Jimmy Quinn

Seamus McElroy sends this news from Belfast:

The well renowned 5-string banjo player and bluegrass legend from Belfast, Jimmy Quinn, suffered a major stroke on Tuesday 26 February. He is in the coronary care unit in Lagan Valley Hospital in critical condition. Jimmy turned 79 in January and has always been the life and soul of any session (so long as it was bluegrass!). Your thoughts and prayers will be appreciated.

The photo above, taken by Sharon Loughrin in the spring of 2012, shows Jimmy between Tony Curran (left, with banjo) and Geordie Macadam (right). On the same occasion Sharon recorded this video, showing Jimmy and his left-handed, black-faced Mastertone leading a session among Geordie and many other members of the Ulster scene.

Update 7.00 p.m.: We are sorry to receive - from Seamus, and from Colin Henry (whose resonator guitar can be seen on the right of the photo) - the news that Jimmy passed away quietly during the past night.