Georgia blues musician Eddie Kirkland dead in tragic accident

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Georgia blues musician Eddie Kirkland dead in tragic accident
March 1, 2011
Rhetta Akamatsu
Examiner.com

Atlanta blues fans join their Macon counterparts and blues fans elsewhere in mourning the death of Macon legend Eddie Kirkland. Mr. Kirkland, who was 87 years old, died in an automobile accident in Florida Sunday, February 27.

Though he was born in Jamaica, Kirkland had lived in Macon since 1951. He had just performed a sold-out concert in Clearwtaer, Florida the night before the accident. His career began in the 1930's, when he began playing guitar in the "Sugar Girls Medicine Show" at age 12. He played alongside many famous blues musicians. including John Lee Hooker.

According to this article at Macon.com, written by Joe Kovac, Jr., Mr. Kirkland was interviewed in 1985:

" He was 65 then and when asked about retirement, he replied, “Retire?”

Then he pointed toward the sky and said, “Only one man’s going to retire me.”'

Welcome to retirement, Mr. Kirkland. Rest in peace.