Club Notice

Hello Ohio Fingerstyle Guitar Club Members and Friends,

He let us know last November that he had discovered he had terminal stomach cancer. Since then he found the strength, courage and desire to come to Columbus and put on one of the finest solo concerts of his lifetime. He even came up to play bass for us at one of our little Tuesday Night Club Jam sessions - another very memorable evening. And, as much as he and I talked about having "things" put together and being spiritually prepared for "the end" - I'm still deeply saddened, fighting back tears, and choking for words as I announce to the OFGC club membership that he loved so much - that Kenny Poole lost his battle with that cancer and passed away peacefully yesterday - Saturday, May 27th.

The international music community has lost one of it's most unpretentious greats. Frank Sinatra sang it best when he crooned, "I did it my way." Kenny Poole was blessed with a world class talent of playing - no, more than simply "playing" - Kenny's genius was the ability to "arrange" finger style jazz guitar "on the fly" at complexities even the best trained jazz musicians would find difficult to chart out in a week.. Yet, in spite of continual urgings of the music industry powers to take his art to more fertile jazz communities - he chose to stay right in his home town of Cincinnati, Ohio playing his small intimate, yet very fulfilling, gigs to very appreciative audiences. He surely did it "his way" and we are so glad he did.

In that regard, I had once asked Kenny if he had any regrets, at which he initially said "no." However, he quickly retracted his comment, "Wait a minute - yes, I have two: Not getting a copy of my tribute album to George VanEpps to listen to before he died, and not keeping the guitar Clyde Edwards built for me." (This was about the same time Clyde was designing the Super Chet.) Well, folks, we couldn't find that guitar, but we made sure Kenny got to see the DVD we've made of his concert last January. It was the first time he had ever seen himself play - and, he watched every bit of it as intently as he played it. He was very pleased with his playing and hopes that it will inspire other young guitarists to reach for higher standards....

Kenny has requested no public funeral or service. He will be cremated and his family will determine his final resting place. However, he didn't see any reason his musical friends couldn't get together in a few weeks to celebrate his life "in jam.." So, please stay in touch with the club website - when that happens (and, I'm sure his buddies in Cincinnati will make that happen) we'll let you know about - and, we'll be there....

Our condolences go out to Kenny's family and close friends.

It’s a sad day,

Palmer Moore - Organizer
Ohio Fingerstyle Guitar Club