See also: Phil York, legendary Dallas producer, dead at age 70
Phil York and I crossed paths in summer 2009. I was researching the liner notes for the Heavy Light release of The Relatives' Don't Let Me Fall, a stunning revelation of Dallas gospel-funk from the early '70s, which York engineered at Autumn Sound Studio in Garland. My interview request was greeted with this email:
"Your request for an interview with me and my relatives would be difficult to arrange quickly. Some of them live in the far reaches of the USA. Furthermore, they don't all get along well. And, really, they're a boring lot. I cannot imagine a useful purpose in interviewing my relatives. Heck, I don't even like being around most of them and I work hard to endure family reunions as infrequently as they occur."
He was kidding. York remembered The Relatives. He remembered everything.