Friends mourn passing of local musical fixture Herb Hicks
By Lethbridge Herald on May 8, 2025.
Longtime friends and musical partners Sheena Lawson, and Herb Hicks perform in this undated photo courtesy of Donna Kroeger.Sam Leishman
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Lethbridge’s art and music community is mourning the loss of one of its most prominent members, Herb Hicks.
According to an obituary from Martin Brothers Funeral Services, he died peacefully on May 3 at Chinook Regional Hospital with his daughter and son-in-law at his side. He would have turned 91-years old Wednesday.
Hicks’ multi-faceted life, fulfilled by music, art, archaeology, family, friends and so much more, started back in 1934 in Williston, North Dakota. He learned to play piano as a youngster, formed a number of bands as a teen and eventually toured his music throughout Europe while serving in the United States Air Force as a young adult. Hicks eventually landed in California where he would spend his most formative years.
Shortly after making the move to Lethbridge in the late 1960s, Hicks helped form the budding arts department at the University of Lethbridge, as well as the local jazz scene. Hicks said in a 2015 interview for Mark Campbell’s “Random Thoughts at Random Times” blog that he was proud of the work being done at the U of L and that there was plenty of musical talent in this city.
Hicks told Campbell that live performances were of the utmost importance to him; keeping him young at heart while also keeping the arthritis pain in his hands at bay. The principle of compassion guided his nine decades of life, as well, with the belief “that everyone has the right of freedom to do whatever they want in life, as long as it doesn’t harm another person.”
Sheena Lawson was the long-time vocalist for the Herb Hicks Trio, after the two met more than 20 years ago when Lawson was performing musical theatre. She says it’s hard to define in exact terms the kind of personal connection that her and Hicks shared.
“He was a pretty remarkable man,” she recalled. “I admired him so much. I overheard him talking to someone, saying a lot of people don’t understand jazz, but what I had done with the words made jazz a lot more accessible. Our music backgrounds were so different, but I think the love and respect and holding each other up became this interesting relationship.”
Lawson visited her friend in the hospital often in the month before his passing. She says she’s grateful for that precious time they had to swap plenty of stories about what she refers to as their “big years”.
When asked if she had a final message for Hicks, Lawson had only this to say: “Thank you for your inspiration. For showing me a world filled with music, art, respect and unconditional love, and for your tremendous capacity to never give up on your passions. I’ll see you at the next show, Herb.”
George Gallant was another one of the lucky few who would often make guest appearances to sing alongside Hicks’ piano stylings over the course of their friendship.
“He was just so much fun to watch,” Gallant told the Herald. “I got to look over his shoulder all the time, so I had the best seat in the house. I got to watch his fingers do what his fingers did. He could go off and do all this incredibly melodic jazz improvisation that was just so much fun to watch him do. He had been doing it for so many years it was like it was second nature.”
It’s an emotional farewell for Gallant too, relaying his heartfelt appreciation for his friend through tears. He says he will most fondly remember standing around at the bar chatting with Hicks about music, or whatever topic happened to come up during breaks at their performances.
A celebration of life is being planned to commemorate Hicks, but details have not yet been released.
15-14
very much enjoyed herb’s music. it is ever the more beautiful to read what a wonderful talent he was as a person.