Celebrating arts family

Cape Girardeau's arts and music scene lost a member of the family recently. Rick Procter died July 20 after a long illness and an active life.

Friends and loved ones spent the weekend honoring Procter in the best way they knew how: playing music and displaying his art. Bruce Zimmerman, Bob Camp, Mustapha, Clay Thomas and other local musicians played Saturday in the River Campus park and then later that night at The River City Yacht Club. They came again Sunday, just to talk and visit and remember.

Three times they gathered, decked out in Hawaiian shirts and loaded with memories of a man many call a spiritual guide, a guru, a father figure, a friend.

If you'll look to the art feature on Page 10 in this week's magazine, you'll find pictures of Rick, some of his works and the friends who celebrated him on Saturday and Sunday. This small collection of submitted and staff photos is a humble tribute to one man whose art, advice and life affected many.

Members of the artistic community came together to comfort one another and celebrate the eccentric soul who enjoyed his time on earth as much as his friends enjoyed him. In September, most of those people will gather again in an attempt to help a musical family member who hasn't left yet.

Doug Rees and friends are planning a benefit for Big Larry Williams, a blues singer from Carbondale, Ill., who can safely call Cape Girardeau a home as well. Big Larry was on the cover of SE Live in February before he came to sing with Les Lindy and Blues Gone Awry on Feb. 24. He was hospitalized the next day.

Big Larry has been out of the hospital for a while, but his health hasn't fully returned, though when he gets a mic in his hand you would never know a thing was wrong.

The details are still being worked out, but rumors have put the Big Larry Benefit on Sept. 6, at the Jackson American Legion. Blues Gone Awry, Bruce Zimmerman and Doug E. and Friends will play.

Stay tuned to SE Live for more information, and if you'd like to help, drop by Stooges tonight. Big Larry joins Doug on the stage. He just can't stay away from the music.