RIP Chris Whitley

Paul B · November-21st-2005, 05:00 PM

Not sure who--if anyone--around here is a fan of Chris Whitley. He used to hang out at a bar in the Village where I was a regular (Sisco, Bivens, and a few others have been there), but had been in Germany the past few years. Always a man with demons, but it came out in his powerful music, deeply rooted in American blues. Seeing him live--as I did a year or two back at Joe's Pub--was an awesome experience.

I'm told he passed away last night from complications from cancer.

RIP Chris Whitley.

Chris D · November-21st-2005, 05:17 PM

Aw, no. Sad, sad news.

"Living With the Law" is one of the '90s finest records.

Gentle Giant · November-22nd-2005, 08:33 AM

Whoa. I just read this online this morning:

Singer-songwriter Chris Whitley has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Whitley's brother Dan reported on the artist's official message board that the disease is in its late stages and that Whitley is in home hospice care. The artist was reportedly a heavy smoker. ''As I type this Chris is resting peacefully and is in little physical pain," Dan Whitley wrote. ''At one point today he grabbed my hand firmly as I spoke to him, looked at me and smiled his usual knowing smile but that is all and that was quite enough." In October, Whitley canceled his fall tour dates due to an unspecified illness. The artist's 11th album, ''Soft Dangerous Shores," was released in July; a new release, ''Reiter In," is due in mid-December on vinyl and will appear on CD sometime next year.

hearsay · November-22nd-2005, 12:07 PM

Wow, I had no idea he was ill, this is very sad. He was such a soulful, genuine musician.

Dennis Gonzalez · November-23rd-2005, 10:41 AM

Chris was one of my favorites. I first heard Living With the Law in a warm Norwegian apartment in the early 90's. Beautiful, beautiful music.

I will miss him.

Jason Bivins · November-23rd-2005, 01:44 PM

Narcotic Prayer, baby. RIP, Mr. Whitley.