Kenny Edwards, (Linda Ronstadt's bass player)

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

Kenny and I knew each other when we were teenagers. In fact he briefly played in the bluegrass band Herb Steiner and I played in together.

We didn't see each other for around 40 years, but I went to see him when he was performing (for Taylor guitars) at the NAMM show a few years ago. We chatted for a while after his performance. He was happy to see me and very impressed that I now play steel.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100820/ap_ ... _edwards_1

LOS ANGELES – Kenny Edwards, an original member of the Stone Poneys country-rock band and longtime collaborator with singer-songwriters Linda Ronstadt and Karla Bonoff, has died in California at age 64.
A statement on his website says he died Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Times reports Edwards was hospitalized earlier this month in Denver after collapsing while on tour with Bonoff. He was airlifted to a hospital near his home in Santa Barbara where he died.

After the Stone Poneys disbanded after their 1967 breakthrough hit "Different Drum," Edwards formed the folk-rock band Bryndle with singer-songwriter Wendy Waldman, Bonoff and Andrew Gold.

He also was a supporting guitarist and singer for Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Brian Wilson, Art Garfunkel, Vince Gill and others.

[Herb Steiner]

I've written about it on my Facebook page, but I'll comment briefly here.

I've known Kenny for 46 years. We played some bluegrass together, and in 1968, having left the Stone Poneys, Kenny recommended me to Linda Ronstadt for her band. This began my professional career as a steel guitarist.

We saw each other very sporadically in the 70's, a couple of times, usually when he was on tour with Ronstadt in Texas.

I saw Kenny earlier this year at a gig here in Austin and we had a great reunion, as well as picking together after his gig, drinking wine and telling stories far into the night. We met the following morning for Mexican breakfast and the reminiscences continued until we both had to split to attend to other things.

He was a great singer, songwriter, guitarist, and general renaissance thinker. The world is a little bit of a lesser place now.

[Lee Warren]

I met Kenny much more recently, on shows he was playing earlier this year with Karla Bonoff, Nina Gerber and Janis Ian.
(I was assisting Janis on tour, tho' not playing).

He was a gentle and gracious man of immense talent and clearly a key element of the music I love so much.
I first heard pedal steel guitar, and was hooked, thanks to Kenny and his early bandmates.

On several dates, between soundcheck and showtime, we chatted easily over meals, as though he'd known me forever ...

I'm so glad I had a chance to meet this wonderful, gifted man.
He'll be greatly missed.

[Jerry Overstreet]

I did not know Kenny personally, but I've always admired him as a musician. I have a lot of him on vinyl...some of the Ronstadt stuff, nearly all of Karla Bonoff's solo albums as well as other records, I'm sure.

The rhythm sections are so great on these records due, I'm sure, in great part to Kenny Edwards' brilliant musicianship. Also, I always enjoyed the blend of his vocals with those of Ms. Bonoff.

Some of the best music ever IMO. Thanks for the music and the inspiration....RIP Kenny Edwards. Sincere condolences to the family and close friends.

[Russell Powell]

I saw Kenny years ago with Linda Ronstadt at the Garden State arts Center- they were fantastic and I still have the setlist in Linda's handwriting. At one point between songs Kenny walked up behind Linda, tweaked the tuning keys on her acoustic and they started the next tune with Linda cracking up. He could get away with that.
I saw Kenny with Karla a couple of times over the last few years and they were so good together. When I ordered a Karla CD from the website- Kenny handled the order, and when I mentioned that I was trying to work out the details to one of his acoustic parts- he shot the chords out to me without even being asked.
Sweet guy and what a sensitive musician.
So sorry to hear of his passing.
Russ