Louie Zink

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Comment by Audrey Frost on February 13, 2009 at 12:06am

I have to agree with Punky about Louie! He will give you his shirt and his best friends shirt if ya need it. God and a few of you know louie and I have not always seen eye to eye but I don't care it's ok with me. I just love Louie mainly because he is real! he does set ya straight! At least he isn't slicing you up your back when you turn around like most people! When he would come visit us many years ago, There wasn't a day that he didn't make me laugh! I would see him coming into the yard and couldn't wait to open the door to let him in. How I miss those days! You can laugh with him or at him and it's all ok with Louie! I have some of the best memories from long ago because of you Louie! He's a great guy!

Comment by Corey Zink on February 7, 2009 at 4:13pm

Comment by Dawn Chaffee on February 5, 2009 at 8:26pm

Louie has always been the sweetest person to me. My most favorite memory , when I was 13 years old he and my aunt Laura took me to the mall on a shopping spree. Louie asked me " How much money
do you want to go shopping ?" and I asked him " How much do you have ?" It was really fun !! He gave me $200 just for me to buy anything I wanted , I bought alot of clothes. I will never forget that special day , thanks Louie !!

Comment by Norm Schaffer on February 5, 2009 at 3:12pm

Great story! Louie was a friend of my dad's as well as a fellow steel guitar player like my father was. I believe they played together on occasion.
Norm Schaffer

Comment by Melissa Zink on January 30, 2009 at 7:53pm

Uncle Louie is a great guy. Never once have i been around him and not heard him start a conversation with a good joke :) I still remember the time he and laura came to visit my parents. He asked my mom if he could have the phonebook, she gave it to him..and corey knowing what he was up to said, what are you looking for? He said I need the number to McDonald's....corey asked him what for? He said, So I could get a cup of coffee!!! My mother almost passed out laughing so hard! She had just started brewing the pot, and he was giving her a hard time! Good Ol' Uncle Louie!

Comment by Mark on January 30, 2009 at 7:16pm

Of all the people in my family i think my dad has helped me the most, no matter what i want out of life he is always there to support me no matter what i choose. The day i first really truly got into music was the day i got my drum set, every instrument i have wanted to play since then my dad has been behind me all the way, and every chance i get to make another cd with him (though it can get scary at times) i know i am so very fortunate to have him in my life. When were not playing or listening to music together we are outside working on some wood project for our Zink mountain homestead of for someone else. The very first project that we had actually built together was the addition on the shed, even though my mom helped there to, there were times when it was just the two of us and i cherish each moment i can. although one of our projects made us both seem a little crazy, It was late about 7, 8 O'clock at night, we were both tired, but in school i had made a porch swing for my mom and me and my dad were outside building a frame to hold it an and my dad looked of at a tree near our fireplace outside and a huge spider crawled down the side of it, of coarse my dad went nuts, we'd never seen anything that big up here ever! but at first i didnt believe him, but time passed and we sat down to eat outside at the picknicktable and i saw the spinder, i nearly fell off the seat, and my dad in his defense said "see i told that thing was big" i couldnt believe it, i went over to investigate and it turned out to be not as big as we both thaught, the ligh shown off it and magnified.(im not gonna tell you all the real size of the spider cuz i dont want any of you thinking we all crazy up). I have live many moments like that, and i love every minute of it. thanks dad.

Comment by Candace Sweener on January 28, 2009 at 3:53pm

Uncle Louie.
I have had many leaning moments with my Uncle Louie as I spent a lot of time at his house. He was a protector for sure and I know I was always safe when he was around. One of the stories I KNOW he remembers was when I was running all around in his back yard and close to the shed and he had told me, "Don't run around you could trip and get hurt and I don't want to see that happen." Well of course I didn't listen and was still running and tripped and got hurt. OH BOY WAS HE MAD!! He yelled at me for running after he told me not to and I was so scared because he never yelled at me!! After I went in the house to clean up, he comes in and apologizes for yelling at me, but that he didn't want to see me get hurt and when I was hurt it bothered him which was why he yelled. Of course I didn't stay mad at him for I knew he yelled at me out of love.
Any time I ate at his house Uncle Louie would always say to me, don't take more food than you can eat because whatever is on your plate you have to finish. Well I took more than I could eat and told my Aunt Laura I was full. "OH NO, pipes up Uncle Louie, you put the food on your plate and now you will finish it. You should of only put on what you could eat." I couldn't believe it, he was really making me finish it. Well I did and to this day, I don't put more on my plate that I can't finish!!! Something that I know I will instill onto my son.
I have always looked up to Louie as a musician. He was THE steel player in the mom's band growing up and I have nothing but respect for everyone who was in that band. I loved hearing him sing too, Out Behind the Barn is one of my favorite's and it brings a smile to my face every time I hear it. When I got the chance to be able to play next to him on stage, I felt like I was living the dream. My mom did this for years and no it was my turn. He has always complimented me on my singing and my guitar playing which has always made me feel like "Hey, I can't be that bad if Louie appraises me." It always made me feel great knowing that he cared that much. He always has some new song for me to sing that would be just perfect for me, and usually he is right.
So thanks Uncle Louie for everything you have done for me! I love being able to play music with you and I love all the memories I have of staying at your house. I will forever remember the leaning moments you have given me and hope to teach them to Kaleb as well. I love you very much!

Comment by T. Shaun Batho on January 28, 2009 at 7:57am

Louie is such a talented musician. As Corey said, I've never had the chance to learn to play Steel Guitar, but wish I could; and play it the style that Louie plays. I remember as a kid growing up having chances to go out and see the band play and watching Louie play the steel and admire him and look up to him for his talents. I never thought there would be a day when he would ever want to talk with ME about music, but that day came and we often talk about music. Some of the greatest Leaning Moments I have are when I'm playing out and I look and there's Louie sitting in the audience. That really just thrills me. Then usually after the show he'll come over and have some kind words to give about the show. It really just makes me feel so great to have Louie, a man I admire, give me compliments. Thank you Louie. All of you compliments and suggestions and help you've given, really mean a lot to me. Shaun.

Comment by Punky Zink on January 28, 2009 at 6:47am

Louie Who?? Oh......

Couldn't start any comments about Louie without a little levity right up front and I'm sure he expects it from me. The main thing I can say about Louie is that he is a character. Everyone in every walk of life needs a Louie in their life to enjoy, reflect upon, and just plain admire. He's his own man and is there for anyone who wants to accept him on his own terms. I usually think about my siblings and worry about their tomorrow and what problems they may face and how well they'll bounce back from whatever life has to dish out. But, through our life together I didn't worry half as much about Louie. He knew how to grab life and make it work for him exactly the way he wanted it to. If Louie hurt inside, you'd never know it because he didn't want you to know it. But I always knew. If Louie appeared to hate you for whatever fight you'd just had, he hated himself more for letting it happen. I know that, because that's the way I felt inside every time we had a disagreement. Darn, I shouldn't be saying these things, I'm giving away the farm and he'll hold me to whatever I say!
If anyone was able to take it on the chin and bounce back it was Louie. I extremely admired him as a child and often wished I could be like him (again, what am I saying?!!) He made friends so easily and never faltered when they needed him, including me. Louie and I probably fought more as siblings than any of the others in the family. I've often wondered why and I (oh my God what am I saying) here goes....I think we are alike in many ways. When I speak of stubborn, he and I have captured most of it in the family. Of course, Ronnie is running a close second!! I don't know about Louie, but every time we've had one of the knock-down, dragged-out encounters I always went away with a deep sense of loss. He was my brother and now we've just entered the Hatfield/McCoy arena once again. I'm sure the rest of the clan could have strangled both of us at times.
But Louie is genuine, no frills, no spills, says it like it is (sometimes when he shouldn't) but truly genuine and beneath that rough exterior beats the heart of man who would virtually take off his shirt and hand it to you -sometimes when you didn't even want it and probably liked the one you were wearing better. Of course in my case it would only fit on one arm! Thought I'd say that before he did!
Reflecting back on Louie all I can say is that I do love him as a brother and wouldn't have wanted it any other way. When around him life is never boring. He always had the energy that anyone would love to have. He always has been a hard worker and there's no one who is more dedicated to their music than Louie and he'll share it with anybody (as long as, if it's a male, they don't wear an ear ring or like rap music.)
To illustrate the kind of things he would do, I remember when I was about 18 years old (and still requiring the leaning of my brothers.) I had purchased a 1954 chevy. A great little car, but not long for this world. I was returning from a date and was struck by a high-speed ambulance that had no lights or siren operational at the time. My car was demolished and, fortunately, I received only a bump on the head when I apparently traveled across the front seat and into the passenger window at the same rate of speed as the high-speed impact. Now that I reflect on that incident, that probably caused more damage than I realized and that's why I'm like I am today!! In those days seat belts weren't available (at least for the non-rich-class of purchasers.)
From that point on it was hitch a ride back and forth to work any way I could get it. I had just starting working at GE in Pittsfield. The one who mostly came to my rescue for those rides was Louie and being a typical 18-year-old I probably didn't thank him nearly as much as I should have and I'll take that time now.
One day, while waiting for Louie to pick me up I stood at the front entrance of GE looking out the window and waiting for Louie who was late as usual (probably ran into one of his countless friends and was enjoying a cold brew at a nearby pub while I waited.)
As I stood there waiting, I noticed a beautiful, gorgeous 1956 Mercury sedan sitting in a front row parking space. God, what I'd give to have a car like that. There wasn't a girl in 10 counties that wouldn't give the once over look to someone who owned a car like that -pure white with black trim, mudflaps, visor - someday, someday I want to own a car like that. As I stood there staring I saw a set of arms waving impatiently out the window. I thought, "the car is great but the driver obviously has a brick or two shy!!"). As I looked closer it was Louie. I went out, probably with the thought of strangling him for owning such a gorgeous specimen of a vehicle. As I approached him, he handed me the keys and said, "take the wheel, it's yours if you want it!". At this point I knew he had completely lost anything that was left on top of his shoulders. "What do you mean, it's mine, I replied?"
He said, "We need to go to Haddad's Car Sales and you have to fill out the paperwork, I've already co-signed the loan."
Now I want to tell you there's not many times in my life that I've wanted to kiss my brother Louie, but this might be one of those times!
I enjoyed that car for years and have never forgotten what Louie did for me -although I probably never told him, so I'm telling him now.
As the years went by, it was obvious that Louie did things like this for countless people. He cared. He responded to their needs. And, he was always there when you were down and out and needed him the most.
You have to know also with Louie, for every time or two he has made you feel on top of the world, you probably had a short-term disagreement with him. I think that was his way of making sure you didn't go overboard with this "love stuff". Regardless, Louie, I do love you as the brother you are and wouldn't replace you and the fond memories for anything on earth!! As I was growing up you surely were a leaner for me. And now that we're older we both seem to be leaning even more - probably your bad heart and my weak knees!!

Comment by Gloria on January 28, 2009 at 4:47am

I have seen Louie be a leaner for for a lot of people including myself. He would do anything for you including giving you the shirt off his back if need be. He has always been a dedicated musician and a great country steele/dobro player. And he can even throw some bass in there and mandolin and if you really get deperate, he'll toss in a tune. He's always full of jokes and stories of the boys growing up. We hear them over and over and they just as funny every time. Sometimes even funnier as the stories change over the years.If I had to choose, one leaning moment that always stands out in my mind, it was when Louie had been out on one of his "toots" and after a few, decided he wasn't happy about something, and at 1:00 am shows up at my door determined to quit the band and wants to go thru all the equipment in his truck as to what was his and what was ours. And me, not too happy at that hour and being told we either go thru the stuff then and there or it stays with him, took him up on his offer to quit and as he and Laura are dragging suitcases of cords etc. I'm going thru it all slamming and cussing and yelling at him how glad I was this was happening and me not being able to control my stupid emotions, start bawling to boot, then all of a sudden, Louie does a complete turn-around and I swear with tears in his eyes as well, starts saying "no, no, I'm not quitting, I love playing with you and there's no one in the world I would want to play behind than you" and with that, wiping away tears and hugging, all the stuff goes back into the cases, and back out to his truck and all was well in music land again. Mind you, during all this screaming and hollering and cussing, Laura is huddled outside not daring to come in and get in the middle. Louie is the kind of guy you want to hug and strangle at the same time, But if you ever need a friend, he'd come day or night. He's a great dad and I have to admit, a dedicated husband. He's my brother-in-law twice over and I can call him MY friend. I love you, you skinny little lug.

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