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Editor’s Note: Bill Fayne died March 29.<br />
Fayne and Clint Holmes forged a lifelong<br />
friendship<br />
that began as college roommates<br />
and endured for six fulfilling<br />
decades. Here Holmes shares<br />
Bmemories of his friend.<br />
ill Fayne was my best friend for<br />
almost 60 years. We made a lot<br />
of music during those years and we<br />
played a lot of tennis together.<br />
The most aggressive I ever saw<br />
Bill was when he would come<br />
barreling in to try to return a short<br />
shot at the net. That’s where he got<br />
the unlikely nickname “Freight<br />
Train Fayne.“<br />
Bill’s real power came from his<br />
My Best Friend - Bill Fayne<br />
By: Sam Wagmeister / People & Places<br />
Bill Fayne & Clint Holmes<br />
Photo Credit: Salme Southard<br />
gentleness and his passion. So many people respected his musicianship<br />
because of the way he always respected both the music and the<br />
musicians he was playing with.<br />
So many singers, young and old, loved working with him because he<br />
never sat in judgment. He always offered encouragement.<br />
Bill was a true accompanist. He never tried to steal a moment from<br />
the artist he was playing for.<br />
But he knew when and how to push to get the best performance from<br />
them.<br />
A Finale For the Ages<br />
I was the beneficiary of all those traits for most of my career. It would<br />
take pages and pages to share our musical experiences but suffice it to<br />
say I would not have the career I have without him by my side.<br />
Since his passing I find myself thinking “I’ve gotta call Billy” several<br />
times a day . Sometimes it’s to<br />
discuss something his beloved<br />
Yankees or Buffalo Bills did or<br />
didn’t do.<br />
Often to discuss politics (which<br />
we always agreed on). Sometimes<br />
we’d talk about the newest<br />
Broadway play, or the newest<br />
recipe he wanted to come over and<br />
cook, or the exploits of our kids,<br />
grandkids or even our dogs.<br />
Billy was the best friend I ever<br />
had. He was one of a kind and he<br />
will never be replaced.<br />
When I think of how quickly 60<br />
years of friendship went by, I guess<br />
it does kind of feel like a speeding Freight Train .<br />
I will hold on to the memories, there are enough to last the rest of<br />
my life.<br />
Presents the<br />
A<br />
tremendous finale at our March Afternoon Affair at Sun City<br />
MacDonald Ranch. A standing ovation “thank you” to the<br />
performers (left-to-right) Rita Lim, Patty Powers, Rene Hale, Katy<br />
Monroe, Tony Arias and our co-hosts Evan Davis and Jonny Bird.<br />
VV<br />
Come buy, sell, trade or browse!<br />
www.ccgtcc.com<br />
Bring this ad for a free chip!<br />
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