Saturday, 19 March 2011

John Steane 1928-2011

John Barry Steane died Thursday, aged 83. His books are such classics that I'd imagined he was some unapproachable Parnassian figure. Yet the warmth of his personality came through even in his writing. He was formidably erudite, yet not stuffy. Underpinning his encyclopaedic knowledge was genuine wisdom and an open heart.  Significantly, he didn't set out to be a music writer until he was mature and fulfilled himself in  many ways. Now he's gone it feels like the end of an era.
Here's the fullest tribute of all - Barry Millington.

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