If you watched the opening minutes of last night’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, after Jann Wenner’s eulogy of Ahmet Ertegun and before the interminable acceptance speeches began, you saw a lovely In Memoriam presentation dedicated to those significant figures in the music industry who passed away in 2006.
Twelfth among the litany of names both famous (Buck Owens, Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett, James Brown) and not so famous (blues musician Sam Myers, Denis Payton of the Dave Clark Five, publicist Ronnie Lippin), appeared none other than Paul Nelson, the subject of the book I’ve worked on since last July.
As a music journalist, much of Paul’s writing was of the moment and consequently lost to back issues of assorted magazines and newspapers. Last night, however, this great writer received at least some of his due.