James Gurley, talented guitarist ... and ‘human hood ornament’

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While writing the obituary for James Gurley, guitarist for Big Brother & the Holding Company, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud after including this detail about his early life as the son of a stunt-car driver:

As a boy, he sometimes served as a “human hood ornament” by riding on the front of cars while his father drove through walls of fire and other obstructions, according to a biography on the band’s website.

(The band did point out that he wore a helmet.)

-- Valerie J. Nelson