As reported by TMZ with photos, Col. Bruce Hampton popular musician in Atlanta collapsed staged during the middle of an encore for ‘Turn on Your Lovelight’, at his 70th birthday celebration.

The band kept on playing, as they thought it was part of the performance.

Hampton was rushed to the hospital, where he died.

Bruce Hampton was listed as “the Granddaddy of the Jam Scene”… and speaking of Grandaddy, Grandaddy’s bassist and co-founder Kevin Garcia, died at the age 41 to a stroke.

The band actually reformed and recently just wrapped up a UK tour in in support of their new album Last Place last month, and was set to go on a U.S. tour … but with Garcia’s death, the U.S. tour may be on indefinite hiatus.

The band made this announcement:

There are no accurate words to express what we need to.
We are absolutely shattered to say that we lost our friend and band mate Kevin Garcia early this afternoon. He succumbed to the effects of a massive stroke.

We were all able to say goodbye to him and he was surrounded by his closest friends and family here in Modesto.
Kevin started playing with Grandaddy when he was fifteen. He was an actual angel. He navigated life with a grace, a generosity and a kindness that was utterly unique. And contagious. He is loved so deeply by so many.

Kevin was a proud father of two children, Jayden and Gavin. He is survived by his grandmother Joan, his parents Randy and Barbara (who let us practice at their house until 2001…and who are the best), his brothers Craig and Jeff and his wife Sondra.

We’ll have more to say in the days ahead. Right now the four of us are grieving together. With great sadness and love, Grandaddy

There is a gofundme here to help with his family’s coming expenses: gofundme.com

I caught Grandaddy a little over 16 years ago at First Avenue on 09 May 2001, with all the original band members, including Kevin Garcia.
Although, I will confess I haven’t exactly followed their new music, I still love The Sophtware Slump and think it is one of the best albums of all time.

UPDATE 5/4/2017: We just confirmed the tour is canceled:

Given the circumstances, we unfortunately have to cancel our upcoming US tour dates. We hope to reschedule these at some point in the future. The dates are below.

May 7 – Vancouver, Canada
May 8 – Seattle, WA
May 9 – Portland, OR
May 11 – San Francisco, CA
May 12 – Los Angeles, CA
May 13 – Pioneertown, CA

With great sadness and love, Grandaddy

Below are more deaths for the month of May – for the full death list: Musicians who died in 2017.

May (4)

[02 May 2017] Kevin Garcia (American bassist for Grandaddy), 41, stroke
[02 May 2017] Péter Komlós (Hungarian violinist), 81
[01 May 2017] Bruce Hampton (American musician for Hampton Grease Band, Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit), 70
[01 May 2017] Erkki Kurenniemi (Finnish musician), 75