Kerry Earl Blech

I believe I first became aware of Kerry at a birthday party for Kathy Anderson in Cincinnati Ohio (sometime in the 1980´s). Kerry was in a really hot kitchen jam that went to daybreak, maybe beyond (I had to leave). The last time I saw him in person was at a treasured jam at Clifftop. I still listen to the recording. I hope there are lots of fiddle players where he is now. RIP

Sharing Kerry...

After-Thoughts of a Demenita Care Partner...

I did a very cool thing yesterday in honor of a most remarkable man I met some 4 or 5 years ago through the serendipitous ripple of events that so often occur in life. This ripple is a story from my travels through being a dementia care partner for so many years. It started after my wife died from younger onset Alzheimer's disiease and I had some serious choices to make moving forward. I'm so glad I followed my heart and decided not to go back into healthcare as an Xray tech, which I'd done for about 7 years prior to the outset of this story.
This decision was one of those big forks in the road for me and it's how I ultimately met Kerry Blech - a man known by many for his prolific knowledge of Old Time Music; and a man whose own contributions to the accounting of authentic and orginal songs, along with the story and history of their origins is so deeply appreciated. It can forever be passed on and much of it resides in the Library of Congress, along with who knows how many original recordings sent to people who showed any interest in this eclectic style of music. There's little sheet music for it and it's learned by hearing others play. Recordings are around, but they aren't always easy to find. Many of them were recorded on old 78 rpm records.
Yesterday I attended a Memorial for my friend. There were close to 100 peope there, all gathered, sharing stories of Kerry and playing old time tunes together. It was perfect! I'll let the video tell the rest of the tale. Thank you, Kerry, for sharing!

https://youtu.be/wxqWlna5XBY?si=mo0P9DzMDD7cXTs7

Just learned of Kerry's passing. I hadn't heard from him in many years, but back in the days when I was collaborating with Rounder Records, I consulted often with Kerry and commissioned him to edit their "Art of Traditional Music" anthology. The only time that we met in person was when we both drove out to Sunnyside, WA to record Stan Jackson and Jim Herd (pictured) , which proved a very enjoyable experience. On this same score, I recently learned that Vivian Williams has also died. Vivian and Phil had also played a significant role in a persuading Jim to record for our Ozark anthologies. Mark Wilson

I met Kerry in Kent, Ohio in 1973, my first year in college, when I had just started to play old-time banjo. So many incredible musicians and so many memories of travels to folk festivals and to visit musicians in WV, NC, etc. Kerry recruited me to run the Kent State Folk Festival in 1975 and 1976 (because it required being a student, and Kerry had graduated). So much music at the Lilac Gardens back in those days! I will always think fondly of Kerry and all that music.
My condolences to Sheila, Mirabelle and Gil.

Kerry and I played at the Needle´s Eye, a nonprofit coffeehouse in the UCF House, across the street from Kent State University. I never saw him again after the May 4 massacre. We all scattered and I didn´t have anybody´s contact information. I wish we had been able to keep in touch.

Kerry was a source of both inspiration and encouragement for me. He never babied me, but always did welcome and encourage me. He moved away too long ago for me to say I miss him, but I do always think fondly of him and do reflect on his contributions to me, to the Seattle community, and to the music scene at large. And to bring it down to earth, he was a really friendly and gosh darn fun guy.

I remember meeting Kerry after he'd recently gotten out of the hospital several years ago. He needed some help around the house and a friend to take him shopping since he could no longer safely drive. On this first meeting, he told me the story of how his parents met and he shared with me their most favorite song, "You Are My Sunshine", and he proudly showed me the 78 recording of the tune that belonged to his parents.
Over the next few years, I came to love him. He was a rather stoic and humble man with a dry sense of humor that we both appreciated. I loved all the stories he told me about his fiddlong friends he met along the way. Kerry was a vast library of knowledge that might well be forgotten without his enthusiastic sharing. Many of his esoteric recordings have been shared with the Library of Congress.
With the help of a few friends and a close and caring team of caregivers, Kerry stayed healthy and happy, living independently, even through Covid. Friends would drop by and play music with him on the front porch. His absence leaves a void in the old-time traditional music community and he will be missed, though always remembered with loving fondness.

I first met Kerry when playing a dance with him at the Florida Fiddlers Convention in 2003 or 2004, and was so impressed with his playing and the tunes he knew. We met again when he stayed with us on his long journey down to Gainesville. He was always such a great source of information and so generous with his knowledge, not to mention he had a sublime sense of humor. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

My first memory of Kerry had to be when I was about 3 or 4 years old. He lived one house away; our grandparents lived in the house between. We would always be at the house reading all of his (tons) of comic books. He would play his guitar on occasion. We stayed close, he was like the big brother I didn't have. Kerry will always be in my heart and his passing is really tough. The world lost an awesome man. I love you cousin.

One year at Clifftop, gnats were a real problem. Someone came up with a suggestion that dryer sheets would keep them away. I have a vivid memory of Kerry wearing a baseball cap with dryer sheets hanging out of each side, sort of like an Elmer Fudd flap hat -- I can't unsee that image of Kerry <3