A common topic shared on this platform as I reach 70 years old.
Another friend of mine has died unexpectedly. He was ten years younger than me. My posts have bragged about the people I have met over the years, and he is one of the special ones. Jay Aronoff truly loved music…. in all it’s forms, but he made it his own. Life had it’s struggles but he always had time for good friends.
Son of former Ohio Senator Stan Aronoff but he chose his own path. I met him when I worked at a local music store chain. I managed the store and he was a guitar instructor. Even when he was not in a lesson, the guitar was strapped around his shoulder and he encouraged impromptu renditions of our favorite prog-rock songs. He was easy to love.
Jay was stunned I had never had a cup of coffee. He persisted until I had my first and only cup of coffee with him. It wasn’t that bad but not as good as the smell of fresh ground coffee in the old grocery stores so I decided to stick with tea!
I did a video of Jay’s band Mara performing live. My wife Ellen and I did all the camera work on two separate nights, and I did the post production video and timing by ear. In memory of Jay Aronoff, here are links to that video filmed in 1988:
I also have some lyrics to share with all who knew Jay, and those who know me:
This is all Unpredictable
The end to a terrible day.
A phone call from another friend;
This would be the last day with Jay.
He was a very special soul
Who bound so many together.
I thought he’d be the one
To remember us forever.
Jay had his demons to face
I’m sure he faced many alone.
None of that matters today
Because from now on, Jay is gone.
This is all UnPredictable
The cruelty cannot be more clear
This would be the last day with Jay.
So I raised another glass of beer.
This is all UnPredictable
The cruelty cannot be more clear
This would be the last day with Jay.
So I raised a glass of beer.
Michael K
MidiMike 