Dear Mudcat friends, I received a call Monday night from Jean Ritchie's son, Jon Pickow, that Jean had just passed away. She was surrounded by members of her family, who sang at her bedside in the last hours. Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be sent to Appalachian Voices. There are no words to express how much Jean meant to us all, or the extent of her influence on American music and beyond. She was a friend, a teacher and a mother to generations of musicians. On the Mudcat she was our beloved KYTrad, a source of songs and wisdom and humor and good conversation. I'm sad for all of us, but happy for Jean, who lived an amazing life and died at 92 when she was ready, surrounded by love. Goodbye, Jean. Thank you.
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