Patrick Haney Passes Away

I must report, with great sadness, the passing of Patrick Haney earlier today.  Words are inadequate to express what he meant to me and to Poor Yorick, but I'll make a feeble attempt here anyway.   It is perhaps a testament to the man that his loss is so deeply felt half way around the planet.

Along with James Johnson, Patrick and I started this motley little band in 1986, and it was Patrick who became my song-writing partner from that point...

A friend.  A comrade.  A collaborator.  A showman.  A brother.  A lover of all things musical.  A passionate spokesman.  A true citizen of the world.  And for what it might be worth, and for which I will always be grateful….A Yorickian forever. 

I hope you know, Patrick, how much you will be missed…and I also hope you know that you can’t quit this band…ever. 

All of us with Poor Yorick, as well as my immediate family, send our deepest sympathies and positive thoughts to Patrick's family, including his two lovely ladies,..Daniela and Betty.

And to Patrick...

Ciao and Godspeed dear boy.

-Ron Nottebart

Spotlight on Patrick Haney

A little piece of Clown-in-the-Ground nostalgia if we may be permitted...casting an eye back to the dawn of time, when PoOR YoRiCK was contrived, to the days when there were six (count 'em), six of us.


And one of the seminal members who contributed quite a bit of the bands' original repertoire was Patrick Haney, a.k.a "Zoots", a.k.a "Haneyman".  Patrick was certainly a driving force during YoRiCK's primordial phase,...the sole author, or primay author, of a healthy balance of PY stand-by material. His versatility with acoustic guitar, slide guitar, harmonica, and saxophone helped showcase and drive the eclectic, on-stage circus.

May we submit for your consideration (check out) a live version of the Callaway-esque, sax-driven, blues style on "Ruby Lee"... Or... the raucous, gravelly, ranting feline-ode, "Kool City Kat".  Though Patrick had been living in Rome (the one in Italy) with his wife and daughter for over a decade, he

had occasionally popped over state-side for surprise appearances with PY.  The band has continued to perform, and will continue to perform, such Haney-conceived songs as "Best Gova'ment Money Can Buy" ...still as topical as the day it was written.

Yes ladies and gentle-germs, again we proudly ask your consideration, and anticipate your approval...we give you a PoOR YoRiCK original,..Patrick Haney.