Contributions to the tribute of Leroy Gene Wells

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Joe Peters uploaded photo(s)

Thursday, January 4, 2024

In 1982 I met LeRoy Wells. I was 21. We sat down at the piano in the Fort Lauderdale Shrine Club and he started playing and singing. I harmonized and from the first note it was as if we'd played and sung together for years. Little did either of us know this meeting would be the beginning of a friendship that would endure for 43 years. LeRoy had a truly unique personality. He could smother you with a bear hug or crush your hand with his steel grip. He talked to everyone and always had a joke or story to share. If there was a piano in the room, he would play and sing all night. Literally! I can say without hesitation, everybody loved LeRoy. LeRoy was exposed to music at a very early age. His parents owned a jukebox route, so he spent a considerable amount of time in bars and honky-tonks in Cincinnati, Ohio. He taught himself to play piano and before long was performing in the same bars and honky-tonks, he grew up in. LeRoy and I played as a duet in south Florida for nearly 20 years. At one point he sat in with the house band in a local restaurant. When they invited him to join the band, he agreed provided I played drums. LeRoy and I played with the "Wild Turkey Band" until the summer of 2003 when he announced he was moving to Tennessee. A week after arriving in Christiana my telephone started ringing. LeRoy enthusiastically told me that nobody in Tennessee played the kind of music we played. He'd even stumbled across a small venue that would be perfect for us. We visited Tennessee for the first time in early 2004. During our stay LeRoy booked us a gig in the Bell Buckle Cafe. Our next visit was Mother's Day weekend 2004 during which I asked my wife if she could live in Tennessee. She replied, "I could live here tomorrow!" Three months later we bought a house right down the street from LeRoy. In less than a week we met our bass player, Jerry Fox, and guitar player, Mike Duncan, and the Midnight Special Band was born. Shortly thereafter, Mike was replaced by Tom Williamson and the band played on Friday nights inside the Whistle Stop Cafe, downtown Wartrace. Over the years LeRoy's health began to decline. He had his first heart blockages on March 5, 2005, that later resulted in quadruple bypass surgery. Last year I sent LeRoy a Christmas wish that went unanswered. In February he texted me and apologized for the slow response. Jokingly I said, I thought you were dead. His answer, "I was." While traveling on an airplane LeRoy's heart stopped. The plane was rerouted to a Charlotte hospital where his heart stopped again. Clinically, LeRoy died twice. On August 17, 2023, I received a text message in which LeRoy casually told me he was getting a heart and kidney transplant. On September 27th he had surgery. His wife, Cheryl, told me he was totally at peace going in. A couple hours earlier I told him when he got home, we would sit down at the piano. He said, "Yes we will." Cheryl kept me updated and the surgery went well. Six hours later he had the kidney transplant. On November 13th he was moved to the rehab center and looking forward to going home on Thanksgiving. On December 2nd I asked him how he was doing? He said, "A bit weak." On December 13th I again asked him how he was doing. The following day he responded, "Back in the hospital since last Monday, going on a week longer than they expected." That text message would be his last. On December 27th, LeRoy took his last breath on earth. He was 73. It took a few days for me to wrap my head around the news. We hadn't shared a stage or seen each other in ages. Nevertheless, we had a bond that ran as deep as the ocean. The impact LeRoy made on me personally merely scratches the surface. Had it not been for him, I wouldn't be in Tennessee, the Midnight Special Band would have never played, I wouldn't have owned the Walking Horse Hotel and Chais Music Hall nor Spooky's Pizza would have ever existed! Had it not been for him, I would have never met some of the most wonderful people and friends I know and love today. I, we, should be forever grateful because LeRoy Wells changed our lives, directly or indirectly, in so many ways. They say a man's life is not measured by his accomplishments here on earth, rather how he's remembered when he's gone. LeRoy will always be remembered for his larger-than-life personality, passion for music and ability to bring joy, laughter and love to everyone he met. I was honored to call him my friend and brother in music. RIP

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Ian Griffiths posted a condolence

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

As a Dear friend and Brother Mason and Shriner, I am deeply saddened to see this message ref the passing of Brother Leroy, ALAS MY BROTHER and Rest in peace in the loving arms of the Lord in his Heavenly Kingdom above and treat all in heaven above with your beautiful Music as you did here on earth for their listening and viewing appreciation of your incredible Talent and Personality. GOD BLESS YOU!!

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roland carreau posted a condolence

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

leroy was my boss and frend we worked together for more than 20 years at wells construction his humor was c ontagious i will miss him. my condolancses to his family

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Leo Torres posted a condolence

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Leroy was a great friend. He will be greatly missed. I can't say enough good things about him. It is a sad sad day. Leroy Torres..(Leroy called me the Cuban redneck)

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Theresa Wells uploaded photo(s)

Monday, January 1, 2024

You were so proud to walk me down the aisle and I was terrified but you hugged me put your hand on my shoulder and said “it’s not too late to leave” which made us both break out in laughter. Xoxo

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Craig Griffin posted a condolence

Monday, January 1, 2024

I was blessed to call this man Father-in-law for several years . Many great memories while he was in Florida. Kept in touch with him over the years. My memory of Leroy, gregarious, teacher,. Great musician, tough when it came to business. RIP

A Memorial Tree was planted for Leroy Wells

Sunday, December 31, 2023

We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Murfreesboro Funeral Home Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree

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The family of Leroy Gene Wells uploaded a photo

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Leroy Gene Wells

1950 - 2023

Plant a tree in memory of Leroy

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