Toronto music community in shock over death of Dallas Good

Condolences are pouring in from all over North America and Toronto’s music community is in shock as musicians mourn the sudden death of the co-founder of one of the city’s most beloved bands, The Sadies.

Singer and guitarist Dallas Good died Thursday from natural causes.

“It’s with unfathomable sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Dallas on Thurs. Feb. 17,” reads a statement posted on the band’s Facebook page. “Forty-eight years old, he died of natural causes while under doctor’s care for a coronary illness discovered earlier this week. A son, a brother, a husband, a friend, a bandmate, a leader, a force to be reckoned with, we have no words for the shock we are all feeling. We join the rest of our music community and fans in grief. The stage is dark today with the all too soon passing of one of music’s brightest lights. We love you Dallas.”

Survived by his wife Amanda Schenk, brother Travis, mother Margaret, father Bruce, uncles Brian and Larry and extended family members of the Good clan, community reaction upon hearing the tragic news was swift as peers poured out their sympathy on social media.

On Facebook, Blue Rodeo guitarist Colin Cripps posted: “Shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Dallas Good … A beautiful rebel soul who inspired many a musician to pursue the purity and coolness in all things. A real deal artist with all the right swagger … My sincere love and thoughts go out to Amanda, Travis, Sean, Mike, Jude, Susan and the many musicians and artists who love and admire him, myself included.”

Another Facebook post, this one from Blue Rodeo drummer Glenn Milchem: “Dallas Good was the kind of person who made the world seem more magical just by his very existence. I saw The Sadies more than any other band and they never failed to be anything short of stupendous. They raised the bar for an entire generation of Canadian musicians. Dallas was unfailingly honest and forthright but also kind, funny and big- hearted. He was incredibly well loved and there are so many people everywhere with a Dallas sized hole in their hearts right now.

“Sometimes life just isn’t fair and this is one of those times. There’s no getting around it, we’ve been robbed. My heart goes out to his incredible family, his brothers in The Sadies and his partner, our dear Amanda Schenk. Goodbye, Dallas. We will love and remember you forever. “

From singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith: “The saddest news: Dallas Good of The Sadies has passed and I’m in disbelief. I was honoured to perform with them quite a few times over the years. My heart goes out to Travis, Sean & Mike and to their friends & family including extended music families. Sigh … RS”

And if anyone had doubts about Good’s proficiency of the electric guitar, this posted tribute on Twitter from Randy Bachman, who also performed occasionally with The Sadies, should silence them.

“We’ve lost someone very special today, far too young. Dallas Good of the Sadies was a phenomenal musician & friend. Everything I could play on guitar he could play better. He will be sorely missed. Sending love to his family who are also amazing, talented people. #RIP #musician.”

Known for his baritone voice and impeccably tasteful guitar skills, Dallas joined forces with his guitarist brother Travis, bass player Sean Dean and drummer Mike Belitsky and quickly set the Toronto club scene on fire with their dazzling shows and roots-driven material that was at times as heavy on the twang as it was on the rock ‘n roll.

Forging their own dynasty separate from their parents and uncles — father Bruce and uncle Brian are members of Canadian bluegrass and country legends The Good Brothers — The Sadies’ reputation grew in alt-rock and alt-country circles, with their chameleon ability to seamlessly adapt and pivot to a variety of styles, making them a choice selection for a number of performers to take on the road as their backup or collaborate with them on full albums.

Starting with 1998’s “Precious Moments,” Good and The Sadies released 11 albums of their own and another eight as collaborations, including two with Andre Williams, one with X’s John Doe, 2014’s “And The Conquering Sun” with Gord Downie, 2004’s “The Tigers Have Spoken” with Neko Case and 2003’s “Mayor of the Moon” with Jon Langford, who felt so possessive that he insisted the album be called “Jon Langford and His Sadies.”

The Welsh-born, Chicago-based Langford told the Star through a Facebook message that he was grateful to have recorded and performed with the band and was devastated by the loss.

“I think I’m probably too upset to make any real sense,” he wrote. “The Sadies are family — We had so much fun together and I’m flattered and honoured that they wanted to play music with me and let us into their remarkable world.”

Respected Chicago-based indie producer and engineer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies) wrote in a series of posts: “Just got word of Dallas Good of the Sadies passing. He was a beautiful guy and naturally gifted musician. Opened every conversation laughing, a warm, unpretentious soul. Everybody who knew him feels like they lost a brother … I had the pleasure of recording with the Sadies several times, and the down time was as memorable as the sessions. Dallas and his brother Travis, two peas in a pod, speaking the pidgin English native to Canada. Bottlers, peameal, pylon … Less anthropologic than fraternally generous, they let me in and as much as I feel the loss I retain the warmth of their company and am grateful. Good man down.”

Other collaborators include Neil Young, with whom the Sadies recorded “This Wheel’s On Fire” for “Garth Hudson Presents: A Canadian Celebration of The Band” in 2010; Mary Margaret O’Hara, the late Texas troubadour Justin Townes Earle and the Jayhawks’ Gary Louris. They toured often with Neko Case and Jon Spencer and found their music placed in several TV shows and films.

Indie filmmaker Jim Jarmusch was such a big fan that he incorporated The Sadies as a plot point in his 2019 zombie horror comedy “The Dead Don’t Die.”

Aside from The Sadies, Good had a number of side projects, from playing bass for Shadowy Men In A Shadowy Planet and to sharing his talent with the Unintended, featuring Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor and Eric’s Trip’s Rick White and the surf rock band Phono-Comb fronted by singer Jad Fair.

While The Sadies’ future is up in the air — they had dates booked throughout the Spring — Good’s last few appearances with them included an October appearance at Massey Hall with Buffy Sainte-Marie on Nov. 30 and more recently, a Feb. 5 streaming appearance at the Hillside Festival in Guelph.

The Sadies had released a new single, “Message to Belial,” produced by Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire, in January.

Pre-pandemic, The Sadies were also a regular fixture at the Horseshoe Tavern every New Year’s Eve.

“From all of us here at The Horseshoe Tavern, Lee’s Palace & Collective Concerts, we are truly heartbroken at the passing of Dallas Good,” the venue posted. “Dallas was as much family at the Shoe as any one person can be. We would like to send our deepest condolences to the Good Family, Amanda, The Sadies, and Starfish Entertainment. Love from our rock ‘n roll family to yours.”

The Sheepdogs’ Ryan Gullen said he was devastated by Good’s passing, recalling that it was the Sadies that took his band on tour for the first time.

“It’s an absolute shock,” said Gullen. “Dallas and I used to live closer to each other in Toronto. I used to run into him all the time. I’m trying to think of the last time we played together.

“I remember him full smiles, showing up and being really happy for our success. There’s him on stage and he’s very definitely a very stoic, quiet guy but he was always a loving and friendly guy. He always so effortlessly did what he did. He really loved the community and the people and so I remember him as this amazing performer and songwriter. He’s so incredibly underrated. I’m absolutely heartbroken.”