Roby Duke

[stevemac]

It is with the deepest sadness that we learned yesterday of the death of our dearest friend Roby Duke. We don't know all the details but he was at home in Seattle and died from a heart attack on Thursday.

Roby has been a close associate, endorsee artist, technical consultant and musical tour de force over the years with Avalon Guitars. After several months of design collaboration this year, we were set to launch a Roby Signature model in the New Year. It was the last guitar I held in my hand before the factory closed for Christmas and I dreamt of the musical possibilities such a guitar would have in the hands of the master musician.

To say he will be sorely missed is a colossal understatement. He was unique, a talent that towered over his peers in so many aspects of music - song writing, performing, vocals, production, sound engineering and music programming. But even such myriad talents paled into insignificance to the man - a humble, caring, loving, giving person; an encourager, a true friend, a man of deep faith and profound spiritual insight and a comic genius all rolled into one. Visit his myspace and listen to Cathedral Walk to catch a glimpse.

We offer our sincere condolences to his son Brantley and the family circle.

Steve
On behalf of all at Avalon Guitars.

[Walesy]

R.I.P

[JB]

He was an amazing man ... I still can't believe he's gone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJlU7AqwdVM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22e2UMPrQp8&feature=related

[JB]

Roby's last performance ....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=50a-hSEZhng

.

[Son of Thunder]

Thanks for all the Roby links. I'll have to check them out when I get home from work. (myspace and YouTube are off-limits at work). I posted some comments over on the Avalon Artists board. Thanks to Steve for directing me here.

I didn't know Roby personally, but I miss him!

[blueguitarguy]

Hi Steve and all in guitar world,

I am one of several people who considered Roby as their "best good friend." My words will fail to describe the man he was and is even now in Heaven.

I had the pleasure of seeing Roby transform from a very good guitarist to a world class master of his instrument. There were many nights I sat on his green leather couch where he would play something he was working on, or a new song idea. I feel so blessed to have been a part of these intimate performances; however, it got to the point where I wanted to go home and burn my guitars after witnessing such greatness. (He would always introduce me as a great guitarist to his other friends - an example of how gracious he was!)

His last performance was in a church in Bellevue on Christmas Eve and I was there with my girlfriend and our kids. I am so happy that I got to be there for his final show. He was incredibly proud to have his son, Brantley, on stage playing guitar with him! (He was the finest example of a father I have ever seen.)

After the concert, he showed me his Signature Series guitar - the one he played as seen in the YouTube video of "I Shall See God." He was thrilled about the instrument. I was very excited to see it too, as I got to hear many details about the guitar months before he received it. It was an honor that he was ecstatic about! He told me about the modifications to the neck that you were making and he was very excited to get that model. He and the guitar sounded so incredible that night!

I called him on Christmas and we talked for about a half hour. He was tired from all the performances of the prior week, but looking forward to the future and beginning production of a Christmas CD with his friend Bob Bennett that would have been released next fall. He was happy to meet my girlfriend (whom I wouldn't have met without him) and her kids and to see my kids again. I got to tell him how blessed I felt that not only did I get to meet one of my heroes, but became best friends with him. (I was quite surprised not to hear, "Aw shut up, Dave.") I told him I loved him and "Merry Christmas" and I'll see you in a week for Dave Meat Pie (a dish I made he really liked).

I got the news on Friday morning that he had "Crossed the River" as they say. He was buried today in Greenwood, Mississippi where he was born and raised. For as much as I miss him, I feel very joyous knowing he is with Jesus signing and playing guitar for Him and I know that there is a party raging in Heaven over one of their heroes - Roby Duke.

I would love to see a finished version of his Signature Series guitars when it comes out. I think it will be an excellent tribute to "one of the sweetest human beings who's ever walked the face of this earth." I know he enjoyed you all immensely. It was a relationship he was proud of and seemed most satisfying to him.

God bless you guys,

Dave
(Or as Roby called me Davy Dave, Mr. Dave, or His Psychotic Friend from Bellingham.)

[stevemac]

Thank you Dave for sharing your memories and thoughts of Roby - everything you said about him rings true.

An insight into the kind of person he was could be seen when he joined us at NAMM shows in Anaheim and Nashville - we never did a NAMM show without him. Some mornings we'd arrive at the booth to find Roby vacuuming the carpet area of our stand, having just tuned up and polished the guitars on display - all 30 of them!

Miles and I attended the funeral in Greenwood, Mississippi yesterday. It was a deeply moving occasion to be there in a little chapel filled with his extended family and friends, including the guitar maestro Phil Keaggy.

A close friend of Roby from Seattle - Billy North (another of his best friends!) had traveled form the northwest with Roby's signature guitar and played it as he sang Promised Land at the funeral.

It was amazing to see the area Roby grew up in and to drive later to the old Duke family homestead right past the little store where, as a child, Roby would sit Sunday afternoons listening to Mississippi John Hurt. The whole area is steeped in music and every member of his family seemed to be musically talented in some way or another - his niece and nephew performed beautifully at the funeral. Roby was laid to rest right beside his father on whose headstone is engraved a keyboard, a saxophone and a guitar.

This Sunday there will be a memorial service for Roby at the Crossroads Church, Bellevue WA. I hope to see you there Dave and anyone else in the northwest USA who can make it.
Steve

[blueguitarguy]

Hi Steve,

I am really looking forward to meeting you Sunday. I know Roby had a great relationship with you for the past several years. He liked doing the NAMM shows and meeting people - and he LOVED your guitars! He always had a couple out on display in his home and I loved picking them up and playing them. (They really are the finest guitars I've ever played, and beautiful as well.)

Thank you for your account of the service. I think it is great that Phil was there. I'm sure you know he recently worked on a project with him on his "Comfort" cd. I imagine it was his nephew, Tripp who played. He is a great player himself.

I sell high end appliances to pay for my music habit. Five years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Viking Range factory in Greenwood, Mississippi. I, of course, knew Roby was from Mississippi, but for some reason, he always talked about being from the Delta and I never put the two together.

When I came back, I called him to tell him I came back from my trip to Mississippi. He asked me where in Miss.? I told him Greenwood. He said, "Dave... That's where I was born! My Mama is in the hospital there." Etc... What are the chances of that considering how small Greenwood is?!!!

I got to go to many of the places he'd been. We joked how maybe I could hook him up with Viking to play for their corporate events when he retired back in Greenwood someday.

I'm glad you were able to be at his service. Greenwood is a neat place and it is very fitting that he is back there.

I'll see you Sunday! Safe travels.

Dave

[sidheguitarist]

I'm so sorry to hear of this. My sympathies to his family.

What time is the service, if I may ask?
-Michael Millham

[blueguitarguy]

Hi Michael,

The service is at 2pm this Sunday the 6th @ Crossroads Bible Church in Bellevue - off of I-90.

Let me know if you need any further details.

Dave

[DrQuist]

Hello guys.. I have not posted here before , but have lurked for years.

I too was Roby's best friend. He hung out in my shop or at my houses , either in Lake Stevens or in Seattle over the years .. we never met iwhen we both lived in Southern California , but knew of each other and had lots of mutual friends,
We both moved to Seattle the same year.
Roby began the search for me when he got to 'town'. We stayed close from that time on .

In November and December ..I spent nearly 5 weeks with my Father in Nevada .. Roby called me several times... we were to link up the Thursday after Christmas for a guitar fest . HE did not call .
I did not worry about it as he was notorious for being a day late . Then Friday I got the call I did not want . I was stunned .

THe Service was great ... a room FULL of his best friends... and his wonderful son - Brantley . What a bittersweet time it was.

Thank you Steve for those great words , your comments were very moving .

[stevemac]

DrQuist, your memories and friendship with Roby binds you to us in lots of ways - thank you for your kind words. Did Roby ever discuss his signature guitar with you?

[stevemac]

Thinking about Roby and his Mississippi Blues guy persona, I have been delving into his background and researching as much as I can get my hands on about his musical influences - all the stuff I'd wished I'd asked him in more detail when he was alive.

I recall Roby telling me that as a boy, he would visit his grandma's place and nearby sit and listen/watch Mississippi John Hurt playing on the front porch of the local store - by all accounts, the front porch was a place for these communities to gather.

Right after Roby was laid to rest, I went with Miles McKee - our man in the USA - to Roby's grandma's old place where family & friends gathered for good southern food - a grand spread!

We passed the old store where Roby would watch Mississippi John Hurt play and on our way back to Greenwood MS, we stopped and took a few photos of the place - The Valley Store - now derelict and defunct.

In my delving around the net for more info, I came across a web site dedicated to Mississippi John and I am stunned at what I discovered - Roby never got round to telling me that the place where his grandma and Mississippi John lived is called Avalon and it's about 3 miles from there that Roby is buried! I still have goosebumps!

It's where Mississippi John called home - "Avalon's my home town - always on my mind", from Avalon Blues 1928. Have a look here: http://www.msjohnhurtmuseum.com/photo.html - the little store is pictured at the bottom and http://www.msjohnhurtmuseum.com for more on the blues legend.

[chris c]

There was an article in Acoustic Guitar Magazine a while back about John Hurt and the town Avalon. It appears there is a (very) small John Hurt museum there.

I didn't know Robby Dule, but liked the videos very much. Very soulful and humane.