Jbanjo056 - Posted - 10/24/2021:  14:46:15

Hello banjo friends,

I just saw that one of the greatest banjoists, and Bluegrass musicians to ever live, just passed away. I heard that he recently had another stroke, but thought that he would pull through.
This leaves a hole in my heart for a hero that won't be filled, as he was one of the most influential players I have ever had, and I never got to meet him. The closest I got was when a friend of his showed him a video of me and Kentucky Just Us on Facebook singing It's A Long Long Way To The Top Of the World. He told my dad that Sonny said that my fills were perfect. Thanks so much to Mr. Raymond Huffmaster for giving me this memory which I will always cherish.
My heart goes out to all that we're close to this legend. I will say once again... the Osborne Brothers will NEVER be beat.
Feel free to share your memories of him. He will long be remembered.

Kero - Posted - 10/24/2021:  14:55:52

RIP :((

Kero - Posted - 10/24/2021:  14:58:28

youtu.be/kXCd_DC7FCQ

G - Posted - 10/24/2021:  15:01:36

Still looking for some kind of official confirmation for this.

(I've seen two social media posts on it, but both have been retracted) 

Edited by - G on 10/24/2021 15:07:40

Texasbanjo - Posted - 10/24/2021:  15:10:03

I sincerely hope the information was false and that Sonny is at home recuperating.

Guess we'll find out for sure soon.

G - Posted - 10/24/2021:  15:11:46

It's already on Wikipedia, but I am reluctant to post it on my local bluegrass FB group until I am certain

geckoberry - Posted - 10/24/2021:  15:17:57

I hope it's not true, though I saw Lincoln Hensley posted it, and from what I understand, they were pretty close. RIP the chief - he'll be missed.

Edited by - geckoberry on 10/24/2021 15:18:33

G - Posted - 10/24/2021:  15:32:43

Yeah, Ralph Stanley II just posted condolences, and somewhere I saw someone comment that they themselves had spoken with the family. It certainly appears to have substance, though I STILL haven't seen a media report confirming it.

RoCopickin20 - Posted - 10/24/2021:  15:36:06

Unfortunately, it is true.

bluegrasstoday.com/sonny-osbor...ss-music/

G - Posted - 10/24/2021:  15:52:29

Yeah, no doubt now for sure.

Good Buddy - Posted - 10/24/2021:  16:29:07

RIP Sonny, you will always be one of the greatest.

lazlototh - Posted - 10/24/2021:  16:54:47

We lost another Great!
Always enjoyed his writing.
He was an inspiration.

monstertone - Posted - 10/24/2021:  17:01:01

Condolences to his family. R.I.P. Sonny. Thank you for all the great music.

Judith511 - Posted - 10/24/2021:  20:42:18

Sad news. He was one of the greats. Condolences to his family and friends.

Paul R - Posted - 10/24/2021:  23:33:54

R.I.P. to one of the best. Condolences to family and friends (musical and otherwise). Very, very few of the originals left.

Flatiron53 - Posted - 10/25/2021:  00:21:13

This is a heartbreaker. Thanks for the music Chief!  RIP

Edited by - Flatiron53 on 10/25/2021 00:21:54

phb - Posted - 10/25/2021:  00:58:35

Oh dear, I'm very sad to hear this.

chuckv97 - Posted - 10/25/2021:  01:06:42

Rest in Peace, Mr. Sonny

Emiel - Posted - 10/25/2021:  02:22:05

Sorry to hear so, a big loss…

kevin chilton - Posted - 10/25/2021:  04:39:07

RIP Chief......

Texasbanjo - Posted - 10/25/2021:  04:48:00

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Another legend is gone.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 10/25/2021:  04:56:50

So tired of losing heroes! Sonny brought great music, humor and insight to us all. He will be missed daily. I always looked forward to what he had to say and to hearing his music. What talent with a strong and enjoyable personality. Rest In Peace Chief and Thank you for everything!

Ken

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 10/25/2021 05:02:38

Eric A - Posted - 10/25/2021:  04:58:11

Putting on The Osborne Brothers Bluegrass Collection, track 12, I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky, and cranking the volume up to 11.

Edited by - Eric A on 10/25/2021 05:09:03

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 10/25/2021:  05:11:58

A recently posted track of a 2020 Sonny interview:

youtube.com/watch?v=vZL2lEhmQU...p;t=3531s

ken

ceemonster - Posted - 10/25/2021:  07:50:12

Mr. Osborne was class itself on this very forum with his gracious replies to the long-running (and long, lucky for BH) SO thread. That was a very special thing.

aletheia - Posted - 10/25/2021:  08:54:27

Yeah, Sonny was so cool on the BHO. I liked how the Osbornes plugged in and bridged with country, but they still kept it bluegrass. I feel really bad now.. like when Earl, Merle, and George Jones died.

chuckv97 - Posted - 10/25/2021:  09:11:13

This is great - Sonny and his antics
youtu.be/6dVv_SfBrG0

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 10/25/2021:  09:40:17

quote:

---

Originally posted by From Greylock to Bean Blossom

A recently posted track of a 2020 Sonny interview:

youtube.com/watch?v=vZL2lEhmQU...p;t=3531s

ken

---

You guys have to watch this. the last part  (last ;15-:30 minutes) shows Sonny's deep lifelong passion for the banjo.

ken

ken

Moose_Roberts - Posted - 10/25/2021:  09:56:44

An all time legend for sure. Best wishes for his family and loved ones. 84 years just wasn't enough.

WesB - Posted - 10/25/2021:  10:29:11

Very sorry to hear this. Sonny was my hero and I'm sure that he was to many others as well. RIP Chief.

RB3Deering - Posted - 10/25/2021:  11:41:23

Unfortunately, it has been confirmed that Sonny passed away yesterday. May he RIP and may God bless his family and close friends. I had the pleasure to meet Sonny at the 2001 NashCamp Banjo Retreat. He was a nice guy and encouraged me to email him if I ever had any questions on the banjo. And, he was gracious enough to sign my RB3 Gibson banjo head. He was the second signature that I got on the banjo at the time. The first was that of Earl Scruggs in 2000 at IBMA in Louisville. The head is still on my RB3 and has many other great signatures that I have received since then, including JD's signature, which was the third that I got in 2001.

steve davis - Posted - 10/25/2021:  12:54:43

I saw Sonny one time at Thomas Point Beach 2001.
After the show he changed his clothes to bib overalls and signed heads,instruments and records until a very long line of autograph seekers were all signed off.
He was happy to be there.
RIP Sonny Osborne.

Bad Bernie - Posted - 10/25/2021:  13:18:16

For me, he was not just an amazing, highly inventive player, but his sense of FUN always came through. Some of his backup work is delightfully playful. Listen to his backup here, on "Little Cabin Home on the Hill", from 1:22 to 1:37 You can hear him smiling !
youtube.com/watch?v=NWwwaWhxaYs

ironhead - Posted - 10/25/2021:  13:53:31

RIP Sonny! One of the VERY best ever!! He'll be sadly missed.

josephb - Posted - 10/25/2021:  16:17:32

First met the Osbornes in Richmond Va. area early 1970's. Sonny was playing the 6 string Vega

He will be missed

His commentary on Bluegrass was enlightening,  He wasn't afraid to tell it like it was from his viewpoint.

Osborne brothers with Ronnie Reno early 1970's Richmond Va

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 10/26/2021:  10:46:24

Sonny's birthday would have been this Friday,the 29th.
Can't believe more people aren't posting on this.
ken

banjoy - Posted - 10/26/2021:  11:58:40

This is a little upsetting, I never got to know him but he was a fixture banjothon gatherings and was always a hoot to talk with. RIP kind sir.

Paul R - Posted - 10/26/2021:  22:16:51

J.P. Cormier paid tribute to Sonny. youtube.com/watch?v=Q4CbaCtTzsE

chuckv97 - Posted - 10/26/2021:  22:57:55

Rest In Peace, Sonny. I only saw the Osbornes once, in Vancouver in 1979. A small folk club with about 40 attendees. Sonny actually remembered it when I asked him about it in his Chief thread. Said they went out to eat a couple hours before the show , saying it was the first time he ever had Chinese food,, and he loved it. The show was great, Sonny wise cracking between songs, of course. I never went up to talk to him after,, seemed like a flock of people were demanding his attention.

BanjoLink - Posted - 10/27/2021:  07:22:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by chuckv97

This is great - Sonny and his antics

youtu.be/6dVv_SfBrG0

---

That is funny Chuck!  It was always great to see Sonny at the Banjothon sitting in an easy chair being gracious to everyone who wanted to talk with him.  My favorite story is when some young boy around 10 or 11 wanted to hold his Granada.  Sonny told him "ok, son you are young enough so if you drop it you have the rest of your life to pay for it".  RIP Sonny!

Realbluegrassfan - Posted - 10/27/2021:  07:28:58

Condolences to the Osborne family. I never had the privilege of meeting Sonny, but I know he was a great picker.

Bohonkie - Posted - 10/28/2021:  14:03:51

So sad to hear this. Besides Rocky Top, I recall when he was writing for BNL and hurt his finger. He reminded us all to be careful around machinery, etc. But best of all I cherish the night I saw him and the band in SLC Utah in a small dive where we sat about ten feet from them, on the same floor, and there were only about a dozen or so people in the room (not counting the band). Sonny had picked up a mug from a stop-N-rob somewhere in Nevada. The mug looked like it held about a gallon! Printed in big letters on the mug were the words, "BIG SUCKER." I have a couple dozen autographs on my old 1928 Granada head that I removed when I got the banjo in 1983. That night I got Sonny's. I'll never forget him - one of the very, very best! He takes my heart with him as he walks the Spirit Trail.

banjoman69 - Posted - 10/28/2021:  17:06:06

I went to every Nashcamp Banjo camp from the beginning, except one, seems like my buddy Steve Martin made all of them. Sonny would tell stories of days gone by, and even repeats from one Nashcamp year to the next, they were always good to hear again and again. He would bring his Granada at least one of the days of camp and let you play it. Very humbling indeed.

Sonny started having banjos built by Frank Neat and after hearing and playing one, I decided I needed one. He had 3 to choose from at the time I was looking and after talking with him, he invited me to his home to try them out. In November of 2007, I traveled from east TN to his home in Hendersonville TN, and I think I stayed at least 3 hours. I realize he was selling, but he was a very gracious host and we talked about cars, how his area was growing, and just general chat. To shorten this story, I came away with #206MP10E and that engraved model is still with me today. It’s still my favorite banjo out of 5 that I have. Sonny pushed quality and I can attest to that.

He always lifted Earl up to the highest level when talking about him , and always with a high guard of respect. He certainly will leave a hole as an ambassador of bluegrass and just as a person of stardom that you could sit and talk with.
RIP Sonny

Bridgebuster - Posted - 10/28/2021:  19:09:42

Loss of a man who truly loved and respected his banjo. I would venture to say that he influenced every one of us in some way. Then even marketed his own banjo. I've never even seen a "Chief" but can't imagine it being anything but first class. My wife bought me a custom archtop for our wedding present and was told that it was shown to Sonny and that he played it for a couple of minutes. Hate to see the old masters slowly dying off. Our loss folks.

_jth - Posted - 10/28/2021:  20:53:52

He was my all time favorite banjo players ever. RIP and may his memory be eternal. There will never be one like him. His style is my favorite :,-(

Jerry99 - Posted - 10/29/2021:  01:45:15

I met him a few times, always fun!
He learned me a lot!!
Farewell!

1happypicker - Posted - 10/29/2021:  04:41:05

Oh my, what a loss to his family, friends, and bluegrass in general! RIP Chief.

chuckv97 - Posted - 10/30/2021:  06:35:11

A very good article and video from Bluegrass Today

bluegrasstoday.com/tell-sonny-...ou-chief/

railroader55 - Posted - 10/30/2021:  07:29:58

I know this forum is primarily about all things banjo but we can't forget about Sonny's amazing harmony singing with brother Bobby.
I guess if you can play a banjo like that singing comes in second. RIP.