Bobby Caldwell Passes away

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 8 Nov 2009 1:26 pm

Oh no, not Bobby, please can someone say that is is not true. I admit that I have tears running from my eyes as I write this. Words can never say what I have in my heart now.

Thanks, Bobby, for all the wonderful moments you gave us, your life, your music and simply being yourself.

My prayers and condolences go out to Linda and the family, my thoughts are with you.

Walter Stettner
Vienna, Austria

bruce fischer · Post by **bruce fischer** » 8 Nov 2009 1:42 pm

linda and family, our condolences and prayers to all of you. i have tried writing this so many times. there is just no way to express what i am feeling. so let me say, bobby we love you. bruce & lynn

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 8 Nov 2009 1:51 pm

I'm shocked. I thought he was being discharged home from the SNF he was at. I just assumed that meant he was doing better.

I first heard Bobby at the StL Steel Convention in 1977. His guitar playing stood out then, and was a highlight for me at any of the subsequent conventions I attended. The steel community will always miss this guitar master.

If Bobby is not already a member of the Steel Guitar HOF, he needs to be inducted ASAP!

Bob Callaway · Post by **Bob Callaway** » 8 Nov 2009 2:13 pm

Our condolences to Bobbys family. He was loved by all who met him and heard his playing. He will be missed by the entire music industry.
Bob,Barb Callaway & Margit Stepp with Derby Steel Guitars.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 8 Nov 2009 2:15 pm

Words fail me. Our community has lost one of our greatest treasures, and I've lost a beloved friend.
I can't write any more.

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 8 Nov 2009 2:16 pm

When John Farrell called early this afternoon, I almost knew what it was when John's name came up on my phone, because I knew they was in Nashville visiting other friends. This is such sad news.. but as others have said, Bobby is in a much better world with Our Loving Savior Jesus Christ. May God watch over Bobby's family. Larry and Jean
Bobby will be sadly missed.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 8 Nov 2009 2:50 pm

"Love ya, pal."

Bobby and I never ended a phone conversation without me hearing those three words. I hurt so deeply right now, knowing I will never hear those words spoken by that voice again.

We who were so close to Bobby were well aware that the great inevitablility would sooner or later be upon us, but that does little to lessen the grief that now engulfs me. I type through my tears.

We have lost one of the world's greatest guitarists, true enough. But more than that, one of the greatest friends, and human beings, I've known.

"Love ya, pal."

Ray Campbell · Post by **Ray Campbell** » 8 Nov 2009 3:09 pm

I've known who Bobby Caldwell was for many years but never had the opportunity to meet him until a few years ago. I was not disappointed in the meeting because he was everything I had been told he was. Thank goodness I had the pleasure of appearing on stage with him a couple of months ago and therefore will always have that memory. I wish the family well in these trying times.

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 8 Nov 2009 3:24 pm

So very sorry to hear of this news.
My condolences to the family & all his many, many friends.What agreat guitar player he was & also
admired by many.. Ron

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 8 Nov 2009 3:45 pm

Rest in peace with the Lord now Bobby.
You'll be deeply missed but never forgotten.

My condolences to the family.

Don Sulesky · Post by **Don Sulesky** » 8 Nov 2009 3:56 pm

He was one of the greats of all time.
There wasn't anything he could not play.
He will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him.
Don

pdl20 · Post by **pdl20** » 8 Nov 2009 4:01 pm

So sad to lose him,what a great musician,friend and family man.He will be missed. One year ago Today i lost my Mother also.God bless his family . Rest in peace with the Lord Bobby .

Laney Hicks · Post by **Laney Hicks** » 8 Nov 2009 4:14 pm

You know how you meet someone and you just "know" they're 'good', and then after you have the opportunity of spending a considerable amount of time in their presence, you realize that you were absolutely right about that? Bobby Caldwell was a 'good' man, a gentleman, in every sense. I'll remember him, mostly, for that quality. But, then there's his awesome talent and knowledge of recordings and musical history! What fun to be in a room with Russ, John Farrell, and him and just "listen" to the exchange. Bobby got excited about the music he played or was sharing, as if he were discovering it for the first time, himself. His love of Music was perfectly authentic, and so was he. His frustratingly premature passing does, indeed, leave a peerless void where he stood...We will all miss him.
My love and prayers for Linda and all those closest to him there.

Laney

Jim Means · Post by **Jim Means** » 8 Nov 2009 4:47 pm

This is really hard news. As others have mentioned, Bobby's musicianship was only surpassed by his greatness as a person. He will be greatly missed. Our prayers will be going out for Linda and all of the family.

Thank you for the music, Bobby.

Jim and Helen Means

Duane Dunard · Post by **Duane Dunard** » 8 Nov 2009 4:58 pm

I will miss Bobby greatly. My prayers go out to Linda and the family. D.D.

David Thornhill · Post by **David Thornhill** » 8 Nov 2009 5:29 pm

Although I wasn't around Bobby very much, I thought a lot of him, and admired him as a great person and equally great guitar master. your friend Dave Thornhill

Frank Estes · Post by **Frank Estes** » 8 Nov 2009 6:09 pm

This is truly sad. Although I did not know him, I saw him play several times. His work on 2 of Herby Wallace's CDs was a perfect compliment to Herby's awesome playing. Just like the caption under Bobby's photo in Scotty's Anthology book: Bobby Caldwell the steel player's friend. RIP

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 8 Nov 2009 6:18 pm

Never met Bobby, not sure that I ever heard any of his music, but given the comments here, he must have been a super guy. So sad to see another good player gone from our circle. RIP

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 8 Nov 2009 6:20 pm

A great loss is hard to bear. Bobby was a fantastic guitarist and a steel players friend. May God comfort the family during this difficult time.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 8 Nov 2009 6:26 pm

So sad to hear this. Bobby was a true gentleman and an inspiring musician.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 8 Nov 2009 6:31 pm

Gonna miss you Bobby but God has sure got one heck of a guitar player. I will always have the memories of your playing like doing Mooney licks on your guitar and cracking everybody up. Rest In Peace Bobby.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 8 Nov 2009 6:33 pm

I didn't know Bobby personally, but did see him play a lot at the ISGC, and can attest to his pure talent. At the '08 show, I took a picture of him during Neil Flanz's set. While I was pointing with my camera, he gave me the nicest, warmest smile. It was very touching and memorable, and it always stayed with me. I would have liked to have met him, but I feel lucky with the memory of this brief but meaningful exchange. Rest in peace, Bobby.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 8 Nov 2009 6:55 pm

What a sad day. My condolences to all Bobby's friends and family.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 8 Nov 2009 7:06 pm

We're very sad to hear about Bobby's passing. He suffered alot over the past few months and he's now in a much better place. Bobby was the very finest guitar player the Steel community could ever have had for accompanyment on stage, a real class act in my opinion. He will be deeply missed and our prayers go out to his wife Linda and the family.

Nick & Linda Reed

R.I.P. Bobby Caldwell

Bob Taillefer · Post by **Bob Taillefer** » 8 Nov 2009 7:13 pm

Debra and I are very saddened by this news. A legend has left us. May he rest in peace.

Bob and Debra