R.I.P. - Rich Conaty - 12/30/16

I was really saddened to learn of his passing. I never got to meet him, but he as a personal friend to many on these boards.

As mentioned in the Prominent Passings thread, he was one of the most knowledgeable people out there in a field for which knowledge is dying off rapidly and not being replaced. The music and culture of the pre-WWII era is no longer hip, trendy, or "cool," which makes it that much more important and difficult to preserve it. Rich's loss will be greatly felt among those of us who've made it our personal business to see that this knowledge doesn't die out completely.