I wanted to share some of my memories of Sterling. I found it very comforting to read others sharing some of their times with him so perhaps this will be a comfort to someone in the same way. It's also therapeutic for me to remember some of the good old days.
I first met Sterling back in the 80's. We soon recognized in each other a kindred spirit. We both loved music, enjoyed sports and had an interest in the various spiritual disciplines. Soon we were spending a lot of time together. We played together on the Jungleballers, an infamous softball team. It had been some time since either of us had played much so we decided to get together and do some practicing. For a year or so we did this quite often and it is great memory of mine. It was like being a kid again just the two of us on the ball field, me hitting him grounders, him hitting me flys. Those who played ball as kids will know what I mean. We also started playing music together. Back when Sterling lived in the Fan in Richmond he wanted to become one of the world's next great drummers. He worked pretty hard at it but it didn't really come together as he hoped and he put the drums aside. He decided to bring them out again and we started playing, bass and drums. Soon others joined in, you don't get far with just bass and drums, and a few lineups came and went; Lizzie and the Lunch Boys, Mojo, and ending with SNAG: Sensitive New Age Guys.
It is my recollection that Sterling came up with this name in a typical brainstorming session, band names are always so hard, and it talks to Sterling's personality. It was humorous, slightly self deprecating and a friendly parody of SCUM, a Blacksburg band of renown. We didn't play for that long, one Steppin' Out and a few gigs, but all of this got both of us playing again after a period of inactivity. One other memory I would like to share was a trip he and I took to New Orleans in 1990 to attend the Jazz and Blues Festival. It was one of those perfect trips, we often talked about it. Everything went so smoothly, both logistics, like parking right by the front gate every day which we were told was impossible to do, to all the incredible music we heard.
After hearing everyone from Dr. John to Daniel Lanois to Irma Thomas to many bands in Congo Square we had never heard of before or since that just kicked our ass we ended up on the evening of the last day listening to Stevie Ray Vaughn. It was a great scene, the sun was going down, we were at the back of a huge crowd, many many flags waving, lighting up a smoke and listening to Stevie Ray smoke. A magic moment. Both of us were musically inspired after this trip and he really started working on his harp and it became his main axe. As with most things he did he really went after it and we all heard the result. I am thankful for the wonderful memories I have of these and other times we had together. From reading all the tributes it is amazing how many people shared similar times in their lives with Sterling. He was a unique man; we won't meet another like him. Play on Brother.