Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals bass player Juan Nelson passed away on Wednesday at age 62. The musician performed with the group for nearly three decades, and as Harper reflected via Instagram, “It’s near impossible for me to put words to this pain and loss.,” describing Nelson as “Beloved husband, father, musical genius, BHIC band member of 27 years, and the finest man I’ve ever known.”
Nelson, who was born on August 24, 1958 in Cincinnati, OH relocated to California in the late 1960’s. His first gig with Harper in the lineup that became the Innocent Criminals was on April 30, 1994 at Nick’s Caffé Trevi in Claremont, CA. Nelson’s recording career with Harper spanned from 1995’s Fight for Your Mind through 2016’s Call It What It Is and also included the Grammy-winning There Will Be A Light with the Blind Boys of Alabama. While best-known for his expressive and colorful efforts on bass, Nelson also was a producer, composer, and songwriter. Over the years he appeared with Big Advice, Vesta Williams, All For One, Brenda Russell Freddy Jackson, Tower of Power and many others. Beyond his performances in the rock setting, Nelson was devoted to his church, where he often performed, noting, “I love to play music, it fulfills me and if it touches somebody, that’s a blessing!”
In lieu of flowers the family set up a GoFundMe page to help with immediate expenses including remaining medical bills.
11 Comments comments associated with this post
Tim
June 14, 2021 at 12:06 amJust wanted to be the first person on this pile of shit message board to acknowledge what this article was about and say RIP to Juan Williams. He was a great musician in a great band who I enjoyed listening to. Fuck everyone of you disrespectful pricks. Go wallow in your miserable lives somewhere else.
me
June 14, 2021 at 1:36 pmTim, you’re absolutely correct… my apologies to you, Juan’s friends/family and his memory… I should have thought of that first.
The Sugars
June 13, 2021 at 1:22 amTaking out fat people like it’s my job.
Get the jab please- your health care worker
June 12, 2021 at 8:32 pmFebruary 2000 Cleveland Ohio. Juan and Ben getting down on 2nd encore with sexual healing into forever and closing with manic depression. One of my favorite shows of all time. Thanks for the memories Juan. Peace to you.
Dolly Madison
June 12, 2021 at 7:53 pmYou will need to show a vaccine card for proof you got the jab to get into concerts. At least for now most venues like Saratoga Performing Arts Center will require you to have the card or no entry and no ticket refund.
KB
June 14, 2021 at 11:42 amThat would make getting extras this summer MUCH easier…
No jab mcgee
June 12, 2021 at 1:50 pmDon’t get the JAB, kids. Another bass player just getting ready for tour by getting vaccine mysteriously passed away. RIP Juan and Tony. Becareful D Schools….
Haver
June 12, 2021 at 3:51 pmYes, Don’t get the experimental Jab! The jab could be worse than the flu like virus. Here are the stats so far.
329,021 Reports Through June 4, 2021
DEATHS 5,888
HOSPITALIZATIONS 19,597
Urgent Care 43,891
OFFICE VISITS 58,800
ANAPHYLAXIS 1,459
BELL’S PALSY 1,737
Life Threatening 5,885
Heart Attacks 2,190
Myocarditis/Pericarditis 1,087
Thrombocytopenia/Low Platelet 1,564
Miscarriages 652
Severe Allergic Reaction 15,052
Disabled 4,583
me
June 13, 2021 at 4:22 pmHaver, you are a fucking tool. First, please give your source for that steaming pile of shit stats report. And, no, your Qanon asshat friends don’t count as a source. While you’re at it, can you explain why NOW you care about deaths of your fellow citizens when you didn’t give a crap about the over half a million who died from the virus. You care more about fake stats than you do real people.
Don’t get the shot if you don’t want to but STFU with your ignorant bullshit alternate facts. Maybe your retarded Proud Boy and Q dolts lap it up but not everyone is that stupid
David Houle
June 13, 2021 at 5:32 pmExactly! People are f”ing jamokes!
Are my keys magnetic or just my tinfoil hat
June 12, 2021 at 8:41 pmHey kids don’t become obese and get diabetes. People die every second and guess what some got the JAB you fucking fuck. Try working on the Covid wing at the hospital with me some day