beachLIFE 2020 Issue 14 | Page 51

The weekend took a tragic turn when singer-songwriter and mentor, David Olney, passed away on stage at the Watercolor Boathouse while sharing the stage with Amy Rigby and Scott Miller. Photo copyright John Partipilo The Passing of a Legend The acclaimed 71-year-old folk artist wrote songs recorded by Linda Ronstadt, Emmy Lou Harris and Steve Earle. His humorous style of storytelling made him a key figure in the Nashville music scene, with a career spanning 20 albums over five decades. Fellow musician and friend, Townes Van Zandt, once said Olney was the best songwriter he’d ever heard. The artist is survived by his wife, Regine, and two children, Redding and Lillian.