Making music and rebuilding vintage motorcycles were two of award-winning troubadour Paul Kamanski’s greatest passions in life, and he brought equal amounts of craft and dedication to both. His death from heart failure on October 6 at the age of 68 silenced his voice, but his music lives on.

“I play Paul’s songs at every show I do, and for the last few years I’ve always promoted them by saying, ‘Paul Kamanski is San Diego’s greatest songwriter,'” said bandmate Joey Harris of San Diego bands such as Fingers, Snuggle Bunnies, Comanche Moon and The Rock Trio.

“Paul is among the top 10 songwriters of all time,” said Jerry Raney, whose band Beat Farmers, in which he worked with Harris, achieved some of their greatest success with songs written by Kamanskni. “I rank Paul with Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Smokey Robinson. His songs were very well written.”

Time in Between

California Boy

Hollywood Hills

Larger Stones

Jerry Raney,

It was Paul Kamanski’s lifelong passion, and the songs he wrote resonated.

award-winning San Diego music mainstay

6 October

Comanche Bear leader Paul Kamanski, 40, added: “Gram has fascinated me for 20 years. “It really closed the gap between rock and country.”

Beat your way to ruin the farmer’s song

Electric sons was founded in December 84

The song “Wheels,” which Kamanski and Beat Farmer Joey Harris co-wrote for the Farmers’ 1989 album “Poor and Famous,” was recently acquired by Muzak.

The song “Wheels,” co-written by Kamanski and Beat Farmer Joey Harris for the Farmers’ 1989 album “Poor and Famous,” was recently acquired by Muzak. 1992: “I thought you had to be a lot older to do this. Outsource your work to Muzak, who’s as old as David Crosby,” Kamanski said. “I haven’t heard Muzak’s version of ‘Wheels’ yet, but I bet it’s hysterical.”

992: In fact, while all Rhythm Cafe artists are asked to comply with the smoking ban, they are allowed to smoke in the club if they wish. Even so, Kamanski lashed out: “I don’t care if people can’t smoke on the dance floor, as long as the band can make heroin on stage. Complete nonsense. What’s rock’n’roll without some tobacco and alcohol? This is not Orange County.”

1991: Rebel Alliance Songwriting Consortium sounds like an excuse for a bunch of good kids to play music, drink beer, and make rude noises.

1988: new band Pray For Rain: “It feels like it’s going to burst into flames at any moment,” he says.

“I was in Huey Lewis country. The bands there feature a lot more pop and horn arrangements. “I’m more rock ‘n’ roll,” he said.

So Kamanski is back, but instead of playing with old musician friends (like childhood friend and Beat Farmer Joey Harris), Kamanski is playing with different musicians: drummer Joe Kmak, bassist Steve Kelly, lead guitarist Tim Griswold, and pianist Jimmy Condor. Pray for Rain will perform the works Kamanski wrote in the last two years.

January: 1989:

July 1986 Kamanski returned to Diego after spending time in the Bay Area

Gram Festival ’96