I'm not sure if anyone here knew of my old friend Mark Brown. Shortly after I met him at a music trade show in 1995 he told me he had an incurable lung disease and probably only had five years to live. He lasted until the first day of 2008.

He was an extraordinary twanger but found it harder and harder to play as time went on -- he couldn't breathe. Have a listen to 'Rollin and Tumblin' at his Soundclick page (which I hope will be there forever more) ... to that track defines the blues ; I know for a fact that he would have had to go on an oxygen mask after recording it.

I attended his funeral last week in Bundaberg (here in Australia). He leaves behind his wife Honey, sons Bader and Declan, daughter Coco and a yet-to-be-born daughter.

:-(