Roderick B. MacLeod

Rory, ever the band leader, was tragically taken from his role in the music community on December 6, 2025, at the young, vibrant age of 70. He was in harmony with himself, and drew others to join in the music that he made, heard, felt, and was his life. Just as a conductor envelops his whole orchestra, he encouraged everyone he met to see their own strengths, and to contribute to the larger score, even if they didn't play an instrument. He looked for the good in people and brought out the best in them, ultimately gently weaving together an inclusive symphony of characters. His sense of humor was infectious and pervasive. He was selfless and generous, and would give the shirt off his back to one in need; however, one might find the shirt was on fire.

He received a guitar for his 11th birthday, and only put it down to learn new instruments, particularly the bass and banjo. As with most musicians, love of music doesn't always pay the bills, so at 40 he became a Verizon lineman to support his music habit. He bought a fixer-upper on acreage in Hope Valley, where he farmed mushrooms and vegetables, raised chickens, and could be found collaborating on mechanical projects. It was here that the old timey music festival, Valleytop, was born in 2021, following the devastation that COVID put on the music scene. He retired from Verizon after 20 years, so that he could play more frequently. His resume is impressive, having played with many great musicians - many more than can be included here - but he remained humble. His focus and pleasure was playing with anyone who cared to play and to learn, and bringing folks together in any venue.

Academically, his fifty-plus-year music career went chronologically backward in time, from garage rock (Austin), to rock and roll, to jazz (The Hamilton-Bates Blue Flames), to swing (Widespread Depression, Roomful of Blues), to R&B (Natalie Cole, Paul Geramia, Duke Robillard), western swing (Hatfield McCoy Trio), and somewhere in there, rockabilly (Jack Smith & The Rockabilly Planet, Little Frankie and the Premiers), finally coming to rest in American traditional music (Appalachian origins). For the last 25 years he has played primarily with his wife, Sandol Astrausky, a very accomplished fiddler. Together they became teaching associates and directors for the Old Time String Band program at Brown University. He dedicated each Saturday morning to playing at the URI Farmers Market with the band Alpaca Lunch. His versatility across multiple genres with multiple instruments kept him in high demand in random swing, country, garage rock, and rockabilly bands as needed and invited, up until the time of his death. With his network, he could put together a tight band on short notice for any occasion.

Rory was the son of the late R. Bruce and Alys (Farnsworth) MacLeod. In addition to innumerable friends, he leaves behind his musical partner and wife, Sandol Astrausky, and his devoted dog, Kip. He also leaves a hole in the lives of his three siblings: Elizabeth MacLeod of Wakefield; William Tucker MacLeod (Ann Walsh) of Matunuck, RI and Princeton, MA; and Caroline Sawyer (David) of Westerly, RI and Foxborough, MA. His nieces Alys Sawyer, Linna MacLeod, Lauren and Jacquelynn Irwin, and nephews Steven Sawyer, and Anthony Irwin; grandnephew Freeman Sawyer and grandnieces Kiyalynn Sawyer and Holland Irwin; step-daughter Vanessa Gilbert, and close cousins Georgia Nigro, Tobias and Nathan Farnsworth of Maine are also devasted. The family sends its condolences to the entire music community, which has suffered a terrible loss with his passing.

May the beautiful melody and beat of his song live on in all of us.

A memorial celebration is planned for August.