BENNINGTON. ~ Good friends bring joy, great friends bring music,” the saying goes online. James (Jimmy) Woodward brought the two to hundreds at Bennington. Woodward died on Tuesday, four days after his 70th birthday, leaving Bennington’s cultural community, especially music, to mourn the loss of a good friend and a prominent figure. “Jim showed love through his music,” said Mari Bennett, who has known Woodward since the late 1970s. Woodward was a DJ at the Carousel nightclub in North Bennington-Hoosick. Bennett called Woodward “the biggest older brother in the world” for keeping her safe and letting her out in the cabin. Bennett needed it badly. “My family was broken. “My parents divorced last year,” she said. Just dance. Just the music… He always supported me. Bennett isn’t the only one who thinks Woodward was an older brother. Record Town (formerly Record Rack) on Main Street in Bennington employed Steve Flynn. Flynn began his lasting relationship with Woodward there and was amazed by his love and knowledge of music. Jimmy wanted to know what was hot on the charts. No internet or MTV. Flynn remembers reading about it in magazines. Jimmy knew everything. He just soaked.
According to friends, calling Woodward a “disc jockey” is unfair. His talent, his timing and his meticulousness make him a recording maestro. Flynn laughed as he recalled a time when attention to detail helped Woodward recover a stolen record. Flynn recognized Woodward’s detailed notes on some records that a friend contacted him to review. 12″ singles. He always had the beats per minute, what was the “hit”, what was the “flip”, where he would like to mix on the dub side, and much more. Flynn called him an artist. His calligraphy was so good that a friend commented on it uninvited. “His calligraphy was something most people had never seen before,” said Michele Hogan, another longtime friend he leaves behind. Hogan worked as a bartender at Carousel and then Alfie’s in Manchester. We worked until 5am in this crazy disco. “Wild times,” she said affectionately. It was a den of depravity and immorality. Lifelong friendships were formed.
Not only did Hogan remember Woodward’s youth. According to Susan Holley, his sister-in-law who graduated from Mount Anthony a year after him in 1972, he was a child of the 60s and “Mr. Music” for as long as you can remember. She said her parents drove 16-year-old Woodward to Woodstock. “They were good parents, they just didn’t want him stuck there,” laughed Holley. Woodward was considered friendly, tolerant and caring, and several acquaintances have stated that he was a great admirer of David Bowie despite his love of music. Bennett thinks Woodward may have joined other famous musicians in heaven. She claimed that they were in the process of creating a group. Jim must have music. Bennett thought of Don McLean’s “American Pie” when she learned he was dead.
The music stopped. She said the song they loved was dead. Matthew Perry, co-founder and executive director of the Vermont Arts Exchange, said Woodward’s thoughts and constructive criticism influenced Bennington’s music and nightlife scene, which he helped develop. He was my sounding board for the bands, the atmosphere and the shows. “His constructive criticism has always been highly respected,” Perry remarked. ” He felt. He always studied. Jenny Dewar, executive director of the Better Bennington Corporation, said her support and affirmation during the creation of the Thursday Night Live series last summer was invaluable, and this year it will all be in her honor. “He constantly affirmed me,” she said. “Bringing joy to a music lover made me so happy. I treasured his endorsement. Little City Cider owner Greg Videtto credits Woodward for instilling his community spirit and helping him to kickstarting his bar’s music scene. Videtto added, “He had a huge passion for always trying to connect the community to the arts and music. He was a great guy. He leaves a void. He was an idol.” here, a celebrity in my eyes.
