Amy Farris, 40, was an amazing fiddler who played with people like Kelly Willis, Brian Wilson, Dave Alvin and Exene Cervenka. She died a few weeks ago, an apparent suicide. From the L.A. Weekly:

A classically trained violinist raised in Austin and blessed with perfect pitch, Amy Farris was a beautiful raw nerve, delicate and intense, a violin-family virtuoso as well as an accomplished composer, arranger and vocalist. She'd performed or recorded with Brian Wilson, Ray Price, Kelly Willis, Bruce Robison and many others, including her hero -- she'd used that word -- Exene.

Now she had her own solo album out on Yep Roc, was getting studio work and teaching (she loved her students, especially the kids) and was a member in good standing of Dave Alvin's new band, the Guilty Women. Once her teen idol, Exene had become good friends with Amy, and they'd begun to write songs together, even though Exene was all the way out in Missouri.

One evening I showed up as Amy was winding down a phone call with Exene. She seemed happy and excited, thanking Exene for some special something. They got off the phone, and Amy had me sit down on the couch so I could properly absorb what Exene had made for her: this beautiful collage/painting -- a small, intricate piece of art that had arrived by mail that afternoon. The artwork's focus was an old monochrome photograph, and I said something about it looking like a representation of sisterly love, big sister's gift to little sister.

Amy glowed.

NOTE: Our sister site Newstalgia has the full concert of the Kinks live at the Rainbow, London, 1977 for your listening pleasure.