Will Owsley, Singer and Guitarist, Dead at 44

will was a musical genius. I was fortunate enough to see him play live twice. once as a solo act in nyc and a few years later playing guitar with kenny loggins in nyc as well. i still listen to his solo cds and the semantics one as well. what a waste , he will be missed

My wife and I met Will on a plane from Long Beach, CA to Nashville 10 months after the death of our 16 yr old son, Jake. We were headed to our first Compassionate Friends conference feeling lost, alone and in pain. Will boarded right before they closed the cabin door. He was carrying an electric guitar in a cool, worn leather case, which he stashed in the overhead. I was in no mood to talk to a stranger. I wanted to be left alone. I was at the window and Priscilla was in the middle seat, with the seat next to her open. Will looked around to find his seat and I thought, "Don't sit here. We almost made it to takeoff without anyone sitting next to us. Sit somewhere else". He sat down next to my wife. She looked at me and saw I didn't want to be bothered...I missed my son. She turned to Will anyway and asked what kind of guitar he had in that case. That did it We talked the whole flight. I'm a weekend drummer/guitarist, with a passion for guitars, so that started it off. After talking about guitars and amps and pedal arrangements (he answered all my questions with patience) he asked why we were going to Nashville. Will listened to our stories about Jake, he cried with us and told us his stories. In that short flight I learned what a kind, compassionate man Will Owsley was. When I got back to Long Beach I bought all his music on iTunes. That's when I learned what an amazing musician he was. Will, you are missed more than you know. Thank you for helping me begin to heal when I was truly in despair. Please say hi to Jake for us. --Mat

The same person who turned me on to Will's music also informed me of his passing. Absoluteld shocked and saddened. Why? With so much talent..why?

His 1999 release was a blast of fresh air. Phenominal songs and engineering. Will didn't make it out to Southern Cal very often but I had a chance to see him sometime around 99 or 2000. Great talent Great show.

RIP Will

The fact that I have only just discovered this news several months after his death just illustrates the anonymity that dogged this undiscovered genius. I discovered Will Owsley's music whilst in Boston some years ago and marvelled at how such beautifully crafted and performed pop could stay beneath my, or anyone else's, radar. His two solo albums represent melodic pop songwriting genius, standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Lennon/McCartney, Ray Davies and Neil Finn. I am so, so saddened by this. R.I.P. Will. I was in Tennessee this last winter, wish I'd had the courage to look you up.

I am so sad to hear of the death of Will Owsley. He was a great musician, and a good person. I just heard about his death today online. My prayers go out to his family.

I am shocked! I listen to his record every day. it is one of my all time favorites! what a great talent. RIP Will.. I was just searching google to see if i could find live performances. and came across this article..

Correction to the record: Will was only married once, to Rebecca Walker of Anniston. They divorced a couple of years ago. Wendy is his sister-in-law.

Contrary to what has circulated over the years, Ben Folds was not in the Semantics. The drummer was Jody Spence, Judson Spence's brother, who was later replaced by Starkey. Fold's was working in the same studio with Owsley and introduced a former bandmate, Millard Powers, to Owsley, and thus the Semantics were born.

His first solo album remains one of my top ten. How sad and what a tremendous loss to the power pop world. My heart goes out to his wife and children. Thank you Will Owsley, for sharing your gift with the world.

Thanks for the tunes, Will. RIP.