In Memoriam

Cheryl Lynn "Sissy" Gladd
June 4, 1968 - July 1, 1998

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Eight years ago today in Culver City, amid the most indescribable, numbing sadness, Cheryl, Nick, and I embraced our Sissy as she departed this life. Were she still around, I can guarantee ya she'd be on the Monday flights outa LAX to come and hang and shake that bootie at the Santa Fe gig.

Four weeks after she died, while packing up and cleaning out her little apartment in Hollywood one night (a place that had pretty much been my crib as well for more than two years), me and Johnny Walker Black scribbled out some reflective hip hop-ish lyrics...

Sweet Sissy Sue

She was Fire and Ice,
She was Sugar and Spice.
She was all things Naughty
And everything nice.
Hick-town ingenue,
So Hollywood hip,
She could Rock Your World
With a shot from that lip.

Sweet Sissy Sue,
We gonna miss ya, Girl.
A toast to you,
We hope you’re flyin’ high.
Things ain’t the same,
Wish we could kiss ya, Girl.
We sure do miss ya, Girl,
Sweet Sissy Sue.

She was Beauty times twice,
Picture perfect precise.
Had the ultimate plan
Known as rollin’ the dice.
She was hot jalapeno,
Angel cake and ice cream,
Daddy’s prodigal worry,
Ev’ry studpuppy’s dream.

Sweet Sissy Sue,
We gonna miss ya, Girl.
A toast to you,
We hope you’re flyin’ high.
Things ain’t the same,
Wish we could kiss ya, Girl.
We sure do miss ya, Girl,
Sweet Sissy Sue.

Sweet Sissy Sue,
We gonna miss ya, Girl.
Cheers from your crew,
We’ll see you bye and bye.
Never be the same,
Damn sure do miss ya, Girl, but
We won’t forget our Sweet,
Sweet Sissy Sue.

Words & Music by Bobby Gladd,
Copyright © 1998, All Rights Reserved.

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Hold your loved ones close every day.
Nothing else is more important. Nothing.