Dale Vanderpool passes

| August 20, 2012 | 2 Comments

Dale Vanderpool, noted bluegrass banjo player and good friend to many in the central US, died Sunday after a three year struggle with cancer. He was 59 years old.

His professional work included stints with Don Rigsby, Larry Stephenson and Melvin Goins. Dale was also a part of Rock County for a time, the group Rigsby formed after leaving Lonesome River Band.

Vanderpool was a stalwart practitioner of the Scruggs style of banjo and an aficionado of the classic pre war banjos Earl played. Here’s video of him on a Scruggs classic with Rigsby in 2010.

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Don posted this tribute last night on Facebook:

“After a lengthy struggle with cancer, my dear friend Dale Vanderpool has went home to be with our Savior. I am thinking back to some wonderful memories of times past and things we did together and his warm personality and big ole belly laugh. I have really missed being around him and no doubt as this sinks in I am gonna miss him even more. I hate cancer. It has robbed this life of too many great people. Rest well old friend.”

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Category: Obituary

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Sites That Link to this Post

  1. Fundraiser for Vanderpool family : Bluegrass Today | August 24, 2012
  1. Avatar of jody handley jody handley says:

    If anyone would be interested in helping out the family, please follow the link.

    http://www.giveforward.com/banjoswillbepickininheaven

    The Family of Dale Vanderpool

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John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.