RIP Chris Gaffney

Chris Gaffney, a member of the Hacienda Brothers, longtime collaborator with Dave Alvin and a whole host of musicians out of the San Diego / OC area for years, died yesterday at age 57, after a brief battle with liver cancer. He lent his accordion skills to add a Doug Sahm / Tex-Mex flavor on several of my favorite Forbidden Pigs songs during my formative bar-crawling years in the late 80s and early 90s. I must have at least a dozen CDs from various artists where he has contributed in some way, on guitar, accordion, pedal steel, or keyboards. Somehow, his solo releases have eluded me, although I love what he and Dave Gonzalez (of the Paladins) did with the Hacienda Brothers. They brought plenty of beer-drenched sunshine to Nebraska, making the Zoo Bar a beloved and requisite stop on many a tour.

I only recently heard of his illness. He was just diagnosed in February. Locally, a benefit was being planned for his medical costs. I can't believe he's gone...

In a strange coincidence, Chris was born on an October 3rd an died on an April 17th - just like Eddie Cochran...



October 3rd 1950 - April 17th, 2008

Rest in Peace, Chris

Yes, indeed. Rest in peace.