Butch Baldassari

Enda Donnelly sends the sad news that Butch Baldassari, one of the leading mandolinists playing today, has had problems with his playing since the spring, and has recently been diagnosed with an inoperable anaplastic astrocytoma in the brain. He began a six-week course of radiation and chemotherapy on Wednesday 6 June, and will also be following a macrobiotic diet and receiving acupuncture, energy balancing treatments, and massage therapy. For full details, see the Mandolin Cafe website.