The spooky thing happened that just as I clicked my way on to this post my Windows Media Player shuffle started playing a song that my good friend Therese loved. You can raise a glass to her if you want, she died well before he time, leaving a small boy without his mum.
They could never tell what killed her, she just collapsed for no reason and never woke up again.
I have her voice on an old cassette tape that I play sometimes. The tape starts with her making this special noise; really close to the microphone; it was her signature-noise...it always stops my heart for a second.

I'll raise a glass to you and your mum and for the sake of my long gone parents too

Drink to me, drink to my health...

"Picasso's Last Words" - more Macca

I'll raise a glass too

gone 18 years this year

Who passed away 25 years ago this year

This reminds me of him so much.

...died three years ago, much too young. Cliff was her favourite...

Just drinking a large VSOP to you on this day.

Cheers!

who died 12 years aged 40 I'd like to pick 'All the young dudes' which he had played at his funeral, but I'll go for 'Friends of ours' by Elbow. Love you mate.

I can't find a clip, ya old bollox, but it would have to be 'Memory of a Free Festival' off the Sound and Vision vinyl box set. Truly sorry I never got round to taping it for you. Rest easy big lad.

Joe Brown doing "I'll See You In My Dreams" on a ukelele at the George Harrison concert. A lovely, lovely thing which always makes me get something in my eye.

It's not there any more.

Warners have pulled it.

Miserable buggers.

I think, on the whole, my mum would have enjoyed this little party.
Please feel free to add further tributes.
I hope it helps. It certainly helped me.

Cheers.

Here's to your Mum, Adman. Mine would have been 60 last year but died at the age of 47. She loved Elvis too. And the only man who ever made her feel the same way is still going strong. This was one of her favourites:

I can picture her dancing to this...

who loved Elgar and Vaughan williams among quite a few other things, the opening of the Five Mystical Songs, "Rise Heart":

and for my first boss, who turned us on to the Bach cello suites shortly before his sudden death in his early 50s.

He grew up about two streets away from Hyndford St in Belfast.I gave him this tune on a cassette comp' which he played often.

That was nearly four years ago. I still miss him so much.

He loved this:

It made him laugh so hard that he could barely breathe.

Cheers to you Adman. What a moving thread this is.

A very Gallant Gentleman and a wonderful Father.

I haven't spoken to her since. Reading this thread has made me realise how stupidly bloody-minded, selfish and egotistical I've been. And how short life is. This Friday, I'm gonna pick up the phone...thanks to adman and everyone else who posted.

I haven't until now been able to face up to listening to my Dad's favourite,Hoagy Carmichael.
It's made me rather tearful but in a good way so many thanks for helping me to pluck up the courage.

But this if for my friend Marcus, died in 1982 aged 15. This was all over the radio at the time.

Another drink to your mum

I dont know how to post videos but Frank Sinatra was my Dad's favourite. He used to play My Way very loud when he came drunk. He died 8 years ago just a few months before his county Gaelic team won the All-Ireland.
I also just buried my father-in-law last week. He wasn't into music that much so I can't put anything up for him but he was a decent and generous man whose funeral was a tribute to him and his family.He will be sorely missed by his daughters and wife.

Thanks Adman. Tears before my tea now!I always feel better after a few sobs.Thanks again Ad.