A Note From Peter

Dear friends,

I can't express enough my sadness and sense of gaping, plummeting loss at the death of my bandmate, guitar player Richard Mikuls.

Richard was a great guitar player, and consummately able singer, songwriter and music producer. More than that, however, Richard was a humorist of the first water, and a warm and open human being to just about all who crossed his path. But most of all, Richard was my dear friend. In a way, he meant more to me than I realized; his passing was a greater shock than I had any thought it might be.

All of his friends and family knew Richard had health challenges. The official diagnosis of his death was, I believe, heart failure, tho' surely many aspects of his health issues contributed. So in one way, my sense is one of gratitude that he was as long among us as he was.

Richard may well have been listed simply as the guitar player in Shoe Suede Blues, but he was much more than that. I think it's fair to say that he was the other pole of the band, and it was the connection between us that gave the band its soul. Certainly it wouldn't be fair to overlook the contributions of the other members, but somehow it was my connection to Richard that for me gave the band most of its strength and character.

The band will go on, surely, but if we are anywhere near as good after Richard's passing as we were with him in it, it will be because the rest of us have learned to listen for and to insist on what's good in music and in a personal presence. This will not be Richard's only legacy; his children and other loved ones will carry a great deal of what he brought to life and left behind. But it will be a massive one for me, and one I will remain grateful for to the end of my conscious days.

Richard Mikuls
January 25, 1952 - June 9, 2008

The Shoe Suede Blues family says
goodbye to a very dear friend.

A gathering is being held for family
and close friends this weekend in
Palm Springs in celebration of Richard's life.

An East Coast gathering will be held
in the near future for close friends and family, as well.

Richard,
With love and the fondest of memories, we all miss you.

In lieu of flowers please feel free to  send donations for Richard's family made payable to:

Omni Artists
P.O. Box 660
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

In the memo area of your check write: Richard Mikuls acct.

Dear Friends Around the World....

In honor of her beloved Richard, Jeri Lynne
has asked of you all to join her in embracing
him by lighting a candle at 4 p.m. ST
(7 P.m. ET) in a moment of silence to honor his presence in your life.

Listen to Jeri Lynne's recording of 'Angel' by Sarah MacLaughlin.