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| Keepin' the Lake Blue |
 The Lake of the Ozarks musical community suffered a great loss
when Paul Gardner passed from this life.A beloved musician, husband, father and grandfather Paul was born in Long Beach, California in 1941. He attended UCLA for a couple of years but they didn't have a jazz band where he could indulge his passion, so when son David was born, he quit school and went on the road. While working at the Water Wheel Club in California during the late 1960's, Paul met and jammed with Frank Zappa. Frank asked Paul to be a part of his "Mothers of Invention" group but Paul had a good job at the time so he declined. Of course, who knew that Zappa would become so well known! Paul moved to the Lake of the Ozarks in 1988 and became known to all who heard him as one of the finest keyboard players anywhere. He could play not only the piano, but the B3 organ. He could make you think there was a whole orchestra in the room when he put his magic fingers to the keys of the B3. To many of us, Paul was known as "The Professor". He taught many students over the years but the nickname was more than that. The depth of his musical knowledge was evident even when he was just having fun with the blues. Paul had suffered for several years from heart problems and passed from this life on February 7, 2002. He was a wonderful and unique jazz/blues musician. His influence on the lake area will not be forgotten but will be sadly missed by many. We love you Paul. |
