Remembering Billy Ruane: Part 2 of many

Published Nov 01 2010, 12:52 PM by Carly Carioli

So 100 years ago, in the 80's, when I was an undergrad at UMass, my classmates Edward Maglott and Michael Lewy and I made this movie, Slim Chance. It's predictably terrible, except for Billy Ruane. Edward pulled out Billy's section, as well as a piece with Skeggie [Kendall], and here it is. Sarah Eaton is also in it. I remember HOURS of conversations with Billy about his character.

-- Joyce Linehan, via Facebook and YouTube

City of Cambridge Proclomation honoring Billy Ruane

Whereas: William J. "Billy" Ruane Jr. was a voluble and volatile presence on the Boston rock scene for three decades. And;

Whereas: Billy was an irrepressible scenester, ardent supporter of local music and tireless promoter. And;

Whereas: Billy died Tuesday October 26th, 2010 of a heart attack in front of his computer. And;

Whereas: Billy was manic, brilliant, and obsessive, obsessed with music from jazz to rock. And;

Whereas: Billy was usually seen wearing a sports jacket, an untucked white shirt, and a smile. He had a huge hug and wet kiss for all. And;

Whereas: Billy was usually drinking, buying drinks, buying out rock and jazz venues and bringing his entourage and buying all of the memorabilia and giving it to his friends. And;

Whereas: Billy was the man who came to Joseph and Nail Sater at the Middle East Restaurant in Central Square in 1987 and convinced them to present live music thereby opening up a new chapter in Boston music history. And;

Whereas: Billy's death mark the end of an era, for the Boston rock and jazz scene, for Cambridge and all of us who loved him in Cambridge.

Whereas: That I, Cambridge City Councilor Kenneth E. Reeves, go on record offering condolences to the family and friends of Mr. William J. "Billy" Ruane and thanking him for his contributions to the City of Cambridge.

-- Signed this 30 day of October, 2010, Cambridge City Councilor Kenneth E. Reeves [hat tip to Bradley's Almanac]

I read so many stories of your generosity - especially in the past several years when you had access to vast funds. I know forever you wanted to give & give. You'd borrow against your allowance to pay for someone else' rent or dinner or bus ticket. It was all spent by the time the allowance accrued. I'm so glad you were finally able to give to your heart's desire. I know this was something you wanted so desperately.

I think about you and how your need was as vast as your generosity. It frightened people. You were hungry all the time. Hungry for words, music, food, for love. Your fire was so powerful few could get near you. Someone referred to you as a tornado but to me you were the force of wind coupled with fire & flames barreling through this world. Out of fire comes new growth - unexpected surprises. You smothered us in smoke, burnt us with flames but you always left us with new seeds to germinate. I learned much from you.

I don't know what I'll miss most about you. Every day is different. Today I miss eating with you. All those late night meals in Chinatown after shows, half the time I didn't even go to the show but you'd call me at 2 AM and pick me up for dinner. I loved eating with you. You enjoyed food. (okay, that's an understatement) You brought me to so many incredible meals, so many different kinds of restaurants from hole-in-the-wall to every ethnic restaurant in Cambridge & Boston to the toniest 'Bostonest' suit & tie dining. Yes. I miss most having dinner with you.

-- Tinuviel Sampson, Kill Rock Stars and Villa Villakula Records, via Facebook

LISTEN: Jon Berenhardt "Breakfast of Champions" tribute to Billy Ruane: http://stuff.mit.edu/~jonb/playlist/podcasts/BoC20101029.mp3

Time (Cenci) (To Billy Ruane)

When I looked to the sea,
I'll tell you what I saw,
It was big black and green,
...And had a big old claw,
It writhes like a monster
Slides like a great serpent
Teething on the shore

If you're looking straight down
Into the deep abyss
I'll cover your eyes
And tell you what you missed
I see the Devil drinking whiskey
And blowing fire in every kiss.

If I had me a brother
Lost in a war
I can't comprehend the pain
Or the the visions he endured
He's frighting and dying at the hand of Man's worst flaw..

Time, time will let us go
Time will set us free
It's time to brush your soul
Time will let us breathe

If you're standing on the edge
Gazing up toward the sky
Floating in the clouds
Rain drops in your eyes
We hope you reach the hand of God
Through the stormy mist

Time, time will let us go
Time will set us free
It's time to brush your soul
Time will let us be

-- Bob Cenci

I think it is important to know what the last song Billy listened to was. I think it's important because that is what billy DID. He LISTENED. Sure he talked talked talked...But what he talked about most was WHAT he was LISTENING to. He was relentless and he spoke through his mixed tapes. Every song he meticulously selected meant something.

Billy was found in his chair-computer on. We have put some pieces together and are pretty sure that the last song/vid he listened to was Olof Arnalds doing "Lucky Old Sun". I wasn't familiar with this song before this finding, although I should have been (thanks Billy). Oh man, this is a MONSTER of a song. Many people have covered it-Johnny Cash, Ray Charles..

Anyway, give this song a listen and picture Billy in your mind. The Johnny Cash or the Ray Charles versions hold the weight.

Billy, You lit up all of our lives....

Lucky Old Sun

-- Mary Lou Lord, via Facebook

He claimed to be descended from Chicago bootleggers and his dad served in World War Two, got a GI Bill education and obtained a seat on the Exchange at Wall St. His classmate was Warren Buffett, Billy's honorary uncle. His father became one of the legendary old guys, value investors of the highest quality. I learned less about his mom but sensed she was the one who imparted his depth. She left him with some guidelines for life but marital despair and whatever else led her to a walk into Long Island Sound when he was in his mid teens...

...Fate gave Boston an overly generous dollop of grifters and Billy was their catnip. Boston is insular and stodgy so it viewed the like of him as an irritant. The Boston Rock scene was a ridiculous egocentric shark pit from hell in it's prime with Technicolor narcissism. Boston was soaked in heroin and blow with mobsters on the periphery. At least one club owner bullied Billy to a breaking point. Billy bullying was a sport. This was his working world for most of his life. It took lots of energy. No internet, endless mailings, hours on the phone and Billy would agonize about some band he supported to the point of zooming over to other crowded clubs on his scooter to hand out his small funny Helldorado Fliers cause he wasn't gonna let that band down, dammit. He might hit 5 dumps in a night.

He was like that to the end. Here at the gallery alone, in the past two years, Billy covered transportation and lodging for Matthew Shipp, Darius Jones, and Bern Nix and was always ready to help. He owned a luxury condo in Central square that was worth more than the building where he lived but made a bed and breakfast of it and a job for an old rocker. Shipp et al stayed in better accommodations than Billy lived in for the last two decades of his life.

-- Christopher Ruston Rich