Remembering a Great: Jeff Austin Dies at 45

Last week, the music community lost a great figure. Jeff Austin, celebrated mandolin player and co-founder of Yonder Mountain String Band, passed away last Monday after being put into a medically-induced coma. He was 45 years old.

Austin was actively touring with Jeff Austin Band when several shows were abruptly canceled due to a “medical emergency.” He was admitted to a hospital in Seattle, where he died a few days after.

A Community Mourns

The up-welling of of love, support and condolences from the music community has been far-reaching. From fans on social media to his musician peers to live music venues he played, everybody has sent condolences and paid tribute to one of the pillars of the modern resurgence of bluegrass music.

My Own Experience

Austin’s death also hit me on a personal level. On top of being sudden and completely unexpected, Jeff Austin was one the first musicians I have ever had the pleasure to cover. I was just starting with my first blog, Great Music Never Stops, and I decided to take my camera and a voice recorder to a Yonder Mountain show at Revolution Live in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. You can read that early article here.

I remember the energy best. Dave Johnston had his picking hand in a cast that day, but it didn’t seem to slow him down a bit. And Austin – well, Jeff Austin was a force of nature on the mandolin. A true virtuoso, his playing that night captivated me. It was Jeff Austin that got me interested in the bluegrass resurgence. Back in the day, that curiosity led me to groups like Railroad Earth, The Infamous Stringdusters, and Leftover Salmon.

So I want to take this week to remember Jeff Austin, a player like no other who single-handedly influenced the course of my musical and journalistic development. You are greatly missed, Jeff. Much love to you and to your family and friends.

-Chris Lazaga
AudioMunk

You can donate to Austin’s family in this time of need by following this link.