If the universe’s reclamation of two of Rock’s own weren’t enough, it saw fit to add a third to the check-list.  The departure of people that we have grown up with, who have added to our psychological makeup with lyrical insights, and who has given us a handful of bookmarks with which to remember our lives in greater detail, by song!  Bill Morrissey was one whose insightful lyrics, and great musicianship came at always the right time.

Bill Morrissey issued his first album in 1984.  With a croaking voice, and a masterful guitar touch, the folk world was given a rare gift with his works.  From his superb self-titled debut on through every release up til his self-released stunner, Come Running from 2007, Bill Morrissey remained lyrically sharp, musically adept, and as important as the day he started his journey in our direction.  Morrissey could punctuate his songs with the greatest of ease, bringing in a sax to adding more color to an already great song.  He was a master.  A haunting storyteller.  The Leonard Cohen of Country and Folk.

Bill Morrissey died on Saturday, July 23, in Georgia after a set of shows in a hotel room, a cruel result of heart disease.  Regardless, a piece of me has died along with Mr Morrissey, whom I’ll forever miss.  He was only 59.

“…I used to think that time was plenty and time was all I knew, but it gets cut short for so many.  It could be me; it could be you.  There ain’t no wind that can blow the truth back to where it stood before…”

Bill Morrissey
1951-2011
RIP