Ron Parizek passed away Dec. 14 at his Lombard home.
Ron Parizek: 1950-2011
Ron Parizek of Lombard spent two decades playing bass and singing for the blues trio Blue Plate Special.
“(The blues) just spoke to him since he was young,” said Marty MacMillan of Arlington Heights, guitarist for Blue Plate Special. “I think he loved the history of it, the storytelling, the rawness.”
Mr. Parizek, 61, died of advanced bladder cancer Dec. 14 at his home.
The prolific songwriter, known for a soulful voice that cracked and rasped at all the right moments, contributed to three Blue Plate Special albums as well as the forthcoming “Glass of Teardrops,” which is in production. Parizek went by Ron Michaels as a performer, said Gayle Schwankle, his girlfriend of 12 years.
“Songwriting with him was effortless,” said MacMillan. “I could just come in with an idea for a riff. We’d rehearse on a Wednesday, do some brainstorming, and when we’d get together the next Wednesday, we’d have a done song.”
Though he considered himself a musician first, Mr. Parizek earned a living working as a plant manager. While working, he’d dream up lyrics about luck, love and life.
“He’d say how hard life is, but that there’s always a way to turn it around and look for love. Find love and share it with the world and let the other stuff roll off your back,” Schwankle said.
The band members considered John’s Restaurant and Tavern in Winfield its home base.
“That was the first place that let us play,” said drummer Gary Maier. “I met my wife there. Ron met (Schwankle) and Marty met the girl he’s probably going to marry there. We called it the vortex of love.”
In August, the restaurant was host to a benefit to help cover Parizek’s medical bills.
“It was really heartwarming to see everyone who came out,” Maier said.
Parizek is survived by his two children Asia Batiz and Justin Parizek. He was also a father figure to his longtime partner’s children Eric and Sara Schwankle.
Friends are planning a memorial gathering for January.
