David Olney: Famed singer dies in the middle of one his songs while performing at Florida music festival
A well-loved and prolific American singer / songwriter, David Olney, was performing at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, on January 18, when he passed away in the middle of one of his songs. The 71-year-old Nashville folk musician seemed to know that something was amiss as his curtain was drawing down. Just before he died, he stopped playing and told his audience he was sorry.
… he “stopped, apologized and shut his eyes”, said musician Amy Rigby, who was performing alongside him at the festival in Santa Rosa Beach.
Rigby said: “He was very still, sitting upright with his guitar on, wearing the coolest hat and a beautiful rust suede jacket … I want the picture to be as graceful and dignified as it was, because it at first looked as if he was just taking a moment.” ~ The Guardian
Yesterday, after she had time to gather her thoughts, Rigby went on Facebook to share her thoughts on that very tragic and personal experience.
Revered singer / songwriter and Country Music Hall of Fame member Emmy Lou Harris is quoted on Olney’s website as saying:
“David Olney tells marvelous stories, with characters who cling to the hope of enduring love, all the while crossing the deep divide into that long, dark night of the soul.” Troubadour Steve Earle called Olney, “One of the best songwriters working in the world today,” and the late Townes Van Zandt once said, “Anytime anyone asks me who my favorite music writers are, I say Mozart, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Bob Dylan and Dave Olney.”
After moving to Nashville in 1973 from his native Rhode Island, Olney founded a band known as the X-Rays that put out two albums. Since leaving the X-Rays, he went on to produce more than 20 solo albums. His songs have been covered by Emmy Lou Harris, Del McCoury, Linda Ronstadt, Steve Young, to mention only a few.
Scott Miller, who was also on stage performing along with Olney and Rigby, said that when he noticed Olney was in distress, that he attempted to revive him.
“David paused, said, ‘I’m sorry’ and put his chin to his chest,” he wrote. “It was as easy and gentle as he was.”
“We got him down and tried our best to revive him until the EMTs [emergency medical technicians] arrived. The world lost a good one last night but we still have his work. And it still inspires.”
Written by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
