Tommy Edwards, 20 July 1945-22 May 2021 (update)

The BIB learns with regret of the death of Tommy Edwards of North Carolina on Saturday (22 May) from pancreatic cancer. Attenders at the Omagh festivals will remember his band, the Bluegrass Experience, playing at Omagh earlier this century, and in addition Tommy - who could play guitar, banjo, bass, fiddle, and mandolin, as well as being singer and songwriter - gave instrument workshop tuition. He would also warmly recommend visiting North Carolina, which is certainly good advice.

PineCone, the Piedmont Council for Traditional Music, have posted a tribute on their Facebook, with a fine video of Tommy and Andrew Marlin performing Tommy's composition 'I'll be ready when it's time to go' with guitar and mandolin. More details are in Richard Thompson's feature on Bluegrass Today.

Update 25 May: See also a major feature by Sandy Hatley, 'Tommy Edwards - the best friend that bluegrass could ever have', on Bluegrass Today.

© Richard Hawkins