Dear MMDers:  Like many of you, I am stunned and saddened by the loss
of John Roache.  I had the privilege this last year to work closely
with John in turning some of his wonderful MIDI files into piano rolls.
It was fun and exciting to work with John.  We corresponded and spoke
on the phone often.  Sadly, I never had the opportunity to meet him
personally, and the utter permanence of death is really driven home for
me here.

I think John would like to be remembered as a MIDI pioneer and
proponent, one who demonstrated repeatedly that MIDI could create
exciting and musical results when sequenced by skilled hands.  At my
urging, John had recently received Richard Brandle's "WIND" software,
and was excited about attempting Duo-Art coding.  There is no doubt in
my mind that John would have done this superbly, utilizing the same
excruciating attention to detail with which he sequenced MIDI files.

I recall with fondness many instances when John would want to add or
subtract the slightest nuance in a roll before its release, before he
would pronounce it "ready" to have his name affixed.  John's skills,
coupled with an uncanny sense of musicality, have left us with many
memorable performances.  With John's passing, we also mourn the death
of that rare individual to whom quality and pride of workmanship really
mattered.

I am sure John would also like to be remembered as an enthusiastic and
tireless promoter of the music of Robin Frost.  John's passion for
Robin's music was boundless, and infectious -- and I certainly became
infected!  In John's memory (and because Robin's music demands it!) I
am recommitted to spreading the "gospel" of Robin Frost to the world,
and I invite you to make a pilgrimage to John's web site to hear again
(or for the first time) the wonders of which he was capable:

    http://members.aol.com/ragtimers/

Finally, I have lost a friend.  John was intelligent and funny,
outspoken and opinionated, but always a gentleman.  I greatly enjoyed
all of my talks with John, and found that underneath his opinions was
a strong sense of fairness and "give and take".  He let you know his
mind, but was willing to hear you through, too.

John will be missed and remembered.

Tim Baxter
Atlanta, Georgia