Rachel Blanton, a musician who performed with or contributed to numerous Louisville groups, died Thursday.
Blanton, 40, was a New Albany native and a University of Louisville graduate. A violinist, Blanton was a music educator and founding member of Bourbon Baroque. She also performed and arranged horns and strings for Abbey Road on the River, and contributed and performed with groups including Trans-Siberian Orchestra, The Commonwealth and The Pennies, her friend and fellow musician Michael Hill wrote recently for our sister station, WUOL classical 90.5.
Hill added:
Rachel’s contributions are many and will live on in those that enjoyed performing and collaborating with her as well as those that simply enjoyed listening. The list of musicians and bands she has played with is almost as countless as the lives she has touched with her music. Many musicians are revisiting their work with Rachel and commenting on the beauty of her playing and her sweet nature, and how much that contributed to their music. It is this joy of music and spirit of collaboration and peace that she brought with her to every task that perhaps can best celebrate to her lasting memory.
Here's some of Blanton's work:
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