In Memory Of John Olsen Aka Jah Know
It's impossible to describe a life changing event in words.
However, John Olsen did so much for others that I feel I should try anyway. Known to so many as Jahknow, John was in all probability one of the brightest flames I've encountered in my life. And so very intense. I consider myself lucky to have come in his path.
He has given me all the advice I ever asked for, even though he may have been writing some of those emails from the hospital after recovering from surgery. He has always been patient and willing to pass on all of his knowledge, and in a world where we keep all our secrets to ourselves, and where tricks of the trade are never shared, he opened himself up to all those that sought his guidance.
It's a rare thing to be so gracious, and I pray that I might become half the man he was. In fact, he has shown me that the only way to truly be immortal is to ensure your name is spoken with respect and gratitude many years after you've departed, and I for one will keep Jahknow in my mind and heart for as long as I can depend on my memory.
And after that, chances are I'll still remember how straightforward and blunt he was with those that spoke of dub, his favorite child, with little or no knowledge of what it actually is.
Rest in peace my friend, and if love and respect are any measure of life, then you had a great one.
You are a star, because what else could achieve your kind of gravity?
Your Dubguild will live on.
It would have been John's birthday today...R.I.P
Rest in Peace. May Jah bless your soul, Brother.
Today is a sad day for me :( I got great inspiration from Jahknown
I will miss him!
You are free now! free of the pain!
Now your in the big band for Jah
I will miss you Bro
R.I.P John ,,
Yes, Breddren! - to prepare for us - fe true!
No way! Jah Know died!?
R.I.P. John.
d(--)b RIP JahKnow.
R.I.P.
:/
peace be with you, John
Thats so sad to hear and my condolences to his family.
I gleaned quite a few tips from Johns musical expertise.
He will be sadly missed.
RIP John
u shall keep the spirit of ART OVER THERE RIP
Didnt really know about this till recent. Went back and read the forum he had when he said he needed help. It felt weird reading them as it was like a time lapse to what he was going through. I would feel guilt if I didnt pay my condolences
Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.
RIP...JahKnow
-Omar
I'm truly sorry for his death, look like he was a great man. Uhm, I offer my sympathy and my condolences to all his freinds and family.
JahKnow, RIP.
Sad news, we will miss John and all that he contributed to this site. His input and advice will be truly missed.
R.I.P.-The music is alive
It seems inappropriate to be commenting on the internet about such things, only because I cannot relay the true emotion and respect through typing.
Rest in peace Jah' Know
It's really sad news to have lost such an important member of our community! Especially right before the grand reopening. He will be missed!
R.I.P JahKnow. Respect!!
Firstly to DV8, perfectly written and heartfelt eulogy. Jahknow, I am utterly shocked and saddened. I had been working on a mixtape with John for the last year or so and I knew he wasnt well... but i wasnt expecting this. My best wishes to his family and friends, he was a great guy and a great singer. Always willing to help new members with his vast knowledge of the dub music he loved. I was part of a small group with him asking for 'dubstep' as a genre back in 09, since then he has helped me grow my music immensely.
Jahknow, you will be missed.
ohhhhhhh myyyy ........
remember workin on sum stuff and droppin him a few of my loops he was asking for - somehow his name kept stuk in my brain =/
now hes got all the time for his passion on a place where we all will land sooner or later - keeepup! don't wait for me Jah we'll cy'all later!
Jah was a monster in the forums. This is truly tragic for our community as he was such an integral part of some critical discussions. My deepest condolences to John, his family, as well as his friends. We've all taken your words to heart, thanks DV8.
Rest in Piece JahKnow
love ya man!
Jah Love Jah Know
my next show the siren will be in your honor sir.
Much Respect. R.I.P. JahKnow
We were lucky to know him, I think... If only for a little while.
Jah made his presence felt whenever he was around and he helped the community in numerous ways (from collabs to contributing to the tips/education aspects of the site, especially in Dub). The passion he had for his craft (whichever art that might be) translated over to the things he said here. Good or bad, rant or rave he always spoke the truth (whether you wanted to hear it or not, haha). It saddens me to think that he is gone now, but at least I know that he's been freed from the pain and troubles he had.
Again, we were lucky to have known Jah and his spirit will live on through those of us who remember him. May he rest with the best!
-Vyros
I heard his health was bad and am very sad to hear of his passing. Sure he will be influencing many looperpeople for many yrs. Raise a glass. Very sad news.
Thats tragic news for all of us.He was always ready to give some kind of advice as his knowledge of music was endless.May you now rest in peace up in the sky!
Did not really know him RIP mate rock out for god.
Dedication Track
https://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/116266
_C-DUB_
RIP
He smiles now there when these guys talk about him.
Thank you for that Sean...off to download right now...and yes dv8 has really done John proud. Thanks Usman :)
I've set the audio interview tracks to downloadable in case anyone wants John's voice in their personal collection. Comments remain disabled, but if you are compelled please follow the link to the Artist Spotlight Series and post comments there.
Nice one dv8 having this memorial/tribute posted. Thank you.
...................
---:)
Respect to Jahknow! R.I.P buddy..
Cheers, Slap...
i have no words to express my gratitude towards him.he was a good man.a courageous man.im going to miss him.i naively dialed his number just now thinking he would be there for me the way hes been there many times. r.i.p.
We were one family and now you are gone to prepare for all of us. RIP
i didnt get a chance to know him. i still want to give his family my deepest condolences. R.I.P. JahKnown
I am going to say what I know of John.
For me, our first encounters where nothing but disagreements lol.
To me, I felt that .. he was a true artist but highly ideological. But he loved music more than I did. And I think I really envied that.. because not only wasn't he not half-bad, but as a visual artist he was amazing.
He was a chill dude, and he taught me how to create loops. I won't forget him easily..
I want to shy away from political things, but his passing angers me with Americas healthcare system.. but nonetheless... I can seem him smiling as a child is given new life in his place... (because it was literally like that in my opinion.)
In a lot of ways.. I felt John could kinda be acerbic (much like myself) and was very critical, but underneath all that he was love.
RIP John. I will never forget you.
A Looperman legend and a great artist. Rip Jahknow.
I did not hear about this until just now, when I looked at the new site. Words can't express... I lost someone close to me a week ago and now I hear of this. I never met John in person, but I shared some great conversations with him. He had one of the coolest, most unrealistic jobs I ever came across. No one ever thinks that people ACTUALLY PAINT those stained glass church windows! He was a great, friendly guy, and I'll miss him a lot. It'll be odd not seeing his two cents in the forums.
Sooo sad to hear this. Had the pleasure of working with him. R.I. P. One love. Support to all the family
Never spoke to him (wish I had he sounded a great guy) but saw the odd few posts around the forum from him. RIP John :(
We all learned a lot from him ..... RIP Jahknow!
Every time it's gonna rain shake your head and say "John is tearing it up again, clouds are shaking like my windows used to do when his music started playing"
I think he did teach us more lessons than he or we know, lessons about music, about perseverance, about keeping your head high when everybody expects it to be down, lessons about going on even tho it seems all the doors in front of you are closed....so Thank you John for sharing, that little time you still had, with us.
What can I add to those blessed lines I just read above?!!
My heart & my soul are full of gratitude & deep Thankfulness for the Musical-DUBical Magician, Friend, Breddren....name-it!
Right-@-the moment i'm on a song for Him...well better: for us, which he left behind, below, orwherever-outta-side. Here's a piece of the lyrics:
A Prayer fe John
"Do not stand at my grave and weep!
'Cause I'm not there. I'm not asleep.
I'm like a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints you see on snow..."
So I give maximum-Thanx to You, John, fe sharing some of your Bright-Light with me!
So LiveUp, Jahknow! You are a loss for this side - but a great Win for the other side. Surely, JahKnows.
So MoveOn, Jahknow! and don't forget about us!
And keep on I-spirating us, DUB must be majestical UpDeh?!
Did not know him my fellow loopermans,but RIP
John was indeed an amazing person. Not only his music but all his art was unparalleled. He lives on in both his music and the amazing stain glass work he created. He helped me become a better producer and have a better understanding of the music he created and loved. He will be missed.
Thanks to all the people who posted here in remembrance of John.
Knowing that he is suffering no more is the only thing that makes his passing bearable.
I didn't know him as well as others did, but was honored to number him among my friends for the short time I did.
Rest in Peace John/Jahknow.
I'm sure we all hoped John would be back here to add to this newest incarnation of Looperman.com. Most of us that knew him believed there'd be more time to share with him.
John said he'd be happy if he actually helped influence some on their musical paths regardless if he never ended up signed to a label. I'd say his influence is actually greater than he ever realized.
Back in August 2010, jahknow was the focus of the Artist Spotlight Series here, and I was fortunate enough to interview him for it. In memory of John Olsen (aka - jahknow) I'm reposting the links for both the text of this as well as the links to the mp3 files of the interview.
Artist Spotlight Series (Aug. 2010) - jahknow
https://www.looperman.com/forum/thread/123279
audio - pt1
https://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/77932
audio - pt2
https://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/77934
You're in my thoughts an awful lot these days, little brother John.
Through his focus and commitment one couldn't help but be influenced by JahKnow......Against the backdrop of his illness his character revealed a brave and uncompromising soul,we can count ourselves fortunate to have known him......a true Buffalo Soldier.
respect Dave