Robert Kirby RIP

Posted by: JWM on 23 October 2009

On 3rd October 2009 Roert Kirby died aged 61. He came to prominence as the orchestral arranger for Nick Drake. They were Cambridge University acquaintances (Drake at Fitzwilliam, Kirby at Caius) originally introduced by a mutual friend. Drake originally sold very poorly; it was only with his untimely death in 1974 that the really music took off. And after this Kirby became sought after, working with most of the 'usual suspects' in the English folk/rock panoply, right down to Paul Weller.

Nice tribute on BBC R4 'Last Word', 23rd October 2009. Starts at 17 mins 05. Click here

Posted on: 02 November 2009 by rupert bear

Very revealing obituary here:

http://www.independent.co.uk/n...ostello-1811607.html

He was heavily involved in some of the great folk/rock artists of that era, some of which I've listened to for years without noticing they were his arrangements.

Posted on: 02 November 2009 by Guido Fawkes

A very sad loss - he leaves a legacy of outstanding work.

Posted on: 02 November 2009 by jamesfuge

I had the pleasure of seeing Robert Kirby in action just two weeks before he died at a Strawbs concert in Twickenham. The music that flowed from his orchestra was nothing short of stunning, and had a lot of the audience in tears, This was Probably his last performance and a wondeful one it was. RIP

James