Obituary

For many students who have taken classes in Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies at East Tennessee State University over the past decade or so, taking a band class or instrumental lesson with Colleen Trenwith was a highlight of

Dr. Thomas P. Foley, known to his friends as Tom, has died following a battle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was 83 years of age. A Virginia native, Tom made his career in medicine in Pennsylvania, where he had most recently served

Red Cravens with The Boys from Martinsville Early bluegrass music pioneer Robert 'Red' Cravens passed away "about a week ago" (around January 11, 2021), reports his former bandmate Harley Bray. He was 88 years old and had spent his last few

Jimmy Cox, renowned banjo builder and banjo parts supplier, has died at an assisted living center near his home in Topsham, Maine. He was 87 years of age. Though he had built and sold banjos for more than 50 years, it

Old-school banjo player Bill Runkle passed away on Thursday, January 7, 2021, his 82nd birthday, due to COVID-19.    Born on January 7, 1939, in Laurel (now Brogue), Pennsylvania, William G. Runkle grew up surrounded by music. Both his uncles played

Photo © G Milo Photography/MiloFarineauPhotography.com Tony Rice, surely the most influential guitarist and vocalist in the history of bluegrass music, died on Christmas morning. He was 69 years of age, and died swiftly without pain. Tony changed forever the way bluegrass guitar

Matthew Lin, an extremely talented young musician and one of the brightest lights of the contest fiddle world, died on December 11. He was 19 years of age. He passed several days after suffering extreme complications from a lung surgery to

Charlie and Lillie Mae Whitaker, March 2013 - photo © Bill Warren Charlie Whitaker, who performed for years with his wife as Lillie Mae & The Dixie Gospelaires, died on November 30. He was 86 years of age. Lillie Mae and Charlie

Noted west coast fiddler Bruce Johnson passed away on November 20, presumably from complications of COVID-19. He was 67 years of age. Best known to the larger bluegrass community for his time with Sawmill Road and the album he recorded with

William E Jefferson, proprietor of WYTI radio in Rocky Mount, VA, and lifelong performer of bluegrass and country music, has died. He was 92 years of age. Known as Bill to his family and many friends, Jefferson had been associated with