Fiddle players are a joy to watch on stage, and the Tampa Bay music scene has one less after the death of The Bearded Brothers Band's Rob Cartwright.
The 33-year-old died in a motorcycle crash on Sunday night. Florida Highway Patrol says he was traveling south on U.S. 19 in New Port Richey when a northbound driver (Francine Cherry, 56) turned into Cartwright's path causing him to strike the back of her four-door Suzuki. Cartwright died at a local hospital.
Cartwright attended Blake High School in Tampa, and friends have described him as one of the nicest guys in the world.
"Rob was one of the first people I met at Blake High School. He asked me to sit with him at lunch that first week," James Collins wrote in a Facebook post. "Seems like a minor thing, but I'll never forget that feeling of acceptance from him."
Songwriter Palmer Wolfenden was also influenced by Cartwright and played music with him onstage.
"I really hope he knew this when he was still with us, but [he] one of the most influential people in my music," she wrote, "[performing with him] really helped me to blossom into the performer I am today and I'm tragically saddened by the loss of this fantastic man."
Funeral arrangements are pending, but Snappers Grill & Comedy Club in Palm Harbor has organized a benefit show on Saturday, December 3. Doors are at 1 p.m. EST, and a $10 cover will go towards a donation to Cartwright's family. Additional details are pending, but bands who would like to perform are being asked to call (727) 433-1515.
The Port Richey Rotary has also booked a big benefit show at Sims Park on December 17 where a raffle is also being organized.
More information on the shows are available at here and here.
Here's a video of Cartwright playing "Amazing Grace" at High Octane Saloon in Homosassa, Florida. YouTube user Amye Eastman says it was from November 27, 2016, which would've been just hours before Cartwright's accident.
This article appears in Nov 24 – Dec 1, 2016.