Jimmy Webb visited Glen Campbell on Wednesday

Jimmy Webb FB Page ^ | 6-12-15 | Jimmy Webb

[FlJoePa]

I visited my friend Glen Campbell Wednesday in Nashville. Laura and Kim Campbell were there as well.

You may be aware that Glen has bravely been living with Alzheimer's Disease. Along with his strong and courageous wife, they have changed the face of Alzheimer's forever. The world watched as Glen traveled from city to city, to continue doing what he loves to do: perform and share his music. Doctors were amazed at how the music and activity appeared to slow the pace of the disease for awhile. With his family, they showed the world that you don't have to hide when you become ill. They raised awareness, and in turn, funds for Alzheimer's research.

Glen is currently residing in a memory support community—it reminded me of one of the nice hotels he would stay at while on tour. Kim has found this place for Glen that is safe, where he is cared for 24 hours a day. The ratio of caregivers to residents astounded me--he is never alone. And there are only 17 other residents; his neighbors are former lawyers, doctors, teachers and others who are living with the same challenges that dementia brings. Glen has been my friend for a long time and I love him like a brother. I am sure that Kim has made the right choices for and with my friend of 50 years.

Glen has his private room and bathroom, all decorated by Kim with custom paint, lots of photos murals and framed memorabilia. The place is bright and clean. He loves color and still wears his blue suede shoes from time to time!

The memory center has elaborate arrangements for activities. There are many different rooms and spaces for him to experience each day, each furnished tastefully and safely.

There is an airy screened-in porch where Glen likes to sit and where we visited with him. He has a full time care-er, Brody. Brody is in his early twenties with long blond hair--he looks like a surfer! Brody is patient and kind. He plays the guitar with and for Glen. They sing, they walk around the grounds and converse almost constantly. We instantly fell for Brody and thanked him for the care he gives to Glen and the important breaks he gives Kim so she can rest and work.

Glen has always been a happy guy and a jokester. He still is. For longer than I'd like to remember, he has imitated Donald Duck and during the visit, he did his Donald voice for us. He sings in a low register all the way to high clear notes that are reminiscent of the performances we are all familiar with. He seems almost to go from song to song, under his breath at times. He looked at me after singing one song and said, "that was a good song wasn't it?" Music is still at the very center of who he is. It is almost as though he is giving a never-ending performance.

The last thing he said to me when it was time for us to go was, "Was it a good one?" like he used to say to me at the end of a concert. That phrase made me think that he recognized me, that and the fact that he said my name to Kim and Laura when I left the room briefly.

He sees his family all of the time; Kim and two of his younger children live just a few minutes away. And his oldest daughter Debby was visiting just the day before.

He is loved. He is cared for. He is respected. And most of all, he has his dignity. We can all be comforted by that.

Yours very truly,

Jimmy L. Webb

[Aria]

Love that one.

Gentle On My Mind also.

[Moonman62]

Jimmy is probably most famous for “MacArthur’s Park” that was recorded by Richard Harris.

...

And played many times by Campbell during his live shows.

[newfreep]

In the late 60’s to early 70’s, my wife (literally, the-girl-next-door) were a couple of kids from SW Ohio living in Hollywood.

We were so poor that for entertainment we would walk Sunset and Hollywood Blvds and just watch the “show”. Always loved going up into the hills of Griffith Park, “drive west on Sunset to the sea” and Vegas.

Sadly, the only show we saw was Jerry Lewis at the Hollywood Bowl - no idea how we got tickets but more than likely someone gave them to us.

It was a far nicer place back then...now it’s a commie & sodomite hellhole.

[Moonman62]

Yes, he can play. Usually anyone who worked as a studio musician, as he did, can play very well. I’ve also read that he mostly plays by ear, having difficulty reading sheet music.

[luvie]

I was going to post that if you hadn’t. :)

He is very brave to face down his disease as he has!

[PGalt]

Thanks to Jimmy L. Webb. God bless Glen Campbell.

[PROCON]

He is very brave.

Now the Left would tell you that "Caitlyn" is also brave...

[ConorMacNessa]

I was going through Field Med School at Camp Pendleton when "Galveston" hit the airwaves. That song resonated strongly with me - I was several weeks shy of deployment to 'Nam and had left behind a young woman who was dear to me.

"Galveston oh Galveston
I am so afraid of dying
Before I dry the tears she's crying
Before I watch your seabirds flying in the sun
At Galveston at Galveston"

In my callow youth, I thought the worst thing that could happen to me was to die young. Obviously, I made it home - did not marry the young woman, who found someone else. But I still remember "Galveston" - a song that captured my mood on the eve of battle over four decades ago.

I wish Glen Campbell well.

"Hige sceal þe heardra, heorte þe cenre / mod sceal þe mare, þe ure mægen lytlað."
"Thought must be the harder, heart be the keener / mind must be the greater, as our might lessens."

[FlJoePa]

These are the two videos I've been fixated on lately:

Galveston - CMT w/ great intros

Gentle on my Mind - performed in front of legends, by maybe the most legendary of all

One more: The guitar work @ 5:00 in this Macarthur Park performance would make Hendrix blush and Clapton quit.

[Ditto]

I really loved his music back in the day. The guy could really play the guitar. I recall buying this album back then.

[beaversmom]

Thank you both for the GC trivia. :)

Taxcontrol, any examples of him playing the bagpipes out there to be heard?

[FlJoePa]

Here's Glen doing Amazing Grace w/ the pipes:

link here

[FlJoePa]

In fact, here is the link to that entire concert in Sioux Falls. It really was an amazing show he put on.

PBS Sioiux Falls show

[luvie]

HA! “Caitbruce” is delusional...not brave.

[Jay Redhawk]

A great song. Campbell was/is a fantastic artist. I wish him the best, and I regret not seeing him live. Seldom is his type of talent ever been seen with his great voice, and great skills with the guitar.

[Moonman62]

Jimmy Webb has talked about the song in recent years. There’s a couple of great stories behind the song, what it’s about and how it got recorded.

[minnesota_bound]

Gentle on My Mind (Instrumental Version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTD8oq2IM7g

[minnesota_bound]

#21
Later… with Jools Holland
https://www.youtube.com/user/BrownSauceTV/videos

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006ml0l

[DAC21]

“I don’t know if you get this network in your area, but Palladia TV has a show called “Later… with Jools Holland.”

You can find a youtube video of GC playing Wichita Lineman from this same show. His memory was fading at this point and you can see a teleprompter rolling on stage. It’s an amazing performance of this classic.

[9YearLurker]

Jimmy Webb was a brilliant songwriter.

What a thoughtful, loving and reassuring thing for him to post this.