At this very moment, there's an impromptu wake for Carter Albrecht taking place at the Barley House -- appropriate, as the bar's MySpace page contains under its "Heroes" category the note that, "yeah, carter sometimes sings that with rock star karoke." But now, this story is no longer a mere local tragedy: The Associated Press story about Albrecht's death has been widespread this evening, as almost all the headlines note Albrecht's association with the New Bohemians. But central to the story are the quotes from Albrecht's Sorta bandmate and roommate, Danny Balis, who's also the producer of The Hardline on KTCK-AM (1310):
Albrecht was working on a solo album that Balis called "the best thing he has ever done."
"He was the best musician I’ve ever played with -- no question," Balis said. "He could play anything. It’s a shame not enough people outside of Dallas heard him."
And my good friend Michael Corcoran, of The Austin American Statesman, provides this quote from Charlie Sexton, with whom Albrecht often performed:
“I had been waiting so long for find a musical mate like Carter,” says Austin’s Charlie Sexton, who called the keyboardist his right hand man. “When I was playing piano next to Carter playing organ, it’s the most relaxed I’ve ever been onstage.” Sexton called Albrecht a natural musician who could figure out his parts “in about two seconds.”Merritt Martin will report tomorrow morning from the wake. --Robert Wilonsky
