Obituary

Banjo and guitar player, Roby Carter Harris, lovingly known as R.C. by his friends, family, and the wider bluegrass community, passed away on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Harris, formerly of Mooresville, NC, was 83.  At age 11, R.C. began picking banjo

This obituary for Virginia grasser Raymond Lumpkin is a contribution from his grandson, Spencer Atkinson. Richmond, VA bluegrass scene native, Raymond Lumpkin, passed away at his home in Mechanicsville, VA on June 24. He was 83 years of age. Being born January

Another major figure in the development of bluegrass music has left us. Bobby Osborne, singer, mandolinist, and one half of the trendsetting and hit-making Osborne Brothers, has died today. He was 91 years of age. From the time he started performing

Jesse McReynolds, surely among the most consequential mandolinists, singers, and songwriters in the history of bluegrass music, died earlier this afternoon at his home in Nashville with his wife by his side. He had been in hospice care this past

John Miller could do just about anything when it came to bluegrass. He played guitar, mandolin, and upright bass. He sang lead and harmony parts. He arranged, produced, and wrote. And much of the time he did it while fighting cancer

Mark Kuykendall and Bobby Hicks; Mark Kuykendall photo © LuAnn Adams Noted bluegrass multi-instrumentalist and singer Mark Kuykendall, age 60, passed away on June 19, 2023. He had been unwell for many years, plagued with a variety of illnesses, including diabetes and

Bluegrass lost a great supporter, entrepreneur, and friend in the passing of Glenn 'Hoppy' Hopkins, 74, of Gold Hill, NC, on June 2. He was married to former North Carolina Bluegrass Association president, Vivian Pennington Hopkins. They celebrated their 50th

Popular Indiana bluegrass radio host Terry Thacker died on May 31. For nearly 30 years he hosted Colonel Terry's Bluegrass Corner Sunday mornings on WAWK, 95.5 The Hawk in Kendallville, IN. Until the station began simulcasting their signal online, Terry's

Margie Sullivan, The First Lady of Bluegrass Gospel Music, so named by Bill Monroe, and matriarch of the famed Sullivan Family Gospel Singers, passed away on May 31, 2023, at age 90.  Margie Louise Brewster Sullivan was born January 22, 1933,

Retired WSM Grand Ole Opry photographer extraordinaire Les Leverett passed away on June 2, 2023. He was 96 years old.  Leverett took some of the most historical images in country music history, with his photographs adorning over 200 album covers, winning