Obituary for a Friend
 In the mid-to-late nineties, after running the gambit of art gigs to little financial avail, I made the move back in to bartending. As it so happened, a very good friend, and fellow artist, Jimmy May, had taken over the bar at 626 St Philip Street, across from where Flanagan’s is today.
It was called Sin City.
He took me on as full time bartender, and, within short order, I was managing the place for him. Inside, it looked like a Biker Club House/OpiumDen/Bordello/Pirate’s Hold/Seance Room. Only more insane. Christmas lights and ladies under garments hung from the ceiling like stalagtites. The music blasted everything from Monster Magnet & AC/DC. to James Brown & Elvis, to Sammy Davis Jr & Tom Jones. Thick curtains were hung to keep out the light, some days, and it was often midnight in to the late afternoon, inside that decadent world.
And it Rocked Like Fuck, 24/7, for almost five years.
When it eventually closed, we were mostly amazed we had gotten away with so much for so long. We worked together at other places, off and on, for many years, bringing each other in, wherever we wound up, as gypsies, artists, pirates and rebels often do. Fear & Loathing in the French Quarter, we called it.
As time went by, Jimmy worked the Apple Barrel on Frenchman street, being one of the first to skate the ‘caberet laws’ and bring in live music, anyway. From Coco Robicheaux to Mike Hood, they came and played. And played and played. I sat in with Coco & Mike many times, getting yanked from my drink & chair to have a guitar stuck in my hands, and we were off and running. Jimmy sometimes sang from behind the bar, or on it, occasionally jumping over it, in to the crowd, microphone and cocktail in hand.
Jimmy and his wife, Michelle, were married at my house, The Skull Club, with Coco Robicheaux conducting the ceremony, just as Jimmy, himself, had conducted my wedding there, about a year before. We were all each other’s family, spiritual guides & healers, musicians and friends. The band that played the night of Jimmy & Michelle’s wedding was stellar beyond even New Orleans standards, with each player being a band leader in their own right, gathered together for something bigger than just music. We gathered together for love, New Orleans style, as true a family as this Island Of Misfit Toys can ever hope to have.
And that family continues to this day. We share memories of the Fear & Loathing parties, complete with full costumes and our own ‘additives’ that often raged for a day or more, leaving even some French Quarter regulars with eyebrows raised. Memories of escaping a city filling with water, and finding each other on the road, returning together in that old Mexican Ford Van, stopping first for beer & Ice, and then just stopping, slack jawed at how little was left behind for us to rebuild from.
We went on.
 This morning, Michelle awoke to find Jimmy dead, a thing no one can possibly understand the impact of, unless they have done it. May you never have that chance. Ever.
 His ongoing illnesses were, we thought, coming under control, and when I last saw him, a couple of weeks ago, he was laughing, joking and seemed healthier than I’d seen him in years.
I suppose that looks can be deceiving…
 Those who knew him, by encounter or deed, know that a brilliant Jester in the Court of Life has left us. One of those rare people who would stop their world, and stay talking to you, all night, if need be, to help put your troubles in perspective, is no longer there for counsel. Perhaps one of the most hilarious and devious pranksters and instigators I have ever had the pleasure of stirring the pot with, is no longer available. The world has lost another of it’s brightest sparks. Â
Rest in peace, Jimmy May.
We rocked our corner of the world together like maniacs.
Your leaving will make for some still waters, my friend.
As your attorney, and in your honor,
I promise to stir things up from time to time.
love,
LD
 
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David, Thank you. He will be missed.
RIP…Jimmy You will be missed, & all the best to Michelle, and the rest of extended family, and of course, ya self, LD.
Love & light follows us all.
As the loss of a dear friend and madcap catalyst of New Olreans Life grinds into my psyche, I am dealing with the grim process of helping my siblings sort through the estate left by the recent, senseless death of my father, and my mom’s slow trip down that same slope.
There is, in real life, no Riding Off Into The Sunset, so much as there is a barn to clean.
My thoughts turn to Michelle, Jimmy’s wife (widow) and the horrible tasks that await her, just to get through this experience. As if waking up to your lover’s death is not enough.
As the days continue to pass, I will post here all manner of infromation regarding Jimmy’s Memorial (I’m sure there’ll be one) and any furhter gatherings. I urge each and everyone who knew or appreciated the Life Of Jimmy May to turn your attentions to Michelle, who now holds the bag for both of them.
Besides the shakey financial situation that many freelance artists and original thinkers find themselves in, there are now funeral costs, lingering medical bills, etc to deal with. I hope to see a fundraiser in the works very soon. I will post all future information on this thread.
In closing, offerings of the heart are huge. While we all (especially me) find tears a’ plenty for our fallen friend, please remember the living person that he chose as his life long mate, who now lives with that daily reminder that we, the mourning, can escape by focusing on our day to day lives.
This IS her day to day life.
I am here for you, Michelle.
And I’m quite sure, no…make that absolutely sure,
that I am not alone.
all my love;
LD
For information as it transpires, please go to:
http://mojono.com/jimmy/
Sign up.
The mailing list will keep you apprised of new developments.
thanks;
LD
Damn…. I had known Jimmy since the Sin City days. Some of the most fun times of my life. A toast to a great person. I’m gonna seriously going to miss him.
Gods David, I feel for you ad for Jimmy’s wife. I’m still battling lingering crazy left from my father’s and grandmother’s estates and they’re almost three years gone.
One day I’m going to count the death notices we have put up here on HumidCity, I just have not been able to steel my nerves for it. We have all lost so many people over these recent years.
Repose en paix.
I came across this tribute tonight. I knew Jimmy in Dayton Ohio in the 80′s. There was a great bar downtown that we could always find him at dancing to the music. My favorite memory is of him taking a safety pin out of his leather jacket and piercing my nose in the dingy dirty bathroom of Alexanders. I have fond memories of him and when I hear certain songs on the radio, he comes to my mind. I am glad I was able to know him for a brief moment of history
jimmy and i lived in Athens together in the late 80′s. many a fun time were had at his place down on Mill Street. as time went on we moved away from that time in our lives onto our “adult” lives. i ended up in new york via memphis, he new orleans. one night while on tour with a band, i stopped off at a late night establishment around the 3:00 am hour. there were 4 people sitting in the bar so i decided to order the Entire Bar a round of drinks. jimmy just so happened to be one of those 4 people. suddenly we were transported back in time to our Athens days. we returned to his out and shot an old tv he had in his living room, “Elvis Style.” a few more years passed and we met again, back in new orleans. he introduced me to his wife and wonderful life he had made for himself. he is one of those friends, whether it’s a day, a week, a year, or many years… you can always pick it up where you left it off. see you on the other side brudda. we’ll have some catching up to do i am sure.