Friday, October 5, 2007

January 8, 1973 – September 28, 2007

MASSEY, Allen Michael Of Ann Arbor Age 34, was born on January 8, 1973 in Lansing, MI and passed away on September 28, 2007. Al was on the faculty at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School where he taught English and Social Studies. He is the son of Albert and Louise (Berger) Massey. He is also survived by his grandfather, Albert M. Massey, and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jessie Massey and Pete and Irene Berger. Al graduated from Grand Ledge High School in 1991 and the University of Michigan in 1996. He spent many summers at Interlochen Arts Camp, first and a camper and later as a teacher of Creative Writing. He was a songwriter, singer, & guitarist who preformed with The Still in Ann Arbor area establishments for several years.

17 comments:

  1. Anyone that wants to share a moment, feel free to leave it here.

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  2. Here's a some kind of a tribute to Al's love of music (and his huge CD collection).
    We made these two mixed tapes back in '93. I dug up a tape player and listened to them this weekend.
    I can vividly remember sitting in front of the Kenwood system, that he was so proud of, spending the day drinking gin and making these tapes.

    ///Uncle Al's Music for Lawn Bowling (4/25/93)///
    -Side A
    Sweet Jane -Velvet Underground
    Rock and Roll -Velvet Underground
    Shy of the Moon -The Wallflowers
    Mandika -Sinead O'Conner
    Ring of Fire -Johnny Cash
    The Weight -The Band
    Waiting for the Sun -The Jayhawks
    She Sells Sanctuary -The Cult
    Peace Frog -The Doors
    Sometimes Salvation -The Black Crowes
    We Gotta Get You a Woman -Todd Rundgren
    Veronica - Elvis Costello
    Country Pie -Bob Dylan

    -Side B
    Sea of Madness -CSN & Young
    Ride a Bus -Anne Be Davis
    (Don't go back to) Rockville -REM
    See a Little Light -Bob Mould
    Why Don't We Do it in the Road -The Beatles
    Train in Vain -The Clash
    Solsbury Hill -Peter Gabriel
    Chelsea Morning -Joni Mitchell
    Superman -REM
    And She Was -Talking Heads
    What's the Buzz -JC Superstar
    Camarillo Brillo -Frank Zappa
    Ripple -Janes' Addiction
    Settled Down like Rain -The Jayhawks


    ///Cousin Zach's Trailer Park Dance Hall Music (4/26/93)///
    -Side A
    Thank God I'm a Country Boy -John Denver
    It's the End of the World as we Know it and I feel fine -REM
    STOP! -Jane's Addiction
    Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown -Jim Croce
    Hoover Dam - Bob Mould
    Carry that Weight -The Beatles
    Crowded in the Wings -The Jayhawks
    That's a Lie -Too Much Joy
    Up On Cripple Creek - The Band
    I can see clearly now -Hothouse Flowers
    The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down -The Band

    -Side B
    Coming into Los Angeles -Arlo Guthrie
    Walk on the Wild Side -Lou Reed
    Motor Psycho Nightmare -Bob Dylan
    My Morning Song -The Black Crowes
    Rainy Day Women -Bob Dylan
    One Piece at a time -Johnny Cash
    Subterranean Homesick Blues -Bob Dylan
    GLORIA -The Doors
    Jane Says -Jane's Addiction
    Quicksand -David Bowie
    Her Majesty -The Beatles

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  3. I has Massey my senior year at pioneer. It was the year where he left school because his pains where getting worse.
    It was hard for all of us to see him like that. He has always been a very happy and optimistic person. He was a great teacher and we all really missed him and still do.
    He was such a strong person, we will never forget about him!

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  4. al.... i miss you a lot. I have been thinking about you a lot lately. To be completely honest with you, you were the biggest inspiration i have ever had in life. I know what i want to do when i grow up because of you, I want to be an English teacher so i can share my passion with others the way you did with me. You have helped me in ways you might not have ever seen, but i grew and learn because of you. Interlochen was some of my happiest memories of high school, it was where i accomplished the most for myself. Its amazing the impact you made in my lifeand i wish i could have told you before you died. I think about you a lot al, you inspired me. You helped me discover my path. I am so thankful for that and i wish i could tell you.... -julia upfal

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  5. emuse, thanks for remembering Al and his music. Something I was part of once...

    I'm listening to his lyrics and come away with a smile every time I listen to a song in a new way.

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  6. emuse-wow what a wonderful thing that you have done. It is clear that Al touched so many people in so many different ways. What a wonderful thought that he will forever live in our hearts through his music, his laugh and his crazy wisdom. Thank you.

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  7. Very cool for setting this up. Al lives on. And to bob winslow, I remember "Winslow" shirts in Ann Arbor... you don't wanna to win FAST, you wanna win SLOW! Al is an incredible person and wherever he is, he's looking back at us and playing his guitar, smiling. Those are amazing songs and amazing pictures.

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  8. hi all. I am one of allen's close friends from high school and I just learned of this upsetting news today. I don't know how many of us are aware of his death....
    He was such a special person and it was completely evident back then. He introduced me to the beatles. Looking at that playlist made me smile and cry as it was SO Allen!
    I just can't express how sad I am today. If anyone can let me know what happened to Allen, it would be so greatly appreciated. Please email me. We loved you Allen. --Kristy Barker Ellenson krellenson@gmail.com

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  9. Wow, late to learn of Al's passing but not too late to send my thoughts of fondness out to his other friends and family. He introduced me to Arlo Guthrie, Donna Godchaux, and several of the other special jewels of the music...good times were had, so many laughs and late nights with the dweeb crew...best wishes Al! To where you are now, may you be smiling and may the sun shine your way...

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  10. i had al for only one summer at interlochen (my first) but it changed me so much. he was not only an amazing teacher who helped me improve my writing, but he really helped me find my perspective. i miss him so much, and i remember distinctly when i found out he died. he was the closest thing i've had to a true mentor, and i will always remember him. for english we have to find a picture of us during a time in our life when we changed dramatically, and write a memoir about the picture. naturally, i chose one from that summer and am writing about al. thanks to emuse for setting this up.

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  11. Thinking today of Al and his music. . .
    A brother I will never forget. . .
    A boy who laughed with me through the best. . .
    A man who taught me so much. . .

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  12. Thinking of Al today and have wanted to post a comment for quite some time. I have fond memories of hanging out with Al in Ann Arbor,Ypsilanti,Cape Cod, NYC. My fondest memories are of visiting him in Ypsi - listening to music while sitting on his floor in front of his stereo, riding around in his truck and talking for hours about our creative projects and our hopes and dreams for the future. He was authentic, insightful with an open heart, and was a true true friend. Love and miss you, Al.

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  13. Is it possible to get this music on a cd?

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  14. Not sure why Al crossed my mind today out of the blue. Happy this site is still here since I've lost my old Still CDs. Had a memory of talking to Al every couple months after I moved to Brooklyn and he was in Ypsi. We would talk for hours about life, art, politics. He was a good friend and he grounded me at a time I was very unsure of myself after moving to NYC. At the time he was dealing with a lot of physical pain and hated the medications he was on. Now that I'm older, I realize how much I didn't understand about what he was going through and I wish I was a better friend to him the years he was really struggling. I'm not sure who I'm writing to here. Just wanted to share and say that even though time has passed, the memories of Al are still strong. Love.

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  15. Al...missed you tonight at the Skylab in Columbus, hanging with the next generation of musicians, artists, and writers. You would have liked it very much. We miss you!

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  16. You’re still in my mind, Al, you sad, kind, weirdo. And I’m sorry I wasn’t paying more attention. I think of you often.

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  17. Al was my best friend from around 2002-2007. We played so much music together, hung out in booths around Ypsi having a beer, dragging people home from TCs Speakeasy open mic to jam all night. Today I bumped into Noah and Ethan Kaplan at an event in Ann Arbor and we started reminiscing about AL. We talked about The Still. I sat at Ziggy’s on Michigan Ave wishing he could hear the band that was playing. So much has changed since he was cruising down this street but he would have loved sitting outside Ziggy’s smoking weed. When he would notice me getting nervous before a show, he would say ‘make huge mistakes out there!’ and it would remind me to not take myself too seriously. It was almost 17 years ago my friend.

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