By: pines223

pines223 — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:19:29 +0000

Lawrence Wheatley and I were together for 2 yrs. way back in the 60’s. He was my first love. Over the yrs., I would call him from time to time, think about him, and wait to hear his music on BGO. But, although I believed he was a genius, I recall thinking at the time that he would be acknowledged as a great composer and pianist only after his death. He was not much of a businessman and cared nothing about making money; his demons were too effective, his inner-world too empowering. In 1967 he didn’t look particulary odd, no sun glasses or clownish clothes, but as intimate as we were living together, there was so much I didn’t know about him. I was only 19 and fairly innocent. I would look up words he said when he was done talking. One word particularly comes to mind, “benevolent.” I remember sitting in a bar after an argument with him and scrawlilng on a piece of paper something I had read, “coming together, falling apart, you and I, no telling why.” and he immediately and spontaneously wrote back, “confidence entrusted, later disgusted.” I also remember a Saturday morning in April when I returned to our tiny apt. on Meridian Pl. after running some errands, and finding Lawrence, as usual, at the piano. He had just composed a song, “snowflakes in the spring.” It was beautiful and I hope it exists somewhere. Yesterday, quite by chance, I had the urge to look him up, and learned that he no longer exists. I do hope Lorenz has access to his father’s work. Jayne

Comments on: RIP Lawrence Wheatley

By: pines223