Tuba Man
There are connections in life that are built,
and people treasure them.
And that's what Ed was.
You were attending something fun,
and he made it more fun.
For those who don't attend sports or arts events in Seattle, you might not get the white-hot gash some of us are experiencing with the murder of Tuba Man.
What makes this loss so aggravating is that Tuba Man was a harmless character who put himself in places where he made a good thing a little better. Whether at KeyArena, McCaw Hall, the Kingdome or its two successors, Tuba Man was by the event, not of the event, an independent dealer of mirth in an entertainment world increasingly organized and corporatized.
It is often said that those who live by the street die by the street. That wasn't meant for this guy. What little he did have he gave in the sweat equity of his ungainly music. He could have taken up guitar, piccolo or harmonica, but he picked the absurd instrument and made Seattle's streets a little less homogenous and a little more amusing.
~ Art Thiel
Tuba Man for years played outside sporting events around the city,
blowing dirges when the home team lost and cheerful tunes to follow victories,
just for the joy of meeting the crowd. "That's what I value most," he said. "People."
photo: Scott Eklund, Seattle PI
Tuba Man: A real Seattle team player
Violence takes iconic Tuba Man
Tuba Man was a grin set to music
Ed the Tuba Man, You Will Be Missed
Sound send-off for Tuba Man
Remembering Seattle's 'Tuba Man'
Seattle Bids Tuba Man a Sad Goodbye
1,500 honor slain Tuba Man
Local musicians sound final note for 'Tuba Man'
Louise Hohbach, of Seattle, gives a tributary thumbs-up for slain Edward McMichael,
aka Tuba Man, during a memorial service Wednesday.
photo: Mike Urban, Seattle PI
and people treasure them.
And that's what Ed was.
You were attending something fun,
and he made it more fun.
For those who don't attend sports or arts events in Seattle, you might not get the white-hot gash some of us are experiencing with the murder of Tuba Man.
What makes this loss so aggravating is that Tuba Man was a harmless character who put himself in places where he made a good thing a little better. Whether at KeyArena, McCaw Hall, the Kingdome or its two successors, Tuba Man was by the event, not of the event, an independent dealer of mirth in an entertainment world increasingly organized and corporatized.
It is often said that those who live by the street die by the street. That wasn't meant for this guy. What little he did have he gave in the sweat equity of his ungainly music. He could have taken up guitar, piccolo or harmonica, but he picked the absurd instrument and made Seattle's streets a little less homogenous and a little more amusing.
~ Art Thiel
Tuba Man for years played outside sporting events around the city,
blowing dirges when the home team lost and cheerful tunes to follow victories,
just for the joy of meeting the crowd. "That's what I value most," he said. "People."
photo: Scott Eklund, Seattle PI
Tuba Man: A real Seattle team player
Violence takes iconic Tuba Man
Tuba Man was a grin set to music
Ed the Tuba Man, You Will Be Missed
Sound send-off for Tuba Man
Remembering Seattle's 'Tuba Man'
Seattle Bids Tuba Man a Sad Goodbye
1,500 honor slain Tuba Man
Local musicians sound final note for 'Tuba Man'
Louise Hohbach, of Seattle, gives a tributary thumbs-up for slain Edward McMichael,
aka Tuba Man, during a memorial service Wednesday.
photo: Mike Urban, Seattle PI
Views: 196
Tags: arts, edmcmichael, entertainment, seattle, tubaman
Comment
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Comment by J. Nakagawa on November 18, 2008 at 7:35pm
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A musician of the street
A small apartment
A Tuba, music and funny hats as friends.
20 years of live music and fun for us daily. Thanks!
Edward Scott McMichael died on Nov. 3, 2008 – Tuba Man "on the ground in a fetal position trying to protect himself as the group was kicking and punching him on the ground," wrote a police officer who pulled up to the scene. A bus stop “robbery”.
This Christmas
I’ll take out my mini tuba
Brush off the dust and
Thank you for the inspiration.
Hopefully others will follow.
A song is just one note away.
34 years ago a group of only Tuba and “mini tuba (euphonium)” players assembled to play Christmas carols. This Christmas in 218 cities across in 4 countries, Tuba players will unite. Last year 627 Tubas played at Downtown Disney. Goto www.tubachristmas.com to find Tubas near you.
I believe each and every one of us needs to regularly express through some art form. This will help make things better.
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