[Kirk Lorange]

A dear old friend and twanger extraordinaire Mark (aka Sharky) Brown finally succumbed to a congenital lung disease I've known about ever since I met him about 15 years ago. At the time he told me he had between 3 and 5 years to live ... his heart was so big he lasted a lot longer.

Clancy and I met him in Melbourne in 1994 at a trade show we went to promote the newly published PlaneTalk. He was there with his wife Honey and baby son Bader and we hit it off instantly. His disease forced him to keep moving to warmer climes and he spent some time here at Tamborine Mountain before moving up the coast to Bundaberg three or four years ago. He did a lot of teaching while he was here and we did a couple of duo gigs together. We also got together for a jam when he was up to it. He could hardly breathe when he played, yet he needed to play to keep sane, poor guy.

His health deteriorated over the last year and he was going to be assessed for a heart lung transplant in two weeks. He never made it ... he passed away on the first day of 2008.

I don't think I've ever heard a more heartfelt blues guitar piece than his version of Rollin' and Tumblin'. You can hear it at his Soundclick page. Please, check it out and drop him a line in his message board. I know he's up there watching and it will mean a lot to Honey and the kids. He's survived by oldest son Bader, daughter Coco-Cherie, toddler Decklan and his wife Honey is three weeks away from giving birth to their fourth child.

I'm flying up for the funeral next Wednesday to see him off. I'm sure going to miss him, he was a one-off, a huge talent. He was a member here also, but rarely posted.

[Clancy]

My heart goes out to Honey who is to give birth in just a couple of weeks to their 4th child and to Mark and Honey's other children... Life can sure throw some cruel blows.

RIP Sharky.

Clancy

[X4StringDrive]

Losing friends is always a bummer, but to lose one you've known that long is truely like losing a family member. Condolences on your loss. He sounded like a very gifted player...Heartfelt best wishes and prayers to his family.

[knight46]

Sorry to hear about the loss, we are richer for his having been here. My condolences and prayers are with his family.

[starsailor]

Commiserations to you Kirk on the loss of a close friend and my prayers go out to Mark's Family

[coldethyl]

Sorry for your loss Kirk. No doubt his family will need all the support they can get in this very sad time.

[allthumbs]

RIP. A hard thing to lose a friend to soon. Prayers for his family.

[Rockerbob]

I offer my heart felt condolences.

[Fulltone]

Kirk, sorry to hear of your loss. Its is always hard to loose the people we care about.

[eddiez152]

Kirk,
I am very sorry to hear of this loss of your friend. A heart felt sorrow for the family and members.
Sad to see the music stop.

[doug russell]

You have my deepest sympathy Kirk. I also lost a friend to an industrial lung disease a couple of months ago. He was a big lover of all music. Although he did'nt play, if you wanted to know about any song and artist you could ask him and he knew. He made a big impression on anyone who knew him. My thought's are with you all.

[si16]

Sorry to hear about your friend's passing Kirk.

[cshude]

Condolences to you and, of course, to his family. May God watch over them in their grief.

BTW, that blues song is absolutely smokin'.

[kajwhite]

So sorry to hear the news Kirk and best wishes to the family.

Kevin

[raybaro]

My heart and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.

RIP