Those who are familiar with North Texas music may be familiar with the Fort Worth Guitar Studio, founded by Michael Dailey, and where he taught for many years. His long-time student and friend Will Douglas announced Michael's sudden death yesterday.

Friends, it is with profound sadness that I must inform you all that my dear friend, mentor, and teacher, Michael Dailey passed away yesterday morning at his home. I cannot properly tell you all how deep a sense of loss I feel today as I sit in his studio chair to give you this news. My first lesson with Michael was 20 years ago this November and it changed my life. I went from a kid who was lost, spoiled, and about to fail out of college, to the person I am today because I met this wonderful man. He leaves behind a giant footprint and I have tried to reach out to many of you, but I have become exhausted beyond my capacity, as Michael touched so many of you. That was the blessing of knowing Michael. To know him was to love him.

His studio is an institution, which I promised to him that I would continue. I will honor that promise. The Guitar Studio has brought a lot of love and music into the city of Fort Worth for 40 years and it will continue to do so. To any of his students just reading this, I know how you must be feeling if this is the first you are hearing about your beloved teacher. Please know that I am here for you if you need me.

I ask you all one favor as I help Michael's family, please pray for peace and wisdom for his children, Tess and Phoenix, and for me as well. I will need the Lord's guidance. I will miss my friend, Fort Worth's Father of the Classical Guitar, James Michael Dailey.

With love and condolences,
Will

The Guitar Studio / Classic Guitar Center

Michael was an excellent classical guitar performer and instructor, but his early guitar roots were in blues and rock and opening for big bands at regional concerts. Students pursued several types of performance at his studio (my son, a student for four years, alternated between classical and blues).

On a personal note, Michael was recommended to us through Mudcat. Wesley Smith I think is the one who first told me about Michael and his work not just at his studio but in running a guitar program in a northside school (middle or high school) and how funding for that was raised via several concerts sponsored every year with performers who flew in from around the world. I've stayed in touch with a number of those performers and students - it will turn out to be a large and diverse family that Mr. Dailey touched in his years of performing and teaching.

R.I.P.