Obit: Will Keys - 4 Nov 2005

Subject: Obit: Will Keys - 4 Nov 2005
From: GLoux
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 10:42 AM

From Chip Arnold:

Will Keys left us at 7:15 this morning. He was asleep when He passed. Please keep Lola, Billy and Cathy in your thoughts and prayers. Leaving condolences in his website guestbook would be nice.
http://www.willkeys.com/index.html

Chip

Subject: RE: Obit: Will Keys - 4 Nov 2005
From: Janie
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 11:07 AM

Sad news. He was a national treasure. thanks for letting us know.

Janie

Subject: RE: Obit: Will Keys - 4 Nov 2005
From: nickp
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 12:55 PM

We had the pleasure of meeting him a few years ago. He was a delightful gentleman and wonderful banjo player. He'll be sadly missed

Nick & Claire

Subject: RE: Obit: Will Keys - 4 Nov 2005
From: Fortunato
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 02:44 PM

Chip, I appreciate your sharing the news.

Will shared some time and music with us at Galax this past year. I have pictures of that last session, thankfully. Susette's recording of the session with Will and Donnie Scott and others unfortunately does not carry the sound of Will's banjo. He was too weak to play loudly enough for the microphone to reproduce. Indeed, he was one of the last of the real, genuine article. I'm sorry I won't see him at Union Grove or Galax next year. He will be sorely missed.

Donnie Scott and Tom Mindte, of course, preserve Will's old green school bus that he drove to festivals, and if you come to Galax or Union Grove, you'll find us picking in the shade of Will's handmade awning.

Cheers, Chance

Subject: RE: Obit: Will Keys - 4 Nov 2005
From: Fortunato
Date: 05 Nov 05 - 11:08 AM

Two quotes:

"Will Keys was the first O-T musician I ever
accompanied (Galax 1998). His unflagging geniality
and true gentility made every encounter with him a
treasurable pleasure."
Fred M.

"Will Keys was considered to be one of the best
oldtime banjo pickers in the country. The National
Council for the Traditional Arts included him in its
Masters of the Banjo tours in 1993, and the National
Endowment for the Arts honored him with a National
Heritage Fellowship in 1996. In fact, Will Keys'
name is likely to come up in most discussions about
oldtime banjo pickers. The reason -- Will has a
two-finger style that is unique. It is more melodic
than a clawhammer style, but much less "technical"
than three-finger bluegrass picking."
From will's website: http://www.willkeys.com/index.html