Like the thousands who have known him over the decades of his life, VeniVidiScripto mourns the death of Tinker West. He will live on in the memory of so many people for such diverse reasons and for so many dramatic, innovative, creative, and wonderful things he has done throughout his life, all the time keeping his independence, his love of music, and his brilliant scientific mind.
Tinker was a Highlands boy, regardless of where he came from and what he did. His was the purple building with the Nightmare before Christmas on the roof, a bright reminder of his ability to follow the law, do the right thing, but never lose a shred of his independence.
The Freehold singer who depended so much on Tinker when he himself was down and out and not famous needed Tinker and Tinker helped him make the right connections to get to the right places to become the recording idol, he was.
But Tinker did not need the star; he shared his friendship and generosity with everyone.
Historian, writer, editor Robert Grant had a lot to say about Tinker in memory of him this week.
Calling him the most remarkable person he ever met, Grant , who knew Tinker for 55 years, said, “Tinker was truly a renaissance man: Surfer / Manufacturer / Promoter / Talent Manager / Entrepreneur / Rocket Scientist / Sound Engineer / Mentor / Guitarist / Blues Harpist / Mensch. He was truly a multi-talented man and a perfectionist. “
He continues “. Three words best describe TINKER: Humble, Kind and Generous.”
Grant said he has been writing non-stop for 12 hours sharing with friends in the U.K. how Tinker was the silent force pushing and guiding Bruce Springsteen to monumental success.
Bruce too has been writing thoughtful, heart rendering words about the man he credits with helping him get ahead.
He admitted that Tinker was one of the most important people of his young life. He tells the story “ In 1970 when I had nothing, nowhere to live, was broke with nowhere to go, he recognized my talent and took me in. We lived together in one tiny room of his Wanamassa, New Jersey Challenger Eastern Surfboard Factory. His mattress was on one side of the room and mine was six feet away on the other. He was a natural born misanthrope. He was not an easy man to know, live with, or be around. He was from California and was an old school frontier individualist asking no quarter and giving none. If you weren’t useful, he didn’t want you near him. If you visited the surf shop for more than ten minutes he’d shove a broom in your hand and tell you to start sweeping. He wasn’t joking. “
The singer went on to talk about Tinker’s “1940’s Chevrolet flatbed truck with all our band equipment under a tarp in the back seeking our fame and fortune out west. The truck was old and huge with an unwieldy, grinding transmission and he insisted we drive straight through to Big Sur, our only gig, without stopping, for 72 hours. He also insisted I, without skills or license drive my share. That’s how Tinker taught you something. He just made you do it.”
Springsteen went on to say he believes Tinker “sprung near full grown from the mountains, valleys, and waves of a primitive and unknowable California.”
Even though he didn’t seem to have much, was sitting in his purple building on Bay Avenue, Springsteen said ghat even after he himself became a success, “Tinker asked me for exactly nothing. He was forever alone, working, off the grid and independent. I was always satisfied when I would be the recipient of Tink’s highest compliment. “Springsteen, you don’t fuck around. . ”No, I didn’t and neither did Carl Virgil West “
Springsteen saw his friend and mentor in the hospital , hear his death last week from throat cancer. He said, “He smiled when he saw me, and I kissed one of my errant father’s goodbyes. I hung out for a while; he pulled me close and his voice raspy and nearly gone whispered “ We sure had some adventures, didn’t we?” I answered, “we sure did” . When I was about to leave, I saw something I never thought I’d see in this life or the next. He cried. I loved him. “
In my book, the ABCs of Highlands, “T is for Tinker.” I concentrated more on his turning away from the world of rockets and spaceships he knew so well to the things he liked to do better… music, friends, the Highlands Music and Arts Fair of 1972 and the fact he never forgot his friends.
To all those with special, private memories of Carl Tinker West…my sympathy. Remember the good times, remember the friendship. And say a prayer in thanks for all he brought to the world.
When I bought Paradise Park in 1972 Carl came to rent the bungalow. He was there for about three years or so, A thru and thru character !!
While I have not seen Tinker in over 30 years, I have many fond memories of him from my younger days. He was a unique man who lived life on his own terms.