The Fabulous Mark Winston Bradly Jr.   June 26,1993 - September 6, 2006.

Mark Winston Bradly Jr. was a seeker. He saw his world as more than just his immediate surroundings. He had keen sensibilities and a remarkable depth of understanding. Always asking tough questions and demanding precise answers; what seemed, at times, to be insatiable curiosity was simply the unfettered wonder of a young person taking stock of the possibilities before him.

He was a talented and passionate young man.

I should know.

I’m his grandfather.

These are some of my recollections of young Mark.

Mark loved music.

From his earliest days, he’d listen to entire cds or albums with me and ask how this or that sound was made.

Mark was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and lived here for more than 9 years. His parents relocated their family in the fall of 2002.

As grandparents, we spent a great deal of time with Mark and his sister Sidney before they moved from Ohio. I’d practice on an acoustic guitar many evenings while Mark and Sidney were staying the night. When I wasn’t playing my guitar, Mark would pick it up and pretend to play.

From the beginning, Mark’s questions about most subjects, including music, seemed mature and focused to me.

If he pinned me down on any subject, I had better have my whys and wherefores in a row. He was a good chess player, and most of his questions came while we played that game. In many cases I would answer questions he’d waited a week to ask me in person.

After relocating, Mark and Sid came for week-long visits  twice per year and Gale was able visit them in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina a dozen times or so.

Mark and I watched a video of Woodstock during one of his visits to Ohio. Mark seemed almost transfixed by the performance of Santana’s Michael Shrieve who really fires up a small drum kit in the vid.

On another visit, we rented Jack Black's "School of Rock." Mark began to ask me about how to find other musicians, and how he would know what instrument to play.

Back in Hilton Head Island, Mark began to take drumming lessons at 10 years old.

He called to tell me that he’d started lessons, and I encouraged him to practice at home like he’d seen me do.

He kept up his daily practice routine for more than two years and continued to take lessons.

He joined his first rock group at 12 years old.

His Pearl kit looks very much like the Ludwig kit Shrieve plays at Woodstock.

My next gift to him was going to be a Ludwig drum kit.

I was looking forward to getting together for a jam on his next scheduled visit.

Mark got to play three gigs with his band, The Stepping Stones.

On July 8, 2006, just two weeks after his 13^th birthday, a plane crash took Sidney’s life along with their two stepsisters Samantha and Caitlyn Orvin. Mark's father, Mark Sr.,  died July 9th.

Mark Jr. survived the crash for 61 days passing away in a burns hospital here in Cincinnati September 6, 2006.

I read this eulogy at Mark’s funeral service September 13, 2006:

Love.

That’s the only word that explains what’s happened.

Only love explains how Mark

gathered the strength and

courage to recover enough

to say goodbye after that horrible accident.

Mark’s magnificent attempt

to overcome mortal injury

is the greatest expression of love

I’ve ever witnessed.

Mark loved his life.

He began to find his muse through playing the drums.

He was writing, editing, and publishing the Bradly News on his desktop.

He was doing well in school.

He was getting a great jump on all aspects of life.

Everywhere he went, he found a way to be happy.

He made friends easily.

Mark was a fine and remarkable young man,

and we are very proud of his accomplishments.

Mark loved us.

He didn’t just like people.

He loved people.

If you were his friend, he loved you.

Standing here, I see four or five families represented,

but Mark sees only one family.

Mark’s family.

He loved every one of us.

Mark loved his life with us.

The final 61 days of Mark’s brief lifetime

are the most terrible,

wonderful,

devastating,

frightening,

and beautiful

I’ve ever known.

On July 8th and 9th, Mark lost four souls

who were closest to him,

and yet, he loved all of us so dearly

that he fought to the last full measure

to remain among us.

This noble and decent young man

defied the inevitable

and endeavored to continue his life

for our sake.

Mark’s love of life,

his love of us,

and his love of life with us

will endure forever.

May Mark’s love abide in each of us

as we continue through life

with the glorious memories of time spent

with the Fabulous Mark Winston Bradly Jr.

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The Fabulous Mark Winston Bradly Jr.’s brief lifetime continues to touch all who knew and loved him.

His love of musical performance illuminates all that drives a young person to master the discipline and experience the satisfaction of live musical performance at the professional level. The Fabulous Mark Winston Bradly Jr./Uglybassplayer.com Scholarship  Fund has been established to commemorate the lifetime of the Fabulous Mark Winston Bradly Jr. and to perpetuate that love he gained for live musical performance.