Eddie Kirkland a well-regarded blues musician and guitarist, rocked the house Saturday night at the Stogies & Stout event at Dunedin Brewery.
Sunday morning, Kirkland, 88, died in Tampa General Hospital, where he was taken after his car was hit by a Greyhound bus on U.S. 98 in Citrus County.
Michael N. Bryant, founder of Dunedin Brewery, had this to say on his Facebook page:
“Meeting him early Sat. morning as he looked over our stage, sitting with him after the show will be branded in my memory.
“I asked where his favorite place to play was, he said, ‘any place there are nice people.’
“I asked if he still liked touring around and he said, ‘I like it better than sitting around.’”
When I saw Eddie before the show, I almost went up to introduce myself, but I got distracted by something else. I’m sorry I didn’t, but I’m honored to have been at his final show in this life.
Thank you, Eddie, for hanging out with the “nice people.”
Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans.
“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Red Auerbach.
Update: In October 2011, Koch General Catalog re-released the classic Eddie Kirkland album “Pick Up The Pieces” on CD, with bonus tracks.