Obituary of James Edgar Cann

James Edgar (Ed) Cann passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 24th, 2022 at his home in Spirit Lake, Idaho. Ed was born on January 6th, 1956, at the US Air Force Base in Burtonwood England, around the time that John, Paul, George, and (eventually) Ringo were just a few years away from founding one of his favorite bands in nearby Liverpool. If they’d waited twenty years longer and if he’d stayed in the area, they could have swapped Ringo for the fully badass drummer that Ed ultimately became. Their loss (sorry Ringo). The son of Jack and Suzanne Cann and baby brother to Rendy and Allen, Ed benefited from the terrible influence of his older brothers which resulted in shenanigans, a thousand crazy stories, more than a few bruises, and a man that knew how to have a good time and charm the socks off of a room of people. He put these skills to great work in his early career stops as a professional musician with touring rock groups like Bustin’ Loose (kind of like Skynyrd but way better) and Nobody Famous (which ended up being a mostly accurate name). While Ed had a lot of different and interesting jobs over his life, music was his passion, his talent, and his calling, and as uncommon as a reliable drummer with a good backbeat is, it’s really shocking that he didn’t end up in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. If he wasn’t behind a set of drums or slinging an acoustic guitar, Ed was at his best when working with his hands. He was a mad genius at designing and building ponds and water features, even if he consistently insisted on doing it the hardest way possible, and probably impaling his foot on one yard tool or another while he did it. His ability to tempt tetanus through injury without cursing was unmatched. Conquering nations, running for president, or curing cancer were not the kinds of goals Ed set in life. Instead, he was wildly successful at what he believed to be his most important objective, creating an environment of unquestioned love, loyalty, and support for his family, and being a true rock who will be greatly, deeply missed. Ed was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Allen. He is survived by his brother Rendy, three children, Amie (Jared) Mudge, Dustin (Tim) Cann, and Jessica Cann, who are who they are because of his gentle, funny, and committed care, as well as his six beautiful and extremely high energy grandchildren Alexis (17), Rowen (11), Kenleigh (9), Judah (4), Ayla (3), and Rhen (2). A small family gathering will take place outdoors, by a river, where coffee will be sipped, stories will be told, and wise cracks are inevitable. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Ed’s honor to the Fender Music Foundation, Save the Music Foundation, or Music Unites.