Calum ‘Dave’ Thomson, 1945-2008

Originally posted September 9, 2008

A few months ago, as I wrote about hearing from musicians whose stuff I had posted, I mentioned Dave Thomson of Blue Rose, whose 1972 self-titled album I shared here during the first week of April.

Dave wrote to me when the download link to his band’s album wouldn’t work. I sent him a CD of the album – which he said he’d not heard since the 1980s – and he sent me some pictures of the band (including the photo page above) and a portion of a memoir written by Rick Allen, who played organ for the group. I heard from Dave a couple times more, with him sending me notes about the band’s history and me eventually sending a scan of the record jacket from 1972.

I got a note last night from Dave’s wife, Alice Johnson. She told me she and Dave had enjoyed hearing Blue Rose and had made copies for friends. And she told me that Dave had died August 31.

I did some digging and found an obituary in the Morning Sun, a newspaper published in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan:

Calum David “Dave” Thomson
Jul 4, 1945-Aug 31, 2008
“Calum David ‘Dave’ Thomson, 63, of Shepherd, Michigan, passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw on August 31, 2008. Calum was born in Fort William, Ontario, on July 4th, 1945, to Russell and Jessie (MacMillan) Thomson. A talented musician, Calum entertained people with his music for most of his life. In 2001 Calum moved from Phoenix, Arizona to Michigan where he shared his life with Alice Johnson, whom he married on January 6, 2006, and who survives him.

“Besides his wife, Calum is survived by his father and his father’s companion, Lucille Maneval. He is also survived by three brothers; Kelly, Craig and Kenny, a son Davey, a daughter Sheli and several grandchildren. His step-children, Anita (Wade) Davis and Rob Johnson, as well as his step-grandchildren, Dru and Quinn Carson and Madylin Johnson, will also miss him. Calum was preceded in death by his mother and his brother, Dwight.

“A gathering of friends and family to celebrate Calum’s life will be held at the Shepherd United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall on Saturday, September 6, 2008, from 1 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Calum’s name to the charity of your choice.

“Arrangements have been entrusted to the Berry Funeral Home.”

Here’s a picture of Dave during his Blue Rose days:

Obviously, I didn’t know Dave well. But the fact that I knew him at all carries a little bit of weight this morning. And although anything I feel is minimal compared to the loss felt by his family and the others in his life, there is some sorrow here this morning. I never thought for a minute when I started this blog that it would bring me distant friends. It did, though, and now comes the realization that, having gained friends, there will be times when I lose them.

I guess the best I can do for Dave this morning is to share his music again. Here’s Blue Rose, the self-titled album from 1972. (Dave wrote “I’ll Never Be In Love Again,” “Chasin’ The Glow Of A Candle,” “Make You Happy” and “Show You A Way To Have Fun,” and co-wrote, with John Uribe, “Look What We’re Doin’.”)

Track list:
My Impersonal Life
Takin’ Love And Run
I’ll Never Be In Love Again
Debt Of Fools
Chasin’ The Glow Of A Candle
Sweet Thing
Make You Happy
Home
Show You A Way To Have Fun
Look What We’re Doin’

Blue Rose –Blue Rose [1972]

And here’s the single version of “My Impersonal Life,” released as Epic single 10811:

Blue Rose – “My Impersonal Life”

And to close, here’s a track from Mickey Newbury’s 1988 album, In A New Age:

Mickey Newbury – “All My Trials”

Tags: Blue Rose, Mickey Newbury