was a lot harder on him than it was on us. Though, it was very hard on us cause I loved Tommy like a brother, like all of us did. We were all brothers. Unfortunately, all Southern Rock bands have had to live through this. It is not a very good thing to have to deal with. But it is something we have all had to deal with.

Toy and Tommy Caldwell are dearly missed. While we are talking Marshall Tucker, if you don't mind me asking, is there a reason you are not playing with the current line up playing under the Marshall Tucker name?

Well, I left the band in 1984. Actually, of the original band, I was the first one to want to leave. I personally made the decision to part from the band because I'd had enough. We were all musically headed in so many different directions. Everybody had ideas of what they wanted to do. And to be honest with you, Bruce, I was burnt out. I was dealing with some demons. I needed those demons dealt with. I made the decision I had to quit. So, I called and discussed it with everybody and everyone understood. Then I had a long conversation with Toy about it since we had been friends since we were seven or eight years old. So, we had a long discussion about it, and I told him that my decision was firm. Toy said, "Well, I don't feel I would want to play guitar with the Tucker Band if your not there". So he made his decision to leave too. Then Paul Riddle expressed to me personally, that since the two guitar players and all the main song writers were gone, we was gonna leave also. I made it personally clear that in my decision to leave, I did not want to influence anyone else in the band. I told them I would work with anybody to make sure they would fit into the band. They had my blessing. Doug and Jerry decided to continue touring. They too had my blessings and I think the blessings of Toy and Paul too. To this day I stick firmly to it. I would love to play a Marshall Tucker reunion if Toy and Tommy could come back to life. That's the only way it could be done. That is the only way I would care to do it. I played at a volunteer jam here in Nashville, it was the only time I have ever seen or heard the new band. Rusty Milner was playing guitar with them at the time and I have know Rusty since he was a youngster. The other guys in the band I didn't know well. But, Rusty I have know since he was a child. I think I played two or three songs with them at that Volunteer Jam. And I still to this day, give them all my blessings. Me and Doug speak from time to time on business. Their manager Ron and I have great conversations, do business. I still wish them well.

You are doing what you want to do, and let them do what they want to do.

Exactly, that was a wonderful time and I wouldn't take anything in the world for it. That was a great time, but,,, you know if Toy and Tommy were alive, it would be a different deal. There is no possible way that particular energy could exist again. If Jerry wanted to do it, that's great! It's just not my deal. I wish no hard feelings on anyone.

That really shows some great character. I wish some of the folks in the Skynyrd family felt the same way as you do towards Marshall Tucker.

I really, don't have anything against anyone. I mean, I harbor no animosity towards anyone. My decisions were solely my own. I can't blame that on anyone. I am just thrilled that Gary Rossington continues to play, I mean Rickey and Hughie are just awesome guitar players. I mean they got a powerhouse line up. I love all three of them. You know I think Gary has the right to travel under that name, don't you?

I agree totally.

Like Doug to me has the right to travel under the Marshall Tucker name. I mean Gary was one of the original writers, guitar players. I wouldn't want to get into it with their fans. They have the right to feel what they feel. Lynyrd Skynyrd was one of the greatest bands whether you put them in the Southern Rock genre or you put them in any genre. I mean Ed King, Gary, Allen, everybody has ripped their licks. What a great honor to have you licks ripped like that. That is the biggest honor you can have. I am a big fan of all those guys. I was a big believer then and I am now.

Didn't you know Ronnie?

Very well. I knew Ronnie real well.

If you had to sum him up in a couple of words, what would they be?

Ronnie Van Zant was the epitome of Rock and Roll. He lived that Rock and Roll lifestyle. He lived out on the edge. He was a good guy, a power house on stage. He was,, a very authoritive figure. As I saw it, he ran a tight ship, he was a tough guy man. But it is a tough business. But, he also had that gentle side about him too. He was a good guy. He shook your hand, he looked you in the eye, and he meant it. We all had a tremendous competitiveness. Hell, they would try to blow us off stage, we would try to blow them off stage. What a wonderful world. (laugh).

And all be friends at the end of the day.

That is what is all about.

Heck, Ronnie mentioned you guys in his songs.

Yeah, man if you don't go up on the stage and try to blow them away, then something is wrong with you. You want to be your best. You should expect that. If I am a headliner, I am expecting the opening act to try to blow me away. I want them to play their very best.

That is how they get noticed.

That is exactly right. That is how the Marshall Tucker Band crawled up the ladder. Skynyrd too. I still think they are one of the all time great rock bands. I will say that today as I would thirty years ago. They were all just good guys, and they were doing what their hearts told them to do, bless their hearts. We lost so many of them.

Well, you were all that way. Marshall Tucker, Skynyrd, Blackfoot, Outlaws,,,,

I tell you, I've gotten back into some of the Outlaws stuff. I mean, Hughie Thomasson, man what a Stratocaster, what tone, and what an awesome guitar player. He really had that total opposite sound. It's just really unique. I was just really very impressed the first time I heard them. They were a great band.

If I am not mistaken, I have heard rumors of Hughie doing some more Outlaw stuff. But, I have not been able to confirm that.

Well, that would be good. Henry Paul lives here in Nashville. I don't know what their relationship is. I see Henry quite often. I am hoping he will do some Renegades shows with us when this Blackhawk thing is not working. When they are not working I am hoping he will come sing some Renegades shows, cause I really like Henry. (Laughs) As you can see I try my best to get a long with everybody. I think we are all in it for the same reasons. But, Rock and Roll is controversial in itself.

Guess it's all part of the business

Oh, it is, it is. Ya got to laugh at it. Cause I tell people all the time, "there are two words, Show Business". Ya have to understand that before you are ever in it.

Or, like you and Arti say, ya gotta have a thicker hyde.

It is "Show Business".(laughs)

So what kind of projects do you have going now? We mentioned the Renegades, what else do you have going?

Well, The Renegades, and I have all my songs picked out for my new CD I am getting ready to start working on. Gracious, I have been planning this thing for so long. But really Bruce, between a major divorce and the litigation involved in that, it has kept me pinned down for a while. But I am about ready now to get it done. D. Scott Miller the Renegades producer, he is probably gonna produce on it. I have been writing some more Appalachian Blues things written on a resonator type of guitar, Dobro type guitar. Maybe do some acoustic things. I have got a couple of young guys I really want to play with and put on the record. They are very interested in my style of music. I am hoping it will show a different side of me. You never know till you actually finish it and it's mixed. I am hoping to show a little bit of a different side of who I am.

I don't know about you, but when I write something, nine times out of ten what I start with is not what the finished product ends up.

I have the job of writing. So will write by appointments four of five days a week. That's something that is very different. But, what it does is it makes you a better writer if nothing else. I write with some great writers here. Real big famous writers that have written big pop songs, big country songs, and they teach you a lot about their avenues that they travel when they write. But, I still write for myself from inspiration. If I am not inspired to write something, I won't do it. I know I have to produce "X" amount of songs each year because that is what I do. But, if I only write one song a year that is inspired, for myself, then I will except that. But, luckily I have got about fifteen or sixteen to choose from this time. I am really happy because I have written them all within the last year. It has just been a good year. I have had a lot of things to get off my chest. And, uh, release a little bit of animosity there. (laughs)

(Laughing)So your saying there are a lot of done me wrong songs on this one?

(Laughing) well,,,,, not really done me wrong. I know that D. Scott Miller was listening to some of the songs the other day and he says "George, I sense a little anger in ya there son". (Laughs) It is really not trying to be angry. You are just releasing the emotion of the time. They're just songs. I don't think I have ever written anything that the average person doesn't feel under the same circumstances. I am blessed with something that I am able to transfer it into a song. I feel that is nothing but a blessing. Every time I write a song I feel it is a gift.

That is what makes a great song. When people can relate to it. There is nothing better than listening to a song by an artist you admire, and realize they have the same feeling you have.

Exactly! Toy Caldwell's greatest asset, he write songs that everyone could relate to. Especially, with us as guys. Toy was as manly a writer as there has ever been. He really wrote things that we can relate to as guys. I never did understand how he did that. He was just so prolific man. Hell, he could write on command. That was really cool.

Sounds like he would be really good at your job.

You know, he actually tried it for a while. Nashville just didn't suit him. Well, a lot of Nashville is dealing with rejection. A lot of people can't deal with rejection. I have learned to live with it. I've learned, ten no's will get me to a yes. (laughing) That is the way I look at it. I will get through the demo session, I've cut five songs, and I'll say I've got five hits right here. Then I'll get thrown out of every door in town (laughs). Oh well, back to the drawing board. Back at it again. But that is the nature of the business.

Boy, it really refreshing to hear such a positive attitude.

Well, I've made it this far and I'm still with everybody. I'm still doing what I love to do and I'm blessed to be able to pick a guitar up. To be honest with you I still practice every day and I love it. I still play guitar at least an hour a day and love every minute of it. I get to write songs for a living. I just had a guitar come out from a company called Copley Guitars. They have come out with a George McCorkle guitar. I call it Honey. It's a Les Paul body style, Gold Top. It's made by Copley Instruments here in Nashville. It has McCorkle in, I think, the twelfth fret. It's a real cool guitar, a limited edition. I play the number 2 on stage. Out of the hundred made. I really like working with these guys. I play their acoustics. They custom made me a 335 style guitar. I don't think they offer, they just had it custom made for me. It is sort of an orangey color. They ran a full page ad in Guitar Player magazine a few months ago. They said they got so many calls trying to buy these guitars but I got the only one. (Laughs) Well mine's not for sale, that's for sure. They are very cool guitars. I think it's like independent artists. Guitar Companies, there are millions of them and you just find one that works with you. I still play Gibson. I still play my old black Les Paul. I still play my Stratocaster. I have a '52 Tele that I love. I don't think I will ever lock down to one guitar. But, the main guitar I am playing now is Honey. I really am in love with it. It is just an awesome sound. Still playing through a Fender amp. Same thing I have always done.

I am gonna have to get me one.

You should Bruce. It's a pretty cool axe man.

I at one point had about four Les Pauls, back in the eighties when you could actually pick them up at a decent price.

This one you can afford.

Before you have to go, how did you hear about the site? Did Artimus tell you?

To be honest with you, The Renegades' producer, D. Scott Miller directed me towards you. I guess maybe he and Arti had been talking and maybe Arti told him about it. Well, Scott, his driveway is like a third of a mile from mine. We were just talking and he was telling about it. He asked if I had seen the interview that Artimus did on your site. I said, "well, no, not really". Then he Emailed me the link and that's how I got there. I was looking through your guestbook and saw Michael and Carol, they are both really good friends. I wanted to sign it because I really enjoyed Artimus' interview. So that is why I Emailed you.

I was really thrilled when you did. I really appreciate what you have done and for the hospitality.

Well, Buddy, we are all in this together. This world is not as big as you think.

Well, it is has been such a great honor to get to talk to my musical heroes and the people I had posters all over my wall of in High School.

You flatter me man. We are all the same. We are in this thing together. Your site in a way is a blessing to what we all have done and continue to do.

Well, I have tried to honor the people who have inspired me. Southern Rock to me is one of the few "true" unchanged American music forms. I mean, Country has changed so much, Blues have changed, Rock, etc. But, Southern Rock still remains as honest as always.

You summed it up when you said all that Bruce. I think it is because it was played by people that, really did not know a lot about society basically and that type of thing. They were just average American people. They grew up in the heartlands of the country.

It was very important to try and give back something to the band and music that had given so much to me.

That is what I do everyday. Give back to it everyday. I try to be honest at who I am and honor what I've done, and honor the people who listen to it. Hell, I talk to people everyday. They will say, "you wrote Fire on the Mountain". I almost want to look at them and say, "so". I was blessed, I didn't write that, that was a gift. That just came to me, God gave that to me. I just happened to be the one it was transferred through. I think that every time I write a song it was just a good as that one was. That one just happened to touch people's hearts. Just one of those things.

Well, I don't want to take up too much more of your time George. But, If I buy me a Honey, you got to autograph it for me. (laugh)

I would be more than happy too. I will tell you what to do, send me the pick guard and I will sign it. I have done that for a couple of people. One was a Missouri Politician who bought one. My son has one, of course he didn't want me to sign it. He just wanted me to leave it alone. (laugh) My wife an I have four children together. We have them from nine to twenty-eight. We have a spectrum of children that's for sure. I have a twenty-eight year old son who still lives in Spartanburg, but he's got an real job, thank God. I am real proud of him. He has turned into a great man. He is a wonderful human being. He is just a blessing. I have a daughter-in-law that you could line up women for ten miles and I could have never picked a better one. So, you know, I feel very blessed. I feel very blessed to sit here and talk to you and your gonna put this on the internet. That's a great thing. I really appreciate you Bruce.

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Well, there was a little more, but it was more personal chatting between us (hunting, dogs, etc). Since talking with George I have received my "Honey" guitar (#35 of 100) and have sent George my pickguard. It plays as pretty as George promised. George also sent me a autographed copy of American Street. I HIGHLY recommend both. There is a song on American Street called "Journey Home", I almost cried. I am putting in my will I want that song played at my funeral.

George, I can not thank you enough for befriending me. Your hospitality, kindness, and quick humor has been the high point of my days lately. And to quote you, if I may, I am honored to call you friend. I look forward to getting together this spring.

Listen to George's Audio Interview

George does a video interview with Bruce

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Since doing this interview, George and I became best friends. I have taken over his website, guitar teched for him, become family. Unfortunately, the worse thing I had to do was ultimately help bury him.

I miss you George, Ride on Brother, see you soon.