Obituary

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

Charles Ray Stearman, the founder of the long running Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America, has died at 79. Known as Chuck to family and friends, he had been living in a nursing facility in Brookfield, MO, a short

Willie Kerr died last week and a part of bluegrass died with him. Unless you played or attended the two annual festivals at Gettysburg or shows in and around York, PA, you probably didn’t know Willie. But artists and fans alike

Pati Crooker Mulligan, who ran the Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival in Brunswick, ME for nearly 30 years, passed away over the weekend. She was 68 years of age when she died on June 12. Pati and her family were hosts to

Surely there is no greater shock in life than the sudden, tragic loss of a young person. The bluegrass world lost one this past Memorial Day weekend when Tyler Smith, a young banjo picker from Knoxville, TN, died while on

Ray Hesson, renowned banjoist from southern Maryland, died on Tuesday (May 24) after a long illness. He was 74 years of age. Born Raymond David Hesson on December 14, 1941, Ray was a fixture in the DC-area bluegrass scene since the

The bluegrass life of recording, playing dates, and traveling has come to a close for one of the most unique personalities and beloved artists in bluegrass music. Known for his matchless heartfelt ability to convey a story through song, the

Wade Cox, bluegrass musician and friend to absolutely everyone in our business, passed away this past Saturday evening, April 23, near his home in Amherst, VA. He was 43 years of age. I suspect we all have that one friend who

Last week saw the loss of one of the more recognizable personalities at bluegrass festivals in Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Bobby Martin, known to jammers across the south as "The Bluegrass Drummer," passed away shortly after receiving a diagnosis