Tim Carter, who posted his thoughts on losing Earl Scruggs yesterday to our Remembering Earl Scruggs page (for reader tributes), shared some sad news about the passing of another legendary banjo player, this time of the four stringed variety.
“We’ve lost yet another banjo legend this morning… Barney McKenna, Irish banjo player, founder of the Super Irish band The Dubliners and a dear friend, passed away this morning. We were planning a tour later this summer with Barney in support of a record The Carter Brothers recorded with him here in Nashville last year. The record will still be released in August. Barney was a very kind man and was the Earl Scruggs of Ireland. He’s the reason there is banjo in Irish music.
RIP Barney.”
