In Memory of Skip Mesquite

Replies

PAUL DIONISIO,," vergilio..." April 5, 2010 at 3:05pm

Skip was a long time friend and brother of mine, He was a family man, a husband of the best kind, a father second to none, and a son his father and mother were very proud of! His love for God's people was a true love, He was very proud sharing the Word of God, and blessed countless people where ever he encountered them, He was a great singer and saxplayer, and played with many famous people, an original Tower of Power member, and countless othey groups; Most of all, he gave all that up, so he could be a witness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and shared salvation with all who gave him an ear: I loved Skip like a brother, and will miss him, till I see him again; He was in Italy with Nancy last year and stopped in to see my brother Gino in Rome, he and Nancy sent me pictures they took while visiting Piazza di Spagnia, I was very happy he did that! His memorial service was beautiful, his song made everybody cry, " Family man " I hope Nancy posts it on this site,,,,,It was a beautiful song,about his family, and he sang it with all that was in him. Thank God for The Hope! paul dionisio
John Richeson April 3, 2010 at 3:32pm

Awesome Lonnell.
I hope Nancy and his family members get to read what you wrote.
I am sure they will be as uplifted as I am at this moment.
Lonnell Johnson April 2, 2010 at 4:48pm

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Skip Mesquite, a giant of man whose life and music touched so many people over the years. My condolences go to Nancy and his family. You all are in my thoughts and prayers at this time. I had not checked The Way Corps website in sometime, and so I did not learned about Skip’s battle with cancer until tonight, which most remarkable is Good Friday, as we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who has assured that though the Enemy may win this “little biddy battle, but we sho’ nuff got the final victory.”

1 Corinthians 15:54 reminds us:

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

I recall that Skip touched my life in a profound way through his music, through two songs in particular that I still cherish in my heart. One is “Family Man”, a kind of musical self-portrait that Skip painted with his life which embodied the words he sang: “I’m a family, living after God’s own plan/with wife and my children/raising our family.” I don’t recall the rest of the lyrics which Skip wrote, but I recall that just as Mahalia Jackson sings, he lived the life he sang about in his songs.

The second song, “Hey, Brother”, he wrote for his brother by blood, trying to explain why he was closer to his brothers in the spirit than to his own “flesh and blood.” I was so moved by his performance that I was inspired to write “We Be Brothers” which I dedicated to Skip. Since first completing the poem, I have read it countless times, expressing the bond of brotherhood that I share with fellow believers. As Skip so aptly put it: “Spirit is thicker than blood,” a line from the song that I used to introduce the poem which is printed below as a tribute to Skip:

We Be Brothers

“Spirit is thicker than blood.
Oh, yes, it is, brother.”

Skip Mesquite
songwriter, saxophonist

men born again in brotherhood
beyond thin skinship of the soul
not blood but spirit makes us kin
we be true brothers, brother-man

I dig your gig, so rap to me
and play the sounds I need to hear
tune me in and play my number
just call me on your saxophone

soothe my soul with those mellow notes
flowing from your horn of plenty
man, make your heartsong melt my dark
and paint my skies in sunrise hues

I can escape the basement gloom
to scale the palace stairs with you
we climb to where the air is rare
we be true brothers, brother-man

from Stone upon Stone: Psalms of Remembrance

Just as it is with great music, the kind that Skip so masterfully played, music that moves you, you may hear a song and for days afterward, the melody plays in your head. The lives of great men, like great music, continue to resonate through the ages; indeed, “the song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” Even so, the life and music and ministry of Skip Mesquite live on.

Lonnell Johnson
John and Janet Ruiz March 26, 2010 at 9:01am

My pleasure Ted. Now I realize I may have forgotten that Bob read remarks from your message Ted. I apologize, that wasn't intentional. They were read in the first part of the service.
Ted Ferrell March 26, 2010 at 3:39am

Thank you John for sharing those thoughtful loving words about Skip .Since I could not be there it meant a lot to me reading about the memorial service..
Give my love to Janet.
Ted
John and Janet Ruiz March 25, 2010 at 9:05pm

Janet and I attended the Memorial service with our daughter Jennifer and the hearts of our son Jesse and sisters Kathleen and Jovita, who were unable to attend. The service was conducted by Bob Winegarner on behalf of the Mesquite family. There were over a 100 in attendance.

The service was a blessing, bringing together the memories, achievements and contributions of Skip's life as son, father, husband, musician and friend to so many. Messages were read from David Garibaldi, Jerry Carr and Mic Gillette, words that certainly represented the thoughts of everyone there and the many who were unable to attend. Bob read from the Word, including l Cor. 15 and I Thess. 4. Some of the music from Skip's life was played, including the song "One by One" and Skip's own recording of "I'm a Family Man".

What Skip meant to us...he was unique, distinct. In this seemingly graceless world we live in Skip carried himself with the dignity of someone who knew what God's saving grace had done for him and could do for others. Honest, loving. Gentle and yet bold at the same time. Talented..."for days", the fruit of constant application. Full of faith, and always encouraging, even at the times he struggled with health.

One of the fondest memories I have of time spent with Skip happened several years ago one Saturday Janet and I met with he and Nancy at a local winery. We were having lunch, reminiscing, catching up. We were talking about our families, our kids now as old as we were all those years ago in Ohio. I described to him how fulfilled I was when I first saw my son Jesse and then my daughter Jennifer the days they were born and I fully realized who I was and would be forever - "I'm the Dad". I looked at Janet - "The Mom!" Skip laughed that big laugh of his and said "Yeah! That's us! It doesn't get better than that!"

It really doesn't ever get better, than that. In life's simplicity, the greatest endeavors, the greatest achievements. And the greatest rewards, unfolding over and over throughout eternity. Skip will be remembered well and often by all of us. To Nancy, his wife of 38 years and his family, all our love now, and always.
Myrna Webster Brinkley March 24, 2010 at 3:55pm

For those of you in the Bay area, here is the info on Skip's memorial service taken from David Garibaldi's Twitter page: Skip's Memorial Service: March 24, 2010 11:00 am The Veterans Building 757 First St. Brentwood, CA. 94513. If anyone wants to attend. (So that happened earlier today....)

Once we are all gathered together, I imagine there is going to be some great "jammin'" going on and I look forward to hearing Skip play again. My condolences to the family. Myrna Brinkley
Linda Zinn March 23, 2010 at 11:01am

I never had the privilege to get to know Skip, but I sure "felt" who he was by the heart he put into his music. I heard him play many times, and I was always uplifted and moved by the sweetness of his sounds. Love shows even without words.

I'm grateful for the love Skip showed and look forward to the day when we'll see him again.

My prayers are with Nancy and his family.
David Bailey March 22, 2010 at 5:26pm

On behalf of all Agape, Thanks my friend for making the "Hearts Knit Together" album one of the greatest experiences of our lives. You not only gave us advice but worked and encouraged us. I am so ever thankful and greatful that you agreed to play on the song "God's Heart Pulsates." Thanks for been a friend, thanks for the newcastle on the road, and thanks for the week I stayed with you and Nancy and the kids. I will never ever forget it!
See ya later Skip.

Nancy and family. You are in my heart and in my prayers. May God comfort and watch over you all at this time. DB (ooxoo)
Meldon Hawkins March 22, 2010 at 4:23pm

Deeply sorrowed.....Nancy you have lost a geat one....you might not remember me ..but you and Skip touched my life at Hdqtrs one time..... My deepest prayers and thoughts are with you and yours .........God Bless!