Oh man, it is so hard to lose these people! I've admired this man, not just for his faulous virtuosity but also for his spirit, for as long as I can remember. I remember hearing him on Prairie Home Companion, a perfect foil for Keillor, funny, humble, always willing to play the straight man, but getting most of the laughs.

My first "good" guitar was a relatively inexpensive production model but made by the man who made a guitar for Chet Atkins. Tho I rarely play this guitar anymore, being nylon stringed, I will always keep it on that association alone.

What a loss....and how lucky we were to have him at all....