Butch Baldassari

Butch Baldassari (photo kindly supplied by Lilly Pavlak)

Enda Donnelly of Fair City Grass writes:

It is with great sadness I learned of the death of Butch Baldassari (1952- 10 Jan. 2009).

He was a great mandolin player - teacher and a wonderful inspiration to us all.

Butch Baldassari died on Saturday after a long, courageous struggle with inoperable brain cancer. Features on his life and death can be found on the Bluegrass Blog, and a Nashville Tennessean obituary is here. Enda adds:

Butch got a good sendoff, including loads of contributors in the Mandolin Cafe. One player said he was the 'King of double stops' on mandolin,which is very true. I was shocked to hear of his death, because recently he seemed to be improving & in good spirits from time to time.

It's ironic to think that all over holidays I was playing my favourite Christmas CD, Evergreen: mandolin music for Christmas, which I sent away for two years ago. It comes with a tutor - tab book & I learned a few tunes for our pre-Christmas gig. Any Butch Baldassari teaching videos are highly recommended for beginner and intermediate.

May he rest in peace.