Topic: Phil Wiggins R.I.P.

[jed]

After entering hospice on Monday, Phil Wiggins departed us Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer.  Wednesday was his 70th birthday.

Phil was about as kind and gentle a person as you could hope to meet.  His playing combined teamwork with a virtuosity all his own.  Many of us here knew him, learned from him and jammed with him.  Some of us enjoyed his salmon - and his famous all-day, Midnight Special barbecue!  All of us bathe in the light of his goodness, generosity and grace.

Judy has been keeping us up-to-date on Phil's GoFundMe page, where Martha posted today's notice:   

https://www.gofundme.com/f/team-love-for-phil-wiggins

As well, the NEA has published their obituary:  https://www.arts.gov/news/press-releases/2024/national-endowment-arts-statement-death-national-heritage-fellow-phil-wiggins

I'm going to miss Phil greatly, even though I knew him only through camp.  And that was a good place to know him. 

[lindy]

Several good ways to honor him, one is to play a song that you associate with him (and John Cephas), another is to read "Sweet Bitter Blues," by Phil W and Frank Matheis. It's essentially an "as told to" book, with Phil talking about his life, travels, music, and the Washington D.C. blues community that nurtured him. Long-time Port Townsend workshop participants will appreciate reading about many of the instructors we've met over the years.

A kind and generous man. Wish I had taken up the harmonica so I could have spent more PT time with him.

As Martha wrote in her announcement, "It is not lost on us that his impacts extend far and wide, we are very fortunate for that. So in his memory, love on each other, play music and share good food, laughter and folklore. That's what he would want."

Lindy

[Mike Billo]

A terrible loss. I loved his playing

[banjochris]

Was very sorry to hear this – only met him the one time up at PT but I'm very glad I did!

[lindy]

I posted this vid on Weenie years ago, I think under the circumstances it's worth re-posting, it really shows Phil's brilliance as a musician.

[lindy]

This is the Washington Post obituary:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/phil-wiggins-harmonica-master-of-piedmont-blues-dies-at-69/ar-BB1movO9

You can find it on WAPO proper if you have a subscription.

Lindy

[jharris]

I had the pleasure of interviewing Phil a few years back. The shows were inspired by the book Sweet Bitter Blues: Washington DC’s Homemade Blues by Frank Matheis and Phil Wiggins.

Washington DC Blues Pt. 1: https://sundayblues.org/?p=20471

Washington DC Blues Pt. 2: https://sundayblues.org/?p=20469

[David Kaatz]

There is a remembrance for Phil tomorrow at the Westminster Presbyterian church in DC. It's mentioned on this page: https://westminsterdc.org/ in the events section.
The post I saw on FB (dated 7/9) about it said that a link would be posted soon, but there's nothing yet.

[lindy]

The entire remembrance has been posted here:

https://www.facebook.com/westminsterdc/videos/988181429667128/

It's 5 hours long. To help you navigate and save time, I watched roughly the first two hours live, and for my interests that was the best segment--lots of personal stories told by friends and family members, interspersed with a couple of songs.

The audience then took a long lunch break in the middle hour or so. They kept the facebook stream going with lots of photos of Phil's life shown against a background of soul, jazz, and country blues songs (lots of Son House, lots of Cephas and Wiggins). Some great pics of Phil with his kids when they were little.

The last couple of hours was an open-mike situation with some familiar faces, including Grant Dermody.

Thanks for informing us of this event, David, I wouldn't have known otherwise.

Lindy

[OneThinDime]

I'm really enjoying the radio show, jharris. I'd never realised how many of my favourite artists were working in and around D.c. Thanks for sharing.