Songwriter-guitarist Dave Kirby died of cancer April 17. The husband of singer Leona Williams, Kirby was best-known for co-writing such songs as “Is Anybody Goin’ To San Antone”, “Memories To Burn” and “There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang”. He was 65.
Steel guitarist Jeff Newman died April 7 when his ultralight plane crashed during an attempted landing. The 62-year-old Newman played with Alex Chilton, Jim & Jesse, Ferlin Husky, Mike Auldridge and others.
Blues singer Arnold “Gatemouth” Moore died May 19 at age 90. Moore grew up in Memphis before becoming a fixture in the Kansas City blues scene in the 1940s. In the ’50s he became a reverend and turned to gospel music. Moore was featured in Richard Pearce’s documentary The Road To Memphis, part of last year’s PBS series Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues.
