Allen Douglas Hicks of Morehead, KY, known to bluegrass fans and artists as “Styx,” died on May 31 after a long illness. He was 63 years of age when he passed at a local hospital.
It would be difficult to imagine a more devoted fan of bluegrass music than Styx, and hard to think of a bluegrass artist with whom he hasn’t had his picture taken. A visit to any bluegrass event in or near Kentucky would inevitably mean experiencing Styx, who was friends with all the bands, all of the promoters, and many of the people in the audience. Always smiling, with a cooler of Ale 8’s close at hand, he would have a seat up front, with his phone or camera running, capturing some of the hours and hours of video he has posted on YouTube and Facebook.
In his “day job,” Styx worked for the US Postal Service, initially as a mail carrier, then a postal clerk, and eventually a manager. When he retired two years ago he was Postmaster of Clay City, KY, east of Lexington, putting a cherry on top of 35 years of service with USPS.
But Styx was most in his element at bluegrass shows, and there was nowhere he would rather be. He loved everything about the music, the people who played it, and everyone who enjoyed it. Superfan would be too gentle a descriptor. He quite literally personified what is wonderful about the community of people that make up the bluegrass world.
This past few years had been mighty tough for Hicks, with one health issue after another holding up his passion for bluegrass. He’s been through treatment and therapy for intestinal cancer, a debilitating foot injury aggravated by his diabetes, and recently suffered a stroke that put him back in the hospital.
During the worst of it just before he retired, the bluegrass world was able to give some back to Styx, who love him back just as hard. While hospitalized in 2024, he had visits, phone calls, and email messages from many of our top performers. Sister Sadie even made him a custom video with their best wishes.
But he was back at the shows as soon as he was better, showing up with a boot on his foot all one summer.
Now there will be a huge empty space at festivals in the central US, and at the Meadowgreen Music Park, which was like his home venue. You might not notice it when you first walk in, but before long, your mind will turn and wonder, “Hey… where’s Styx?”
He’s gone on beyond, but not without the prayers and best wishes of literally hundreds – maybe thousands – of bluegrass folks who wish him well.
Needless to say, his family is hurting worst over his premature death, ones he loved even more fiercely than his music, but the grieving is widespread and deep.
The Hicks family will receive visitors on Saturday, June 6, from 2:00-8:00 p.m. at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals in Morehead, KY.
A memorial service is schedule for the following day, June 7, at Northcutt & Son beginning at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Caudill Cemetery in Morehead.
R.I.P., Styx.
