In Memory of David Schnaufer.

Johnny Cash. Emmylou Harris. Mark Knopfler. Chet Atkins. Mark O'Connor. The Judds. Kathy Mattea. Cindy Lauper. What do they all have in common? They all recorded with David Schnaufer.

To hear him tell it, David Schnaufer came to Nashville in the 1980s from his native Texas "going down the road in the back of an old pickup truck." He had few possessions, bringing mainly his passion for music, the dulcimer in particular. A few short years later, he was offered a teaching position at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music, which he gladly accepted. He recorded with countless musicians, and taught countless students to love an instrument many had never heard. Along the way, he also touched a lot of lives and made a lot of friends.

Friends were never hard for him to find. He was one of the most genuine, funny people I've had the pleasure of coming across. Knowing about my borderline Frank Zappa addiction, he loved to tell me the story of seeing Frank and Captain Beefheart play together back in the 70s. We would talk about Zappa songs that would sound good arranged for dulcimer. I remember that we agreed "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance" would be solid. He said he was going to learn it and put it on his next record. That chance, I suppose, never came. He died August 23rd of cancer at Alive Hospice here in Nashville.

His memorial was fitting-beautiful music played on the dulcimer by some of his former students, and one of the most eclectic crowds of friends and family ever put together. He left us too soon, but he left a wonderful legacy. May he rest in peace.