TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bluegrass Performer Dies Days After Thanksgiving Festival

Tribune photo by FRED BELLET

Bill Rich sings with his daughter Amy at the Thanksgiving Bluegrass Festival. Bill Rich died Tuesday, two days after the festival ended. He was 57.

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEOFF FOX | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2008

Updated: 12/04/2008 09:01 pm

DADE CITY - Bill Rich wasn't from Pasco County, but he was as familiar to regulars at Sertoma Youth Ranch bluegrass festivals as the site's rolling hills and tree-lined landscape.

He spent last weekend at the youth ranch north of Dade City, accompanying daughter Amy's fiddle and son Nathan's acoustic guitar on the banjo that rarely left his side. The family had been participating in the Thanksgiving Bluegrass Festival and other musical events at the venue for 20 years.

Rich, 57, of West Palm Beach, died Tuesday, two days after the festival ended.

"He had a bad heart and he just went into the hospital Monday to get some water taken out of his leg," said Nathan Rich, 24. "His heart just went out overnight."

A Pennsylvania native and avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Rich owned a general-contracting business. He and Betsy, his wife of 31 years, moved to Florida about 20 years ago.

On Friday morning, shortly after the festival opened, the Riches and family friend Jim Waldeck found a comfortable spot in the shade of overhanging oaks and a large recreational vehicle. They harmonized and played together on several songs, including "Glendale Train," popularized by the band New Riders of the Purple Sage.

Through each tune, Bill Rich's fingers worked the neck of his banjo with smooth, precise dexterity.
His smile left only when he sang.

"We were raised into music," Nathan Rich said. "It's something we all did together."

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 779-4613.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT