Duke Bio


. . . CandleFish began as an acoustic duo in 2003 .. it expanded to a full band in 2006 .. help us celebrate our third full year together on May 3, 2009 . . .

Band Bios: Duke

Duke came into this world on December 20, 1947. He left it on August 28, 2007, the Feast Day of St. Augustine .. there are some similarities ..

One of his last projects on this earth was putting together the band called "CandleFish." He may no longer be physically present, but his presence is certainly felt. CandleFish carries a lasting imprint of his spirit.

Duke was born in Chicago. His father was a career military officer and Duke traveled extensively in Europe and the USA. He played his first professional gig at the age of 15 near a US Air Base in France.

Growing up, he continued to travel and play music .. from New York to San Francisco, from Detroit to El Paso, from Ft. Lauderdale to Seattle ... Duke was there with his guitar.

He loved all kinds of music ... like Willie said: "There ain't no bad music - just bad musicians." He often said, when asked about what his favorite song was ... "There would have to be a top 100 list, with all the tunes at number 1."

Playing music with CandleFish gave him the opportunity to indulge in all types of music .. and he enjoyed playing John Prine tunes as much as he loved playing tunes by Otis Redding or the Black Crowes.

Duke lived high on a hilltop in Susquehanna County, in a log cabin he built himself. His remains were buried nearby. He is survived by a wife and two sons.

JUST TEN DAYS before Duke left time for eternity, CandleFish played the County Seat in Montrose, one of Duke's favorite gigs. In its hay-day in the 1980s, the County Seat hosted the "Pep Boys" - of which Duke and Ginz were original members - for 88 Thursday nights in a row. One of CandleFish's first gigs was a Thursday night in May of 2006, in an attempt to revive the "four-day weekend."

CANDLEFISH played the County Seat on New Year's Eve of '06-'07 and continued to play there on a regular monthly rotation until May of 2008. Times change. People change. The wind sweeps another handful of dried leaves down a deserted street in a little country town .. the first snow will fly and a brand new year is at hand .. God willing, we will all be together for another one, and many more to come ..


	JUST TEN DAYS before Duke left time for eternity, CandleFish played the County Seat in Montrose, one of Duke's favorite gigs. In its hay-day in the 1980s, the County Seat hosted the "Pep Boys" - of which Duke and Ginz were original members - for 88 Thursday nights in a row. One of CandleFish's first gigs was a Thursday night in May of 2006, in an attempt to revive the "four-day weekend." CANDLEFISH played the County Seat on New Year's Eve of '06-'07 and continued to play there on a regular monthly rotation until May of 2008. Times change. People change. The wind sweeps another handful of dried leaves down a deserted street in a little country town .. the first snow will fly and a brand new year is at hand .. God willing, we will all be together for another one, and many more to come ..

. . . CandleFish began as an acoustic duo in 2003 .. it expanded to a full band in 2006 .. help us celebrate our third full year together on May 3, 2009 . . .

Band Bios: Duke