by Leah Davidson

Created on: March 20, 2009

An exciting and momentous event occurred in Austin, Texas, my true home. A child that I watched grow into a valuable and truly wonderful man, because of his exposure to some very loving people, including his guardian spirit, my dear brother Paul, won an award that is difficult, to be ubiquitous, to ever attain at SXSW 2009.

A seventeen year old guitar player, my brother helped to teach, guide, and look after with love. Zeke Jarmon, a member of the "Fireants" band on stage in front of four thousand people and backed up singer, Bob Schnieder. The "Fireants" won "best New band" during the music portion of the festival.

SXSW has become known world wide as one of the most important venues for music and film and it is with so much pride in my heart that I can look and see that young Zeke has blossomed into a terrific musician and a beautiful person. Paul truly loved this child and watched over him almost from the time of his birth, and Zeke, well, Paul was a true Hero to Zeke, and will never be forgotten.

You see, Paul died of cancer just about eleven months ago, I believe the Father God, Our Father, allowed Paul to watch over Zeke and help him, and that Paul was able to see Zeke in this, one of the finest hours of his young life. Zeke felt a deep sorrow for one of the very first times of his young life when Paul died, and this pain of loss may have inspired him to be the best he could for Paul, anyway, I like to think so.

Paul was a musician all of his life, and he lived music in Austin, it was his life and he shared his talent with so many loving people. Zeke will be the beloved student of a grateful teacher and beloved friend in Paul.

I will boast of Zeke, but I had no hand in helping him, his mother, a great protector and fervent parent, his father, unable to give but shared a talent with his son, and many, many loving friends who watched and cheered as Zeke grew, gave him confidence in his ability, helped him to stand tall and gave him their spirit!

We all love you dear boy/man, you have achieved more than most adults you know there in Austin and we are proud and lucky to know your sweet spirit and touch your young life.

Live on with your loving heart, and give back as you do, remember Wash, remember his loving kindness to you, and pass it on dear boy, pass it on.

My memories of my own sweet brother, he was known as Wash to his friends, a stage name, and his fathers first name. To Zeke and Zeke's twin sister Zephyr, Washie was their name for him. Paul played in Austin for 30+ years and before that California, and befor that Nashville, before that Houston. He too started out young, playing in bands, at fifteen. Sometime in venues that served alcohol but Paul was clever to get an ID that would allow him to play his music in these venues.

Paul, Wash, Washie was sixty three years old when he died, and I know God had a Hand in shaping Paul's life on earth. Paul was a gentle, humble and one of the kindest people anyone of us had ever known. He loved deeply and he gave himself in friendship, not lip service. I know that Zeke knew that, and loved him for it-not a week went by that Washie didn't spend time with Zeke and that started when Zeke was about six months old, so Wash was also a parent to Zeke and Zephyr, one they loved.

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