, an Americana singer-songwriter whose works were covered or cowritten by Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Linda Rondstadt, Steve Young, Del McCoury and Laurie Lewis, has died. Olney passed on Saturday night while performing onstage at the 30A Songwriter Festival. He was 71.
, a beautiful man, a legend, a songwriting poet died last night,” Rigby said. “I was sitting next to him in the round, had been so honored and looking forward to getting to trade songs with him and Scott Miller. Olney was in the middle of his third song when he stopped, apologized, and shut his eyes.
“Scott Miller had the presence of mind to say we needed to revive him. Doctors in the audience and 30A folks were all working so hard to get him to come to. It’s hard to post about this because I can’t really believe he’s gone. I am so sorry for his wife and family and friends and all the people who loved him and his music. Even those who never heard of him. We all lost someone important last night.
Very sad