Roy Alan Bookbinder (October 5, 1943 – March 3, 2026), known professionally as Roy Book Binder, was an American blues guitarist, singer-songwriter and storyteller. A student and friend of the Reverend Gary Davis, he was equally at home with blues and ragtime. He was known to shift from open tunings to slide arrangements to original compositions, with both traditional and self-styled licks. His storytelling was another characteristic that made his style unique.
. . . . . . . . . .
By the mid- to late 1960s, Book Binder was recording for both Kicking Mule and Blue Goose Records. In 1969, he toured England with Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup and Homesick James.
After meeting another of his musical influences, the bluesman Pink Anderson, Book Binder released his first album, Travelin’ Man, on Adelphi. The album was named after one of the songs he learned from Anderson.
In 1973, he began a partnership with the fiddler Fats Kaplin, and they recorded Git Fiddle Shuffle in 1973. They performed together for three years, playing numerous concerts and recording a second album, Ragtime Millionaire, in 1977. After this partnership dissolved, Book Binder began touring the country, living in a motor home, and concentrating on live performances.
Book Binder has been described as a guitar-picking hillbilly bluesman. He released 12 albums and performed at most major blues and folk festivals in the U.S. and Europe, including Merlefest. . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Bookbinder died on March 3, 2026, at the age of 82.
Go here to read the full bio:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Book_Binder
OTHER NOTABLE MUSICIANS’ DEATHS
From COMBO member Linda Storey: So sad! Yesterday a good friend, musician, and sound man passed away – Berry Teeham. He was originally from Ireland and then he was a bartender at Mulligan’s Irish Bar in Amsterdam. He came to Colorado with Mark Gilligan’s Band in 2008 to record with my band in John Macy’s Studio. He was so much fun! I’m missing him already.
We’re saddened to hear this, and mourn the loss of your friend, Linda. Rest in paradise, Berry.
Warning Signs of Suicide – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or if you want to discuss, call the old numbers at 800-273-TALK or 800-273-8255 for English and 888-628-9454 for Spanish. Learn the signs of someone who may be contemplating suicide.
Posting for my Veteran/singer/songwriter/musician friend Troy Hoss: Heavy on my heart so here goes: This is a very real problem … 22 Veterans a day surrender to their demons. #SuicideAwareness | Call Veteran’s Hotline: 988 #1 or 844-647-1354
From Care2 via Jock Bartley on Facebook: Trump shut down our LGBTQ+ suicide and mental health hotline, but CANADA opened a US toll-free number to theirs… so our citizens can get help anytime, at no cost: 1-877-330-6366
Kindness & empathy have no borders.
If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost, please check them out at http://www.wikipedia.com
March 2026
10: Thakkali Srinivasan, 72, Indian film director (Jenma Natchathram, Witness, Aduthathu) and musician; Willie Anthony Waters, 74, American opera conductor and artistic director (Connecticut Opera); Zalek, 30, Colombian reggaeton singer, traffic collision.
9: Tommy DeCarlo, 60, American singer (Boston), brain cancer; Zeph Ellis, 37, British rapper.
8: Dilworth Karaka, 75, New Zealand musician (Herbs) and songwriter (“Sensitive to a Smile”); Mantana Morakul, 102, Thai singer and actress.
7: Vidi Aldiano, 35, Indonesian singer-songwriter, kidney cancer; David Brigati, 85, American singer (Joey Dee and the Starliters, The Rascals); Donny Fattah, 76, Indonesian bassist (God Bless) and songwriter, sarcopenia, vascular blockage, and autoimmune diseases; Walter Martino, 72, Italian drummer (Goblin); Country Joe McDonald, 84, American singer (Country Joe and the Fish) and songwriter (“I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag”), complications from Parkinson’s disease; Augie Meyers, 85, American musician (Sir Douglas Quintet, Texas Tornados).
6: Franco Vito Gaiezza, 66, Italian musician and writer, heart attack.
5: Jacques Michel, 84, Canadian musician and songwriter; Mihail Secichin, 82, Moldovan pianist, director of Maria Bie u National Opera and Ballet Theatre (1990–1992).
4: Bernard Rands, 92, British-American composer.
3: Roy Book Binder, 82, American blues musician; Gustav Gunsenheimer, 91, German composer and church music director; Zsolt Kerestely, 91, Romanian composer and conductor.