The old-time music community lost one of its biggest champions this week. Kerry Blech died on Monday, Sept. 18, in Gainesville, Florida, and left behind an incredible legacy of musicianship, scholarship and fellowship. Kerry left a lasting impact on those who knew him. Upon learning of his passing, I started to see remembrances of him on Facebook from the likes of Alice Gerrard, Chuck Levy, and many others. I never never met Kerry in person, but even still he had a huge impact on my journey into old-time music. On the advice of Old-Time Herald editor Sarah Bryan, I began emailing Kerry in January 2018 in my quest to learn more about Ohio's old-time music history and the Kent State Folk Festival . Not only did he respond, but he provided me with a wealth of information and photos to help me in my research. He also connected with me others to reach out to learn more. He was an encyclopedia of old-time music knowledge, and he was so generous with his time and willing to share what
How to learn to stop worrying and love the twang. A journey into old-time music.