Louisville loses its musical heart

People around the country may not have known Tim Krekel by name, but chances are they heard his songs or saw him perform with others. But for Louisville music fans, Tim Krekel was well known and respected like few other musicians ... or people for that matter.  His passing yesterday leaves a void in the local music community.

A favorite at WFPK, Krekel finished #1 on the station's Hall of Fame countdown in December 2007. This listener voted event wasn't a Louisville Music Hall of Fame. It was a Music Hall of Fame, period. Krekel placed ahead of some acts you may have heard of: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. A few years earlier, he placed four songs on the station's listener poll of the greatest songs of all time. Fans of the station are currently paying their respects on the station's website. This city embraced him liked it has few other artists. He was born here, attended Flaget High School, and like many other artists - be them actors, musicians, or writers - he moved to New York City but returned. It was like he needed Louisville and Louisville needed him.

Had his work as an artist - as opposed to his national success as a songwriter - stretched more prominently beyond the city borders, we may have seen on one of those banner's hanging up on a building around town: Tim's Louisville. He had the national stage as a member of Jimmy Buffet's Coral Reefer Band. He appeared with them on Saturday Night Live. He played with the impressive likes of Bo Diddley, Delbert McClinton, and Steve Forbert.  His songs were recorded by country artists like Alan Jackson, Jerry Reed, and Kathy Mattea. Martina McBride, Patty Loveless, and Crystal Gayle all had number 1 hits with his songs.  His co-write with Kim Richey, Come Around, is a personal favorite. None of this isn't to say that his own songs weren't hit worthy. All Night Radio, Here Ever After, and Sunshine Baby seemed like Top 40 hits to Louisville music fans.

He was an accomplished guitarist and songwriter, and he had the perfect voice for his songs. He wrote with a good humor and an optimism that was never hokey. It wasn't even homespun necessarily; it was simply heartfelt. And despite all of his successes, he was just as gracious to local musicians as he was to the big stars he played with. His last full length CD Soul Season, added a new twist to his sound, infusing a horn section. Like all good artists, he wasn't stuck to one style. Roots rock, country, alt country, soul: it was all fair game.

Ten years ago, he released a CD called L&N. Pardon the tepid analogy but here goes. The L&N employees are long gone from the L&N Building on 9th and Broadway - transferred, moved, retired, or down-sized, but the building remains. It is still the L&N Building; its letters still light up at night; it remains a Louisville landmark. Tim Krekel may no longer occupy the stages of local venues, but he is still around in the hearts, minds, and iPods of Louisville music fans and music fans everywhere. He will surely now have his Angel's Share.