[newheart]

And that would definitely be nature’s way of telling you something’s wrong. Great group.

[Tau Food]

Wow, he was already halfway through his forties when Spirit got hot.

[ConservativeStatement]

“I Got A Line On You.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Bnl8PjES8

[ansel12]

I like Spirit a lot and saw them in concert a couple of times.

Tonight I’ll be playing ‘Watching The World Through Our Topanga Window’.

[bigbob]

I found this live version a few weeks ago (thinking that “American Horror Story” really missed the boat by not using it on the show):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwsekg7aUZY

Ed Cassidy was Randy’s step-father, and Randy drowned while to rescue his son. Sad.

RIP Ed, you showed us hair did not make the man way before it was cool!

[AlbertWang]

Stairway to Heaven was ripped note for note from Spirit.

A really gifted, but unappreciated band.

[oh8eleven]

I assume Ed Cassidy is the second from left. Wow, 46 years old ...
... back when you weren't supposed to trust anyone over 30.

RIP

[kanawa]

I have a recollection from the 70’s, of him getting out from behind his drum kit
and walking around the stage drumming on whatever was available.
It was pretty cool to watch.

[originalbuckeye]

I figured it must be the bald guy. He was the one who stood out in that group. I Got a Line on You. So long ago. RIP.

[windcliff]

ping

[llevrok]

Back when drummers knew how to hold drum sticks properly and play with heart AND skill.

[BufordP]

[ansel12]

Wiki says that Cassidy was a WWII vet (Navy).

This came up on Randy California: “He was 15 years old when his mother Bernice Pearl and new stepfather, Ed Cassidy (later to become a founding member of the band Spirit, with Randy), moved to New York City in the summer of 1966 because Cassidy had a number of jazz gigs lined up. It was there, at Manny’s Guitars, that Randy met Jimi Hendrix.[2] He played in Hendrix’s band The Blue Flame that summer. California, Cassidy and Pearl lived in an apartment building in Forest Hills (Queens), New York called the Balfour, whose other residents included future Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker, who cites California’s blues-based guitar style as an influence on his own playing.

The stage name “Randy California” was given to him by Hendrix to distinguish him from another Randy in the band (who Hendrix dubbed “Randy Texas”).”

[equaviator]

What might sound like angels bowling now could be the sound of Ed Cassidy drumming.

[jobim]

Clear Spirit, 1969, was a superb album, coming out of the year that in my opinion was rock's greatest.

[OwenKellogg]

Thanks for the music. RIP.

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

Ping

[MV=PY]

Great, underappreciated band. Really got into “12 Dreams” in the early 70’s.

I had no idea he was so old!

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[vetvetdoug]

Spirit IMO was one of the best groups of the 60’s even though they didn't have AM airplay, they were played frequently on FM. Led Zepplin opened for Spirit late 60’s and early 70’s. I was privileged to have seen them in October 1991 in Mile Square Park, Orange County, California with Dr. Demento and the Doobie Brothers. If one wishes to see the impact Spirit had, just look at who all the members of the group went to play with after leaving Spirit. RIP Mr. Cassidy, you are with Randy and John now.