Dean Rutledge

My friend and mentor,  passed on July 2, 2021.
I learned so much from Dean. I remember at first, he just called me "Kid". We did countless gigs together, first with him as the boss and later as partners - he was *always* supportive and instructive. As much as anyone, Dean taught me to sing. He introduced me to people that made my career possible. Most of all, I lost a dear, lifelong friend.

About 1999, I dug out old reel-to-reel tapes we made back in the day and digitized them. There's a playlist below, fond memories of a simpler time. David Burgess on bass and Wayne Willingham on guitar at The Filling Station in Detroit, Michigan, sometime in 1973.​​

So long buddy, don't forget your capo.

Rodney Liner

We called him Hot Rod. 

He was the youngest.  A great ballplayer, bass player,  husband, father and brother, and so much more. We lost him in January 2021, just shy of 56 years old.

Here's Rod with his son Andrew and wife Jackie.

We all miss him like crazy.

I've written a tribute to Rod, which is on my  album, "Temptation Row".

Have a listen to "Hot Rod"

Kevin Liner

We said goodbye far too soon in March 2025.

He may have been the funniest guy I've ever known, and probably the smartest.

He left behind his wife, four children, not to mention his grandchildren. 

Kevin, Rodney, and I used to go to Detroit Tigers games together, and always had a good time—Kevin made sure of it! While I'm eleven years older, I'll always remember him as that big strapping kid my buddies called my “big brother.”