Louis Ray Ulrich
March 10, 1968 – January 10, 2021
(If you knew Lou or have ever met him, you can hear this picture)
Louis Ulrich was an amazing person and outstanding musician. He had a huge personality. Though he was born in St. Louis, he must have always known Boston would become his home because at the age of five, he ran away from home, walking towards the highway to join the Revolution in Boston.
As a boy, Lou’s favorite place was the country, our family property, where he and his family would camp as often as they could. He could be found riding his motorcycle down the dirt road, with his trusty dog Circle right beside him, visiting all of the relatives or swimming in the creek. He also loved frog gigging, telling scary stories around the campfire and participating in the annual bottle rocket fight. Oh yes, nothing better than cousins, uncles and even your own father trying to hit you with a lit bottle rocket! One of my favorite stories from the country was when he was riding his motorcycle and his Grandma Hazel said, “Look, those boys don’t have helmets on” and Aunt Gracie said “that’s not all they don’t have on” – he and his cousin were riding up and down the road naked! And watch out, because his nakedness did not end there. He was also known to moon you every now and then, and you should have NEVER left your camera unattended with Lou around!
Lou graduated from Parkway North High School in 1986 where he played in the jazz and marching bands and orchestra. He was a drum major, ran track, wrestled and played football. During his high school years he also played bass on a Riverboat cruise ship and had a band. His band once played in his backyard and cars passing by pulled over on the highway and walked towards the music. Of course, it was a short performance because the police came and even provided a light show thanks to their helicopter.
After high school, Lou graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston. He loved Boston and the music scene. He made so many great friends that became his family while remaining close to his family and friends in St. Louis.
Lou was blessed to be able to make a living doing what he loved. He was a four-time Boston Music Awards winner, and has performed and toured throughout the US and Europe. Most recently, Lou taught at The Real School of Music in Boston and played with bands including Tore Up and The Tim Gearan Band, along with several others.
Lou never met a stranger and a common thread amongst his friends is that he made people feel at home and was always so much fun to hang out with during gig breaks. Lou could tell a story like no other and could make up a song out of just about anything. Our personal favorites were: “Got My Mind Set on Lou”, “All I Want For Christmas is Lou”, “Happy Just to Dance with Lou” and his favorite, “Lou Shook Me All Night Long”. Any song with the word you he would change to Lou or poo and those songs were funny too.
Lou was preceded in death by his mother Mary Kay Ulrich (Dillinger), his father Gary Ulrich ((Nancy) and girlfriend Heather Ducey. He is survived by his sister, Terri Eylar (Gene), brother, Bill Ulrich (Andrea), nieces Christina Hardie (Howard) Rachel Schafer, Erin McRaven (Billy), great-nieces Kaylyn Hardie and Samantha Schafer, great-nephews Josh Hardie and Jordan Hardie, great-great nephew Josiah Hardie, great-great niece Ava Hardie and many other relatives and countless friends.
We are so grateful that he had such an amazing network of friends/family in Boston that supported and took care of him. He will be truly missed by all who knew him. We are all better people because we knew him. His memory will live on through our stories, pictures and songs. Those who did not get the pleasure of knowing him have missed out but, we will be happy to share a story with you.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date in both St. Louis and Boston. Please share your stories about Lou, so his memory will live on.
I love you so much Uncle Lou. I will miss you.
Heartwarming & charming words just like Lou. I will miss laughing my ass off and enjoying his amazing bass playing.
Thank you for being such a wonderful guy. You are a huge part of my great experience when I moved to Boston, making me welcome in the new group of friends who played next to my apartment building every Wednesday. I will always treasure your smile and laughs. ❤️ Alli
Lou, what a gift it was to have fate put you right next to me at Berklee in 1987. What more could a drummer ask for? What more could a friend ask for? Thank you for being my friend, and for making me laugh so hard whenever we were together–even though it has been a long time now. I remember those nights and wished they would never end, and I’ll hold then close to my heart forever. Todd
Lou has left an indelible thumbprint on my life, not only as my music teacher and mentor, but as a friend. I took lessons from Lou for close to seven years and those lessons have been invaluable about how I conduct myself in the musical landscape. It’s the best thing I do and I’m able to access this because of Lou. I’ll never be able to truly thank him. He helped me access my dreams and always made me feel like they were in reach. I can guarantee that the band just got funkier in Heaven. Godspeed Lou, I’ll never forget you!
I will always remember him as Louie. The times at the family property were the best and I will always cherish them. Bumps, bruises, scars and all…..I wish I had seen him play music, my one regret buddy. I’ll miss you Louie ????
I only got the chance to learn with Lou for a few months, but sometimes it only takes a moment to know when a person has a heart of gold and a laugh that could melt a polar ice cap. He took our rag tag team and got us to play with joy. And what a thrill that was. I guess Lou taught me you can teach an old dog a new trick. Lou the Planet has lost you for now but you‘re up there now unencumbered by health issues now. And I bet the band is playing a bit louder now. You will be missed
Lou, you will be greatly missed…
I knew Lou ever since i started at the real school of music. He taught my first ensemble and showed me how amazing music can be. Throughout my 7 years there, he pushed me to become the best musician i could possibly be and showed me the value of living life to the fullest. Lou truly changed my life and I will miss him dearly
Thanks for teaching me to love music Lou. You believed in all of us, and inspire us to become better and follow our passions. Thanks for the music.
Kelly, I just have to echo your incredibly heartfelt words, and add what a privilege it was to have Lou’s spirit, supportiveness, and frank musical feedback driving us forward in our music ensemble. I learned a ton from him, and looked forward to every week’s rehearsal. Lou, you are already deeply missed.
Uncle Lou, our family won’t be the same without you. I won’t be the same without you. I am so proud that you touched so many lives and your memory will live on in each one of us. I love you so much. Until we meet again.
I adored Lou. I knew him from the music scene in Boston, but Lou didn’t have fans, he had friends. I am so lucky to count myself one. I love to dance and could lose myself in Lou’s riffs. He also was truly one of the kindest, warmest, funniest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. I’m so saddened by his loss, ~our~ loss. The world is a bit less without Lou’s spirit here with us. We were lucky to have him – thanks for sharing him with those of us in Boston. Mourning with you, and sending condolences and love. This is a confusing, mixed up world, but I’m grateful for a place that has men like Lou Ulrich ????
Every time I saw Lou he was smiling, warm, welcoming and loving. He was a great guy. I loved seeing him around the Boston Music scene. Always a friendly face. Boston and music will miss you greatly. Shine your music on us from above.
Lou, I am grateful for your artistry and kindness. May the joy you have brought to all of us endure.
I met Lou in the Fall of 1992. We worked together, and once I found out he played music too I was at as many of his gigs as I could possibly get to. We would play cards all night long until it was daylight, and we would laugh so hard until we were practically crying. He was my bass teacher for a long time. What he taught me I will treasure forever. What a great friend to have. Love you, buddy. I’m really gonna miss you. Man, this one is going to be tough that’s for sure.
Always smiling. Always laughing. Always kind. I was lucky enough to have Lou in my life for several of his college years. Even though I haven’t had the pleasure of hearing Lou play a mean bass or laugh joyously in many years, he’s in my heart…and will remain so.
Rest in Peace, Lou. you have inspired so many young musicians (including me at the real school of music). You will be missed.
Lou was a one in a billion kind of special. He offered kindness, above all. He taught me so me so much about music, and humor, and love. I could not have been more fortunate to have had Lou as a friend in this life.
Thanks Lou for gracing us with your greatness; musically and through your humor and friendship. Whether you were playing at Toad with Tim, on stage at the Hatch Shell at the Boston Blues Festival or in my backyard, those moments will be with me forever. You (Lou) will never be forgotten.
Louie was a classmate from elementary through high-school. He told me once about a novel he wanted to write about two brothers from Missouri who fought against each other during the Civil War…we were in 6th grade! He and his band singing Radar Love behind the football field and at a house party are also memories forever etched in my mind. Rest in peace, Louie. And cheers for living your dream.
That’s my next read so I will find out soon what that means!!
Just today heard about Lou and am so sad to hear. He was always so lovely and my go-to guy for conversation and stories during the breaks with Tim Gearan. Rest in peace, Lou. You were a damn fine bass player and I will always remember your laugh and how you exuded joy.
So sorry to hear about Lou’s passing. He was a talented young man in 1984 and 1985 his band performed in our Variety Show to benefit the Humane Society. The show was held in our backyard in Maryland Heights Missouri including neighborhood kids and Lou’s band as the big attraction. Glad we were fortunate to have known Lou and enjoyed his music.
I had a band in St Louis, and we were looking for a Bass player. This was in 1985, and this skinny kid with curly hair auditioned. He blew us away with his playing. As a person, he was a kind, unassuming soul, and we met up again in 1991 when I was living in Baltimore and he was with The Radio Kings. He left for Berklee, and before that I left for a stint in Germany and I remember him emailing me asking me if I had heard of Fred Lipsius, one of his teachers. I sent him a copy of Blood Sweat and Tears (brown album). After travelling the world, Bahamas, Vietnam and now returned from Spain, I was devastated to hear of his death from a musician who knew him from his Groovasaurus days. He’s probably in heaven, and has no shortage of musos to jam with….