Obituary

Steve Simmons, the former owner of Colorado Case Company and a longtime friend and supporter of bluegrass music, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Seattle on August 4. He was 57 years of age. According to his wife, Linda, he had

Hoot Hester, Kentucky fiddler and noted Nashville session player, has died today. He was 65 years of age and had been struggling with cancer. Born Hubert Duane Hester on August 13, 1951, Hoot had worked as a staff musician at the Grand Ole Opry,

Larry Jefferson, a hero to bluegrass lovers in upstate South Carolina, passed away over the weekend in hospice case. He was 73 years of age. A mandolinist and tenor singer, Larry was memorably a member of Charlie Moore and the Dixie Partners in

One of the finest banjo players of the 1960s and '70s has left us. Vic Jordan passed away last night in Nashville. He was 77 years of age and had been seriously ill for some time. Vic's prominence in bluegrass exploded when

Dale Sledd, guitarist and vocalist with The Osborne Brothers during their peak years, passed away on Sunday evening. He was 78 years of age. Sledd was with the band from 1966 through 1977, during which time he recorded hits like Roll

Bob French, former banjo player with Joe Val and The New England Bluegrass Boys and partner with his wife as Bob & Grace French and The Rainbow Valley Folks, has passed away. He was 86 years of age. Bob and Grace started their

Don Parmley, lifelong banjo player and patriarch of the legendary Bluegrass Cardinals, has died. He was 83 years old. A native of the Bluegrass State, Parmley's family moved west to California when he was a very young boy. There he developed

The community of first generation bluegrass heroes got a good bit smaller today. Melvin Goins has passed away after more than 65 years of performing bluegrass music. He was 83 years of age and touring in Canada when he died. Growing up

Charles Haney, a noted bluegrass promoter in the 1960s, died on Sunday, July 24. He had been ill for some time and was 85 years of age when he passed. Charles was the brother of Carlton Haney, who worked as an

It’s hard to know what to say about legends in our industry. Accurately describing the importance of their contributions - and lifetime commitment - to bluegrass and traditional music is nearly impossible. This evening, one of the true founding fathers