banjobilly32 - Posted - 10/24/2015:  06:51:28

I noticed on Facebook this morning the mention of Bill Keith dying from cancer.  Surprised there was not yet any mention of this on the hangout.

Bill was looking very frail when he accepted his award at this years IBMA convention.  His contributions to banjo styles ranks right up there with Earl Scruggs in my estimation.  I remember when I first heard his recording with Bill Monroe in 1963.  He was respected for his talents world wide.

I did meet Bill and spend time with him at several festivals in the New England area.  He was always humble and gracious in sharing his talents.  Thanks Bill for being my friend. You will be missed !

Texasbanjo - Posted - 10/24/2015:  06:53:51

Bill has been sick, but I haven't heard that he passed away.  Are you sure it said he died, not he was dying from cancer?  There's a definite difference.  I hope he's still with us.

desert rose - Posted - 10/24/2015:  06:55:43

This news is FLOODING every media here in Japan related to banjo or bluegrass. Obits are posted, everybody who ever posed with Bill in a picture has posted it... and in America I still have heard no official word?????

It was said he died on 10/ 22

Scott

Edited by - desert rose on 10/24/2015 06:56:38

banjobilly32 - Posted - 10/24/2015:  06:57:20

Sherry, there were about three separate mentions in one of the banjo player topics on facebook.   I sure hope I haven't spread one of those unfounded rumors! 

SaggyBottom - Posted - 10/24/2015:  07:19:21

Same   Havent heard here but FB friends in Japan are posting the news

desert rose - Posted - 10/24/2015:  07:21:10

Bill

Dont worry you are not spreading, like me you are asking. Ive gone to a couple well placed sources in the bluegrass world and they know nothing either. Here in Japan its a feeding frenzy

Scott

The Old Timer - Posted - 10/24/2015:  07:32:24

I've seen exactly ONE note on Facebook from a bluegrasser, and the poster was flooded with questions, and he had no corroboration, just that he had "heard" it.

Google produces nothing.

psikes - Posted - 10/24/2015:  08:19:57

If true, it is a real loss. I just talked to Bill two weeks ago yo face rder some parts for my tuners. Always a gentelman and a pleasure to talk to.

JAFO - Posted - 10/24/2015:  09:01:12

Please be patient. The family wants privacy. We have no idea how the word got to japan. We have asked them to stop, but I think its too late. Give the family a little time please.

JAFO - Posted - 10/24/2015:  09:24:31

OK, the news is out now. The family just wanted time to get the arrangments in order and notify their own family before it became public. Here is the announcmenty from Bill's FB page.

----------------

Dear music friends far and wide,

We are much saddened to have to announce that Bill Keith left us in the early hours of October 23. Wherever he is now, I know that he has only one regret: that his diminished energy made him postpone, one day too many, the message of infinite gratitude that he very much wanted to post on this forum to all of you.

Your joyful sharings, photos, support, musings, memories, and above all, devotion to music warmed every one of his days, and he never ceased to wonder at the fact that his modest self could inspire so much cheerful devotion.

Bill’s music will live through you all - and as Bill wanted, the Beacon Banjo tuners will also continue their proud tradition, now in the hands of his son Martin.

On his behalf, we thank you all with all our heart.

Claire, Charles and Martin Keith

_______________

For my own part, I have few words. Even though I have cherished Bill's friendship and stayed close through the entire course of this illness I am still not prepared to accept it. I do know that the words you've read above are true and genuine. Bill was as modest as they come and I don't think he ever understood why folks put such interest in his work and teaching. Perhaps I worded that wrong but he did tell me a few times that he felt he had done nothing remarkable in his time that was of note. These last couple of years he has, as stated, taken a lot of joy in the phone calls, recognition, and visits from friends. I have seen this first hand and know that he clearly gained strength and joy from that.

 I will miss him more than I can tell right now. Just to not be able to pick up the phone and call to ask him about something new I had learned, because he could always 'fill in the blanks' for me. A true, kind, and generous man, with a long life, well lived, He gave me much more than I could ever give him.

Gymbal31 - Posted - 10/24/2015:  09:27:04

Steve Martin tweeted about it 20 minutes ago.

"One of the great banjo players of all time has died.  Read about him and listen to his recording of Auld Lang Syne.  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Kei...sician%29 "

robbif - Posted - 10/24/2015:  09:35:59

For my dear friend..

banjodad - Posted - 10/24/2015:  09:52:58

Heart breaking. A nice man, a great musician , inventive, a genius. He will be missed, but his music and spirit will live on.

Couchie - Posted - 10/24/2015:  09:57:32

He was a great player, a great teacher and a great musician.  Rest in peace sir, your memory will live on.

Don Couchie

chuckv97 - Posted - 10/24/2015:  09:58:25

Au revoir, Bill. You were great. RIP.

Lew H - Posted - 10/24/2015:  10:19:38

RIP Bill. I enjoyed his classes and jams at Suwannee Banjo camp, and his t-shirt (Sex and drugs, and Flatt and Scruggs!).  We pickers are all saddened today.

The Old Timer - Posted - 10/24/2015:  10:33:17

Another sad day in the banjo world.

Of course there's his banjo style, which helped add an entire new dimension to banjo and bluegrass music; tabbing the Scruggs style so well for Earl's book; pedal steel playing; Kweskin Jug Band music; teaching; and not least -- coming up with the BEST D-tuners ever.  I know his Beacon Banjo Co. has been rumored for sale for some time -- I hope someone carries on with this FINE product.

I remember in the late 60s/early 70s when "all-star" albums started to come out, Bill was so often THE banjo man that he and the other studio-mates were nicknamed the Bluegrass Mafia.  Case in point, The David Grisman Album.

A polyymath!

Edited by - The Old Timer on 10/24/2015 10:44:00

lazlototh - Posted - 10/24/2015:  11:04:26

This is such sad news.

We had Bill come to Bangor twice to perform with Ron Cody and Tony Trischka. He was such a great player and had such humility about his gifts, it was inspiring.

I am so sorry for his family and our greater banjo family!
We have truly lost a great person!

tom in maine

Texasbanjo - Posted - 10/24/2015:  11:07:04

I am saddened to hear that Bill has passed.  I met him once and he was such a nice man.  I had problems with my tuners on my Stelling and he fixed them, put new leather washers on them.  Didn't charge me a cent.  I was also most taken by his teaching ability.  He gave me so much stuff to learn that I didn't think  I'd ever get through it all.  May he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. 

Debs - Posted - 10/24/2015:  12:43:21

So sorry to hear the sad news.  Sincere condolences to Bill's family.

Tom Berghan - Posted - 10/24/2015:  12:53:37

Very saddened to hear of Bill's passing.  But, let us rejoice in Bill's life well lived!  He had so many great accomplishments and he will be remembered fondly by his many fans.

I may have been Bill's last customer.  I spoke to him on the phone only a few weeks ago and just a few days ago I spoke with his son Martin and placed my order.  I enjoyed a nice long conversation with his son Martin who is now running the business.  Martin is fine young man, talented musician and a drop-drawer luthier.  Bill must have been immensely proud of Martin, and Beacon Banjo Company is in very good hands.  So I raise my glass to Bill . . . musician, composer, innovator, machinist, inventor, businessman, family man, and father.

Thank you Bill

Best Wishes and condolences to the Keith Family,  Tom Berghan

JoePasko - Posted - 10/24/2015:  13:05:39

Sure glad that I got to shake his hand and say hello one last time, at Greyfox this past summer.   He looked frail and ill for sure, but he appeared to be really enjoying the jam sessions that were going on at the campsite where he was at.   

Well said, Tom :

"But, let us rejoice in Bill's life well lived!  He had so many great accomplishments and he will be remembered fondly by his many fans."

Jack Baker - Posted - 10/24/2015:  13:19:18

Hi Sherry,

Do you have a Facebook page? If you do then you'll see notes from Claire about Bill's passing and more. I gave my take on knowing Bill and working with him on an article for BNL which is yet unpublished. I traded teaching space in Greenwich Village at my Fretted Instruments School many years ago for lessons and they were amazing. Anyway, my Facebook name is: jackrbakerbanjo....Hope to see you there.

This is a sad day for sure but ever onward as Bill would certainly want...Jack

---

Originally posted by Texasbanjo

 

Edited by - Jack Baker on 10/24/2015 13:21:21

alanjg1 - Posted - 10/24/2015:  15:17:17

So sad.

We’ve lost someone really special. To use a phrase from Jafo's fine tribute above, he was a true, kind, and generous man.

He touched a lot of people over the years, including many of us over here in the UK who were lucky enough to meet him.

My sincere condolences to his family.

Edited by - alanjg1 on 10/24/2015 15:30:17

granada40 - Posted - 10/24/2015:  16:04:57

I haven't responded to a thread here in awhile, but I felt inclined to. I've spent the past 45 minutes watching bits and pieces of videos of Bill conducting different workshops at festivals and have come away amazed at just how brilliant he truly was. Not only have we lost an innovator and legend, but we also have lost an incredible genius. R.I.P. Bill

dmiller - Posted - 10/24/2015:  16:05:55

There's a huge hole in the banjo world tonight.  May he R.I.P. 

loulouhog - Posted - 10/24/2015:  16:26:43

I spoke to bill several times over the years ,such a humble gentleman .he even sent me an autographed photo of himself as well as one of himself and bela fleck autographed ,with a very nicely signed letter.rip bill ,you will be sadly missed

eagleisland - Posted - 10/24/2015:  16:31:51

Bill Keith - what a remarkable man, and how blessed we are as players to have had him in this world!

He played with soul and verve - and with a brilliant mind that enabled him to re-imagine how the banjo is played. I've little doubt that if he'd been more interested in.. oh, say, astrophysics - he'd have been a leading light in that field instead.

Bill, thanks for all the personal inspiration, for all you've done for us banjo players, and on behalf of all of us, please say hi to Earl and Bill and the other pickers in the Angel Band.

Edited by - eagleisland on 10/24/2015 16:34:51

AmericanMadeBanjo - Posted - 10/24/2015:  16:33:41

R.I.P. my good friend

Tom Mirisola

R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 10/24/2015:  16:36:45

I had the good fortune of having a family connection with Bill and got to see him perform soon after I got infected with the banjo bug. It was a concert he played with his son Martin (a terrific guitar maker, who is also taking over Beacon Banjo incidentally). Anyway, it was an amazing show, filled with Bill's love of puns/wordplay, fantastic banjo playing and his infectious intellectual love of music and the banjo. I was able to bring him to Yale to give a talk a year or two later where he recounted a lifetime of experiences in the music business. He always impressed me most as someone who was really in it for the love of the music, the figuring out of difficult pieces of music and technological puzzles. Credit and money and all that seemed beside the point to him. He really loved the banjo. I think we're all lucky he came along and did what he did.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 10/24/2015:  16:46:15

This song and its sentiment came to my mind;

youtube.com/watch?v=XCC-c7B5-Aw

Who's gonna fill their shoes

Who's gonna stand that tall

Who's gonna play the Opry

And the Wabash Cannonball

Who's gonna give their heart and soul

To get to me and you

Lord I wonder, who's gonna fill their shoes

Ken

alfiedog - Posted - 10/24/2015:  16:46:46

:( Had no idea Bill had died...... But i will still try and copy his Devil's Dream, It's been about 5 Year's, and i still cant get it to sound anything like Bill's :( Rest In Peace Bill........We have lost a Banjo master :(

jswkingsfield - Posted - 10/24/2015:  16:52:38

Dear Bill:  Thank you for everything.  Fair journeys.

Many condolences to the Keith family.

myfavefive - Posted - 10/24/2015:  17:14:39

Bill was an absolute giant to the entire banjo and a much larger music community.  It was moving to see him honored at the IBMA Awards show just a few weeks ago as he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Thank you Bill for opening new musical doors to so many.  

Here's some of his acceptance speech at IBMA in Raleigh on 10/1/15:

youtube.com/watch?v=M_ZxvoxLmXY

And here's a Bluegrass Today article written affectionately by John Lawless:

bluegrasstoday.com/bill-keith-passes/

Edited by - myfavefive on 10/24/2015 17:30:43

Hankon5 - Posted - 10/24/2015:  17:19:48

Yet another great musician and person leaves us....Will the circle be unbroken?

Banjophobic - Posted - 10/24/2015:  17:40:31

Another one of the greats has left us. Bill was just as great a person as player. He will be greatly missed. Prayers for the banjo world and his family. 😪

Don Borchelt - Posted - 10/24/2015:  18:27:48

One of the great pioneers of bluegrass, and a great loss to us all.  We are all in his debt.

Paul R - Posted - 10/24/2015:  18:38:15

A sad day. R.I.P. Bill, and condolences to your family and friends.

Jim OBrien - Posted - 10/24/2015:  19:17:52

So very sad. Prayers for you and you're family, Bill. RIP.

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/24/2015:  19:31:52

I only spoke on the phone with Bill, he was quite interested and helpful with my project.  His family and the banjo world will very much miss him.

 

saltcreek - Posted - 10/24/2015:  20:00:24

So sorry to hear this, what a true gentleman.

steve davis - Posted - 10/24/2015:  20:19:00

I'm shocked and saddened.

RTWhite - Posted - 10/24/2015:  20:57:35

RIP Bill

Goldstarman - Posted - 10/24/2015:  21:14:07

A great loss..............prayers going out to the family

Laurence Diehl - Posted - 10/24/2015:  21:19:30

I attended one of Bill's famous workshops in Cambridge in the 70's (where this picture was taken) and it changed the trajectory of my musical path from that point on. Not just for the style that he became famous for, but for his willingness to confront genres on the banjo that hadn't really been considered before. He really laid the groundwork for the Bela's and the Noam's that came afterward and made many of us realize that you can play anything you want to on the banjo. 

Bill had the gift and he did what the best of us try to do - he passed it on.

Bill Keith and Pete Stanley

 

 

 

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/25/2015:  00:55:26

RIP. Bill

bjango53 - Posted - 10/25/2015:  01:38:17

Very sad loss. What an amazing teacher and inspiration he will always be. RIP Bill.

Tom Hanway - Posted - 10/25/2015:  02:22:48

I found this from an old friend, Marc Horowitz:



I had just arrived in Woodstock yesterday for a gig and had stopped for lunch before proceeding to the Woodstock Luthier's Invitational when my phone rang. It was Claire Keith, calling to tell me that her husband, my hero and mentor Bill Keith, had passed away early that morning. My mind instantly was flooded with memories of times with Bill; esoteric conversations on everything from the circle of fifths to the gold standard, musical interludes ranging from mentoring sessions to me actually playing mandolin with Keith & Rooney on a tour of the Northeast; road trips to see some guy's homemade pedal steel or to search for ancient vacuum tubes on Cortlandt Street; Bill arranging for me to audition for Bill Monroe (without me realizing what was up). So many memories from over fifty years of being in the orbit of one of the seminal figures in the lore of the five-string banjo and a musical genius of the first magnitude. His influence on the development and careers of thousands of musicians has been profound, and I (along with legions of others) will keep his memory alive with stories of his generosity of spirit and by echoing the stylistic nuances we all learned at his knee. Explore the cosmos, Bill! I'll see you out there...

Tom Hanway - Posted - 10/25/2015:  02:37:32

Take it handy, Bill.  I love you.