Sing on Jeff Strahan
Texas lost a blues singer/songwriter/performer with the death on Wednesday of Jeff Strahan. He was a friend of Ramona and I and left behind his wife Lois Lane, his children, family in Lamesa, and his many friends and fans. He passed into blues Heaven Wednesday, January 15, 2014. He 
will be missed.
He was a well known blues performer and a renaissance man. What is a renaissance man? That would be a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. That is, he was talented, intelligent, thoughtful, and had varied interests not common to others in his upbringing out in the West Texas of my generation and of his generation.
Let me explain what I had come to know about Jeff.
He was a true son of West Texas having grown up in Lamesa where much of his family still lives. A friend of his named Doug told me some of the tales of growing up with Jeff in Lamesa. A lot of that paralleled my own life and many others. Lamesa is a very conservative part of West Texas not far from Lubbock. Jeff attended Texas Tech and graduated from law school there. He was a practicing attorney who had a life changing epiphany that he should be a musician. So he became a full time musician.
Credit Blues Music Magazine for this photo: Blues Music Magazine is grateful to have worked closely with Jeff this past year and we are proud that his incredible newly released CD “Monkey Around” is featured on the back cover of Issue Two.
He chose a red-dirt, Texas style of blues to write about and sing about. In one set he played with Augie Meyers and Joe Forlini. Joe Forlini is a guitar wizard who plays often with Jerry Jeff Walker. He and Jeff Strahan turned and faced each other doing a riff from a Delbert McClinton song and later a Stevie Ray song that could have ripped the stage in two. Strahan and Forlini stood face to face like two gunfighters both matching each other note for note, riff for riff. It was impressive. Equally impressive was his keyboard or piano abilities. Totally fantastic is the description. He could almost play keyboard and guitar at the same time with a blues harp in his mouth. His ability to put words-lyrics- to his music was also impressive. Many of you know I am a lyrics guy…..I actually listen to the words of a song even if just to divine the songwriter’s intent on using a particular word or phrase. Jeff Strahan had such a gift. He could combine lyrics and music into a thoughtful melody, or a rip roaring guitar and keyboard riff.
His album “Live at Billy’s Icehouse” which is located just down the road from Gruene in New Braunfels is just one of several albums of his on my iPhone that is played often. If you need your spirits 
lifted, listen to “Everyday’s a Holiday“. If you are having problems with your love life….”New Girlfriend” might speak to you. One of my very favorites is “Take me to Texas.”
He wrote a song for his wife whose real name is Lois Lane. That’s her in the photo at left. I recall at several events where Jeff was the featured entertainer, his original song Superman was requested by the crowd at the end of the evening.
Here is Jeff singing that song. The first time I heard it was at a little blues place in San Angelo, Texas called Sealy Flats. I’ve heard it many times since…..
We had a party at our house when we lived on the Spring Creek near San Angelo and Jeff and Lois were there with other friends. Ramona served a fabulous meal and she and Lois visited as they worked together in the kitchen. The wine, conversation, and music flowed. It was one of the best evenings of fun and laughter I can remember.
I have other friends who have works that will live on after them. Some have written books about 
Texas, some have been newspaper people, and some are singer/songwriters who have composed original songs. Jeff Strahan’s life work will certainly be remembered through his music and his lyrics…words set to music that are a reflection of who we are.
We will miss Jeff Strahan. Father, husband, friend, singer, songwriter, performer, small town boy, big time blues, amazing artist.
He was a good’un.
I’m David out here in Real Texas
Listening to Take me to Texas
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m so sorry that you and Ramona lost a good friend. He looks way too young to have left this earth. There’s a lot of comfort in the fact that you will still be able to hear his voice through his music.
My heart breaks for this Family, Jeff was Amazing. The Corsicana Group made many trips to see Jeff, and one time he came and played for us at the Remmington. It was like a private concert. My youngest son was amazed by him and has been following him too. Many Many Awesome Family memories at Gruene watching him perform. I wish I could take his Family’s pain away, but only time and the Love of Family and Friends can do this and God by their sides. RIP FRIEND
It’s very comforting that someone wrote a beautiful article about my mothers cousin. He taught me a little of how to play guitar, and a little more how to appreciate life. Cousin Jeff will always love on in our hearts and souls; through his music, and just what an amazing man he was every day got everyone around him.
Jeff was a diamond in the ruff. He had such a big heart and personality that it wouldn’t all fit in his body so it spilled out over everyone around him. You couldn’t help but feel better when you were around him. Saw him many times at Gruene and in San Angelo and when he came to Corsicana twice. Got to know him and his beautiful wife, Lois. They became a part of the family. My heart breaks for Lois and Jeff’s family. I know the heartache of losing a spouse, father, son and dear friend. The support of all of Jeff’s friends and family, God’s love and time will help. Knowing that he is singing in Heaven one of his songs, “Amen to the Blues” and looking down and feeling sorry for us because he is living the good life and we are the ones missing out. He was one of the good ones and will be missed but never forgotten. I have been playing all his songs and remembering. RIP friend and we will all meet again one day!
Lois is my cousin. Sadly, because of the miles between us I never had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful man that everyone is glowing about. My heart is broken for my beautiful cousin but I’m also pleased at the same time. Pleased that her life was blessed by this treasure. Knowing Lois, I can say with confidence that Jeff was blessed as well. Thank you for writing this blog and especially this tribute to Jeff.
Thank you for putting this tribute together for Jeff, David. It is wonderful…and tells the story of a wonderful man whose life on this earth was cut way to short. I will miss him…the Blues will miss him. RIP my friend!
Wow…what a wonderful person Jeff was! Remember the first time we experienced his unique talent at the Fiesta river event in San Angelo several years before he began performing at Sealy flats. And the great Memories of him and Lois were special each time he was at Sealy. Your memory Jeff will always endure. At peace my friend, Bill
Nicely done, David. I saw some notifications of his death in my FB newsfeed but I didn’t know him or his music. Sounds like an interesting fellow. Condolences to his family and friends.
Texas lost a great person and talented musician! God bless and my condolences to the Strahan Family and friends.
I just found out about Jeff’s passing. What a terrible loss . I was fortunate enough to meet him in Durango, CO and would frequently get to listen to him there. I tried to convince him to send “Montana” to the state capital and get it recognized as the Montana state song. I hope someone will pursue this, it would be a great tribute to a truly great man.
Last year I was in Guerne Tx on a Sunday afternoon & heard this blazing guitar coming from Guerne Hall . I wandered in and listened to his band play. I heard, jazz, rock, country, folk & blues all in one tune! Jeff is an asset to the arsenal of Texas music & will long be remembered as such! I was a close friend of SRV. Had Stevie been with me that day in Guerne, I promise he would have had Jeff showing him a lick or two. My best to yours Jeff and I’ll see you on the other side….
I am at a loss for words Jeff hired me to play drums for him out of Pensacola Florida we did a show at the Oasis in Birmingham and him and Lois are both amazing Lois we love you and the song Amen to the blues just took on a new place in my heart
I haven’t visited your site in a while before stumbling upon your piece about Jeff Strahan. Jeff was a fraternity brother of mine at Tech, and an uber-talented guy. Smart, too. I lost touch with him in the late 80’s and did not know much about his life since those days of old. Your piece tied it all together for me, and I can’t believe I missed seeing his talent evolve and hear his great music. Thanks to your article and YouTube I have been able to listen to some of his work. RIP Jeff.
Good to hear from you Dennis-
Yes, Jeff turned out to be a super-talented guy in many areas while keeping a friendly West Texas demeanor. He traveled coast to coast making music where he could. His fans and friends can buy his CD’s to help out his family and enjoy some great music at the same time. And on a personal note….I’ve always been a great admirer of your family and think about the days of old often when small town folks worked hard and make their mark on the world they live in. I remember getting up Saturday mornings early after football games Friday nights and on summer days, waiting for your dad to come get me to go wrench rods all day at some dusty location. That gave me gas money for the week. And years later when your dad sold me some tanks and surplus equipment for my own use in the oilfield. All Good and positive memories of Freddie and Kenneth.
David, thanks for the kind words about my parents. The feeling is mutual about your family. First class. The way your Dad and then you ran the Wildcat for all those years is nothing short of amazing. You guys had a gift for capturing small moments of people’s lives in Big Lake. You gave outstanding “press” to small town athletes, cheerleaders, band members, beauty contest participants, academic heroes, 4-H members, rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, teachers, businessmen and women, politicians, etc. I bet nearly every kid from Big Lake from the 1950’s until you left, has an article or two from your newspaper that will be cherished. Glad you’re still writing!
Jeff you went and ripped my heart out cuz. I finally had the time. I needed to ask you so much, catch up with our families and such. Left with no more chances. You’ve taken all my answers, drowning me with my questions, left me with a hole in my heart as big as last night’s sky. Why did you have to go so soon, leaving me no more chances? But one.
I live in Joburg South Africa and only discovered Jeff Strahan’s music two years ago. Thank you to the family and his band for the fantastic music he made. I especially enjoy New Girlfriend and Smoked filled room the piano, guitar and fullness off the songs. GOD bless all who knew Jeff.