Kindness is the Only Sane Choice
Losing someone can come as a shock, whether it be in our physical or virtual universe. It can come as a shock along with a sense of regret and possibly bewilderment that the person has gone. The sense of loss is compounded when that person is someone whom you admire and respect, maybe even love.
That was how many people reacted to the loss of one of Second Life’s most talented and best loved musician, Reno Jones (affectionally just known simply as Reno).
Reno’s catalogue of songs was prodigious, songs he’d play and sing with his trademark gravelly voice – there was no other vocalist quite like him. His distinctive avatar and quiet self-deprecating chuckle was a constant as was his all-encompassing humanity and generosity (all proceeds from his appearances went to Relay For Life – an anti-cancer charity).
When Reno started a set you never knew what you were going to get – a song from the 1929’s, 1940’s, 1950’s etc – or from 2025. When a song he was singing approached a high note I recall thinking ‘he’ll never reach that’ but he always did. Effortlessly. He knew his craft well and shared his bounty with anyone who felt inclined to listen – and many. to their great delight, did.
Until recently, when his illness affected his hand and thus his guitar work, Reno had a busy schedule and played in many venues around Second Life, including the Chelsea Hotel, the Haven Campfire and Villa Lobos, the three places I heard him most. That we will no longer see his name listed for performance, nor hear his gentle chuckle and wry observations on life is a great sadness to many people and the grid seems a lesser place for it.
The following poem, memorializing Reno, is by Shyla the Super Gecko, one of Second Life’s premier poets:
RENO
Though the face I knew could not –
His smile shone as he came into range.
A pixel challenge few solve.
Between his words, prefaces, songs,
Realizations of life’s crazy antics,
Burst a laugh warmer than Santa’s.
His heart, full of drizzle and rainbows,
Extends from infinite angles –
Assurance humanity can hug humanity.
In a messy world
Of conflicts and contradictions
Love rose above everything.
Love his spirit being –
Humanity his cause –
Laughter his gift –
The smile never seen
Never to leave
Hearts for your journey dear one,
Hearts for your journey.
From Reno’s Second Life profile:
“I’ve been playin’ guitar since I was 10. Started singing out of pure necessity when I was 15. Wrote my first good song that year. I’ve been fortunate to make music with some of the best I Love it all. 5th Generation Californian”.
The following video of Reno singing “Smile” accompanied by Gypsy Dhrua on flute was kindly posted to Youtube by Gypsy.
A posting celebrating and memorializing Reno also appeared in the SL Enguirer. Please click the image on the right to visit the site.
Also listed on Reno’s Second Life profile were the following observations:
Reno Jones’ singing and guitar playing defies all expectations. “A voice like golf balls in a dryer.”, and “You call this music?”, are just a few of the things critics have said about Reno Jones’ musical stylings. Mixing it all up in a blender, Reno Jones covers songs from the 1920’s to the 2020’s; from Louis Armstrong to Foo Fighters to Tom Waits to Radiohead and even originals, Reno adds his unique spin to all genres. As a studio musician and recording engineer for many decades, Reno has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Train, Foo Fighters, YES, Tom Petty and David Bowie.
Farewell Reno
(aka Stephen Jonas)