My Tribute to Jack Russell of Great White and My Review of His Book The True Tale of Mista Bone

When I got home from work on Thursday, August 15 of 2024, my girlfriend Mariah called to tell me one of our favorite singers, Jack Russell, of the bands Great White and Jack Russell’s Great White, had passed away.

It was not long before this that Jack announced that he was retiring from doing concerts, because his health was not good.

Even though I knew he had a lot of health problems, I did not expect this.

I’m not going to say I’ve cried, but I feel very sad that he is gone.

Mariah and I really bonded over his music and went to see Jack Russell’s Great White a few years ago and had a blast.

I got to see him again the following year and thanks to his amazing guitarist Robby Lochner, I was able to meet Jack.

He was very kind and thanked me for being a fan.  

I showed him all of my Great White CD booklets, and he was quite surprised to see how many I had.  I only got out three of them for him to sign because I did not want to keep him.  Although I think he may have signed them all if I asked because I saw him interact with other fans that night, and like with me, he was very kind and gracious with everyone.

I’m so glad I got to meet him.

I love his albums and I can’t say enough how much I love his voice.  It was always great.  Truly one of the best singers I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard many great ones.

I’d actually received his recently released book, The True Tale of Mista Bone, as a birthday present, a few weeks before he passed, but I had not yet had the time to read it.

Well, I’ve since read it and even though I wish it was longer (my usual complaint with books), I’m glad he was able to tell his story, and like all of us, the book shows that he was human too.

The book is not always pretty, but it’s the truth.

I applaud him for telling his story to K.L. Doty, who wrote the book.

Lots of stories, and if you are a fan of his, then I recommend it.

Many other people were interviewed for the book too, and they tell a lot of stories related to Jack also.

He rocked all the way to the end, and I’m so glad he made as much music as he did.  Because that will live forever.

Thank you Jack Russell for your great gift of making music fans like me very happy.  I will always be a fan and will listen to your music for all time.

I love and miss you forever.