Lane Carl Ruoff

I met Lane 11 years ago right here, at The Mint. He introduced himself and asked if I would like to audition for his vocal group: The Starry Knights. I was impressed with Lane's direct, sincere approach. He was a very handsome gentleman and we were both attracted to each other. I never auditioned for the group. Nevertheless, Lane and I developed a very special friendship afterwards. Two and a half years later, I invited him to join me on my first trip to Hawaii. We were an instant...

I see that this memory book website for Lane will be off line in 2019. I wanted to let folks know that I have recordings from 1966 or 1967 of Lane and the Lost Souls Band. For 14 or 15 year old kids the tracks are not bad, and with surprisingly good vocals! Please send me an email if you would like the clips. All the best.

It is November 2017. I just learned of the passing of my high school friend Lane in 2010. Lane's name came up in a conversation which included a mention of the film 'The Warriors'. I learned from the final credits that Lane was one of the members of the baseball players gang. My sister then searched the internet to raise an article about Lane which included his death notice. I had heard that Lane was HIV-positive, but the news of his death was a shock.

Lane and I were very close. He...

I met Lane in 1972 in New York. It was my apartment on Sullivan Street in which he lived shortly after arriving in the city. We met at a dance at the Gay Activists Alliance Firehouse, on a spiral staircase, where we literally stopped traffic. He was the most beautiful man I had ever seen.(note the photo from 1972) I was smitten. Shortly afterward, he moved into my apartment, and we had a loving, fun, at times, tumultuous relationship. Lane had a wonderful singing voice, plus charisma,...

Lane, thank you for encouraging me to sing. For being a very sweet dear friend. You are one of the nicest men I have ever met. You had a heart of gold. You never gave up your decent respect for others even where there some very unconscious people testing your patience. And you were one hell of a great singer! You have influenced me in so many ways, and I will never forget you!

I got to sing with Lane and Todd from 2002 - 2004. I had to move back to the East Coast, but I still miss Lane and The Starry Knights. I am sure he is snapping his fingers on a corner of heaven.

Look at me
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud
I can't understand
I get misty
just holding your hand

Walk my way
and a thousand violins begin to play
Or it might be the sound of your hello
that music I hear
I get misty
the moment you're near

You can say that you're leading me on
But it's just what I want you to do.
Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost
That's why I'm following you...

Lane and I went back many years. He and I toured in Babes in Toyland together, my first Equity show. We were both kids! I fell in love with this handsome hunk of a man! We became friends, he was working as a travel agent and he arranged my first trip outside the USA now after 130 Countries I think back on all the fun we had being friends, performers, and just buddies.

I had the great fortune to stand next to Lane for two straight years in high school choir. He had such a lovely voice. We used to kid each other about having to listen to each other sing in our ears. And we were in "Guys and Dolls" together in our senior year where he was such a handsome Sky Masterson. I had hoped to see him sing this holiday season with the GMC after finding out thru FB recently that we both resided in San Francisco. My condolences to Todd and all of Lane's family; a...