Top Dead Center

Our lovingly gruff Mystery Sound Guy has passed.
Cliff’s friends and family celebration will be held Saturday May 11th, 11am-… at Brandi Fenton Park?
Acoustic set by TDC. Food, Friends and Family. Beer permit provided so BYOB.

TDC will be dedicating our show May 18th at the Hut to Cliff as well.
Here is the obituary.

“…what a long, strange trip it’s been…”- Robert Hunter, “Truckin’”
It is with heavy hearts we share the passing of our brother, uncle, great-uncle, and friend, Ernest Clifford Phillips III; or as we all called him, Cliff. He left this life peacefully surrounded by his loving family on March 26, 2024, to join those he loved that had gone before him.
Born June 30, 1959, in Oxnard, MS to Ernest “Ernie” Jr. and Barbara Phillips, Cliff was the second oldest of 4 children. He grew up in Tucson, AZ, making many life-long friends. Cliff loved nature and the outdoors in all its forms. No one was ever surprised to see him walk up to them with a snake he had just caught to relocate to a safer place. He rescued many animals of all kinds over the course of his life. He would also help any person in need, even if they were strangers. Cliff taught us all how interesting and fun science can be, and the importance of acceptance, loyalty, love, and family. Family would include those biologically related and those he chose to hold close as family. He also had a great love for music, traveling near and far to see Grateful Dead shows. In later years, with his partner, John, Cliff was a sound engineer and worked with Tucson’s own Top Dead Center. He was a fixture at many local music venues and truly treasured being able to hear local talent and interact with the audience. Another one of Cliff’s passions was cooking, he was an excellent chef. Anytime you would come by his house he’d have something delicious for you to try. Many of us will remember his shrimp creole-it was amazing!
Cliff was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara Anne Nash Phillips; father, Ernest Clifford Phillips Jr.; and life partner of 24 years, John Gatty. He leaves behind many friends and family to continue and honor his memory and all he taught us. This includes brother Paul Phillips of Tyler, TX, sister and brother-in-law Anne and Larry Griffith of Tucson, AZ, sister Nancy Richardson of Paulden, AZ, niece Elisabeth Sanchez (Carlos) of Las Cruces, NM, nephew Joseph Bennett (Shaye) of Gilbert, AZ, niece Jennifer Griffith of Tucson, AZ, niece Jacqueline Rauch (Sam) of Marana, AZ, nephew Samuel Houck (Heather) of AZ, and Fur baby, Frieda.
The family would like to invite friends to share in the celebration of Cliff’s life on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 11 AM at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, Ramada #7. To ensure we have enough food and chairs, please consider RSVPing via text to 575-621-3360. Please join us in remembering Cliff and all the love and laughter he brought to our lives.
- “…Let there be songs to fill the air….” -Robert Hunter, “Ripple”

We need your help. As a community we put the mural of My Dad Randy Clamons on the wall of The Hut Tucson in 2019 and it needs some love now in 2024.
Multiple spots are peeling off the wall, but it’s nothing artist Sean Cannon can’t fix. Help us raise $2k to bring Sean to Tucson for touch ups and a sturdy clear coat so we can keep My Dad Randy around for a little longer.

Follow the link to donate.

Repairs (weather worn) to Randy’s Mural, organized by Erika Fuston Tenney Our mural of Randy is in need of some extra care and love right now. Ray, … Erika Fuston Tenney needs your support for Repairs (weather worn) to Randy’s Mural

https://gofund.me/92cff934
I'll make this short but sweet. Not long after Top Dead Center's leader/founder Randy Clamons passed away on June 4, 2019, I received a message from TDC fan Steve SkyTurtle suggesting we honor Randy with a mural on the wall near the outdoor stage. With the help of the artist and donations from our friends, the mural became a reality a few months later. After five years, the mural is showing signs of deterioration due to the weather and general wear and tear, so our friends Erika Fuston Tenney and Ray Clamons have created a gofundme page and video, respectively. I'm doing my part by making a donation and sharing the link. Please help us transform Randy's mural back to its former glory. Thank you. ✌️🙂🎼🎵🎶❤️

Repairs (weather worn) to Randy’s Mural, organized by Erika Fuston Tenney Our mural of Randy is in need of some extra care and love right now. Ray, … Erika Fuston Tenney needs your support for Repairs (weather worn) to Randy’s Mural

Hi 👋🏼 -
How are you doing? I wanted to update you about Top Dead Center and let you know about the annual fundraiser for the Southern Arizona Community Food Bank. PLEASE HELP US SHARE THIS INFORMATION!

👉 First, the band has a new page that you should "like," "follow," and "love": https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083143391718. This new page is managed directly by the current band members and is updated regularly.

👉 Second, the annual Salem the Bear fundraiser will be this Saturday, December 17th, from 5pm-9pm at the Hut. Cash and check can be dropped off during the show, and a GoFundMe has been set up for credit card donations: https://gofund.me/ba52ddaf
(It looks like Heather Hardy will be the special guest! ❤️)..

👉Third, if you would like to follow the history/timeline of the annual food drive, I have created a post on my blog (it is a work in progress): https://tucsonlocalbands.com/giving-back-to-the-community/

⚡️PLEASE help the band reach its fundraising goal for the food bank! For each $1 donated, the food bank can provide 8 meals! ⚡️
Thank you all for your continued support of Top Dead Center and the Food Bank of Southern Arizona! Your help is truly appreciated.

🎶"DON'T TELL ME THIS TOWN AIN'T GOT NO HEART, YOU JUST GOTTA POKE AROUND"🎶

Much love,
Erika

📸Photo credit: Pete Mecozzi Photography

Hi 👋🏼 -
How are you doing? I wanted to update you about Top Dead Center and let you know about the annual fundraiser for the Southern Arizona Community Food Bank. PLEASE HELP US SHARE THIS INFORMATION!

👉 First, the band has a new page that you should "like," "follow," and "love": https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083143391718. This new page is managed directly by the current band members and is updated regularly.

👉 Second, the annual Salem the Bear fundraiser will be this Saturday, December 17th, from 5pm-9pm at the Hut. Cash and check can be dropped off during the show, and a GoFundMe has been set up for credit card donations: https://gofund.me/ba52ddaf
(It looks like Heather Hardy will be the special guest! ❤️)..

👉Third, if you would like to follow the history/timeline of the annual food drive, I have created a post on my blog (it is a work in progress): https://tucsonlocalbands.com/giving-back-to-the-community/

⚡️PLEASE help the band reach its fundraising goal for the food bank! For each $1 donated, the food bank can provide 8 meals! ⚡️

Thank you all for your continued support of Top Dead Center and the Food Bank of Southern Arizona! Your help is truly appreciated.

🎶"DON'T TELL ME THIS TOWN AIN'T GOT NO HEART, YOU JUST GOTTA POKE AROUND"🎶

Much love,
Erika

🌹Poster art by Melina Rogers🌹