Mountain Blog

Revered guitarist, singer and songwriter Steve Ferguson (b. Nov. 21, 1948), a founding member of famed R&B rockers NRBQ, passed away Wednesday after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 60.

Ferguson appeared on Mountain Stage in 1991 along with his band Brother Stephen & The Humanitarians (see below) and performed with late pianist and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-er Johnnie Johnson, who Ferguson backed on his landmark release "Johnnie B. Bad." He returned to Mountain Stage in 1993 with Mark Horn.

You can still contribute to the Steve Ferguson Fund here to help pay for the medical bills incurred while undergoing treatment for cancer.

"He certainly changed my perspective and approach to music," says Mountain Stage Band guitarist Michael Lipton, whose group The Carpenter Ants worked with Ferguson for many years and often invited him into the studio and on stage. "He was the proverbial triple-threat; not just a guitarist but an amazing singer and songwriter too," Lipton said.

A feature in a Louisville, KY newspaper by Keith S. Clements tells his story here and you can get a glimpse of his timeless sound on his MySpace page. "Steve Ferguson - Who is He?" it says beside his profile picture. The man never got the recognition or notoriety he deserved. Hopefully a lot more people will be turned on to his music now.