Josh Cameline is almost an immortal figure in certain music circles. His album Falling, Fleeting, with its selection of original pieces and cover songs – including the ‘definitive’ rendition of Subtle Sam’s country blues classic “Ever After Happily” – was an unexpected surprise for distributors. Album sales skyrocketed. The tragic irony of Josh Cameline’s story is that he never knew of his own success, inexplicably committing suicide the night before the album’s release.

Josh Cameline – Ever After Happily (1995)

Photo by Caro WallaceHe left a note behind for friends, which read “I’m going for a walk, I have an idea. Bear with me guys! I promise, I’ll see you all soon!” How wrong he was. After jumping off a riverside bridge into dark water, his body must have been ripped completely to shreds by rough under currents, as his body was never found.

Amazingly, his music lived on. His best friend Michael Jones picked up the reins, and regularly performed tribute concert evenings to the music of Cameline. Jones performs the music perfectly, displaying an amazing skill at imitating his late friend’s voice and guitar technique. According to reviews of his live shows, it’s “almost like seeing Cameline in the flesh!”.

Interesting Fact: It was tragic to think that the world would hear no new music from Cameline, as he showed considerable promise to become the next great balladeer. Thankfully, Michael Jones uncovered a series of demo tapes in Cameline’s bedroom, and they were released after several years. The album sale figures were astonishing. In an interview with SQUAT Magazine, Jones said “There’s plenty more where that came from!”