We just learned of the passing of Phil Mann, a great friend to the banjo community and an early pioneer of online bluegrass resources. He died on January 23, 2009 after being ill for some time.

Phil’s web site, www.bluegrassbanjo.org, was launched in 1995, long before the wealth of internet riches we now enjoy was such a commonplace. From the start, it offered free, reader-submitted banjo tablature and links to other bluegrass and banjo sites online.

Bluegrassbanjo.org has been eclipsed in recent years by more interactive sites like banjohangout.org, but any banjo pickers who were online in the infant stages of the World Wide Web will surely remember time spent with Phil, and his quirky sense of humor about himself and the music.

Phil’s longtime friend Janet Davis (of Janet Davis Music) has agreed to keep the site going, and asks that anyone who would be willing to help her administer the site, please contact her through the email link at bluegrassbanjo.org.

The Mann family has asked that any of Phil’s many online friends who would like to honor his memory to make a contribution to the IBMA Emergency Trust Fund in his name. This fund provides financial assistance to bluegrass musicians in need, and donations are tax deductible.

The Bluegrass Blog doffs it’s cap to Phil Mann for his life of dedication to the banjo and bluegrass music.

HT: Janet Davis