Sounds of 2025: In Memoriam
The acoustic world lost some singular voices in 2025.
Michael Hurley’s wry songs and homemade art connected generations of American folk musicians. Wizz Jones, the British fingerstyle pioneer, left behind a lyric grace that shaped players from John Renbourn on down. Jill Sobule captured everyday heroes with humor and empathy, and Jesse Colin Young brought warmth and conviction to songs about love, justice, and the natural world. Peter Yarrow helped write the soundtrack of the folk revival with Peter, Paul and Mary.
Among builders, Ken Parker—who redefined the mass-produced solid-body electric with the Parker Fly—later applied the same imagination to the acoustic archtop, transforming both its sound and design. Freeman Vines carved eccentric guitars from reclaimed wood and memory, making instruments that carried personal and historical weight.
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Together they showed just how many ways there are to speak through the acoustic guitar.
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As a lifelong fan of Peter Paul and Mary and JC Young I appreciate the tributes you did in this years magazines.
Don’t overlook the eminent Scottish guitarist, Archie Fisher, songwriter and an early teacher of Bert Jansch, with songs covered by John Renbourne and Stan Rogers, who performed with his sister Ray in helping revitalize Scottish folk, and hosted the BBC Scottish Radio folk programme “Travelling Folk,” and producer of several Makem and Clancy albums. Died at age 86, 1 November 2025.