Wow. What to say? I don't know if his family visits here, but if they do, please
accept my deepest condolences. Bill meant so much to so many of us. We cared not
just about his music, but also about him as a person. It seemed like there was
no distinction between the man and the music.

I still remember my introduction to him. I was reading the Sunday Detroit paper
and they had a review of "Inside," which had just come out. The reviewer
mentioned the song "Casey, Illinois," and I was floored because that town in
East Central Illinois is where I'm from. I thought, "I better check this guy
out" and I went out and bought the album. It changed the way I view music.

I played guitar and tried to sing some myself, but listening to Bill -- and
examining the way he crafted a song -- made me want to get serious about
songwriting. I live in the Midwest and made it to see Bill three times and spoke
with him after the show a couple of times. Once was at the Cedar Cultural Center
in Minneapolis; Edson had just come out and I went back to the green room and I
sheepishly asked him if he'd mind signing it. He invited me in, made me feel
welcome and we got to talking about guitars and he handed me his Texan to play.
I'm a Gibson J-45 guy myself, but the longer scale of the Texan had a certain
appeal. Told him a story or two about Casey, Ill., and made me feel like he
cared.

The thing is, that feeling came across in his songs, even if he wasn't there in
person. You knew that he cared. It showed in his talent and in his craft.

I'm sure my story isn't unique. Bill gave. We were all better for it. And so to
Ellen and his family and people who knew him better than I did, I'm so sorry for
your loss. I'm so sorry for *our* loss.

Life doesn't hand us very many Bill Morrisseys. We were blessed to have this one
for as long as we did.

We're gonna miss you, brother....

David Hanners
St. Paul, MN