David Olney has died at age 71 while performing on stage on Saturday evening.
The singer and songwriter at first went said ‘I’m sorry’ then went silent while he lowered his head to his chest causing his fellow musicians to think he was just taking a break while on stage.
It was his third performance at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
Sad passing: David Olney has died at age 71 while performing on stage on Saturday evening. The singer and songwriter at first went said ‘I’m sorry’ then went silent while he lowered his head to his chest causing his fellow musicians to think he was just taking a break while on stage; here he is seen on Friday
Social media fan: Here is one of his last Instagram posts from the cult favorite
‘Olney was in the middle of his third song when he stopped, apologized, and shut his eyes,’ musician Amy Rigby – who was sitting next to him – wrote on Facebook.
‘He was very still, sitting upright with his guitar on, wearing the coolest hat and a beautiful rust suede jacket we laughed about because it was raining like hell outside the boathouse where we were playing.’
He did not fall to the stage but was lowered down by the other musicians.
He was part of an ‘in the round’ song-swap show with Rigby.
He worked hard: It was his third performance at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Seen in 2015
Amy added, ‘I just want the picture to be as graceful and dignified as it was, because it at first looked like he was just taking a moment.’
The singer also wrote: ‘Scott Miller had the presence of mind to say we needed to revive him. Doctors in the audience and 30A folks were all working so hard to get him to come to … We all lost someone important last night.’
Miller described the scene similarly in his own post: ‘David was playing a song when he paused, said “I’m sorry” and put his chin to his chest. He never dropped his guitar or fell of his stool. It was as easy and gentle as he was. We got him down and tried our best to revive him until the EMTs arrived. The world lost a good one last night. But we still have his work. And it still inspires. And always will. RIP.’
He died doing what he loved: ‘Olney was in the middle of his third song when he stopped, apologized, and shut his eyes,’ musician Amy Rigby – who was sitting next to him – wrote on Facebook. Seen in 2012
He was on stage on Friday with Amelia White and Mary Bragg
David was part of the folk-rock and Americana communities. and had recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris.
He had over 20 albums to his name and had just finished another one.
‘Yesterday, myself, Arana and Irakli had spent the day making final revisions to the album we made with David Olney,’ said Brett Ryan Stewart wrote on his Facebook page.
Her tribute: Abbie Gardner Dobro shared a photo with David while saying said she loved his grumbly voice
‘In the very same moment that we hit the save button, collectively yelling ‘We did it!,’ we got the news that David, who was in Florida performing, had passed away, on stage.
‘It’s all very surreal. … I am so grateful for our time together.
‘I recognized a kindred spirit in him from day one. His stories, his encouragement, his wisdom. Hands down was of the funniest, gentlest, most thoughtful and charming curmudgeons to have graced the earth. Was really looking forward to more.’
His friend Abbie Gardner Dobro also said: ‘Today I mourn the loss of my friend and co-writer, David Olney. He passed away last night doing what he loves and it feels like he took all the words with him.
His early years: Here he is seen on one of his 20 album covers
‘David is someone I wrote with every time I came to Nashville and we always managed to turn our scraps of ideas into finished songs within 2 hours. I loved listening to his grumbly voice and marveled at how tiny and neat his handwriting was, compared to my scribbly mess… I wish I had a photo of the two of us writing, bent over guitars and notebooks. That’s how I remember us best.
‘We were supposed to write together next week and I can’t wrap my head around it not happening. I always save certain ideas to write with him… I don’t know if they will go unfinished now. In this moment, I can’t find the right words for what it means to me that our last recorded song was called “Death Will Not Divide Us”… He and I would have gone back and forth with adjectives and verbs about it…
‘But in any case, I hope you’re right, David. I hope you’re right.’
He was also scheduled to appear at the Folk Alliance gathering in New Orleans next week.