Don Tucker, beloved festival producer, R.I.P.

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His self-penned bio simply reads, "400 festivals and 4 million folks who enjoyed attending them."
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In the Monday edition of the Acoustic Americana Music Guide, we reported that Don Tucker had suffered a severe stroke.
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Andy Gates, father of mandolin wunderkind Scott Gates and longtime friend, was among the first to break the news to the web communities on Tuesday:
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"Sad to report but Huck Finn promoter Don Tucker passed away this morning from the effects of the massive stroke he suffered several days ago.
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"Prayers go out to his lovely wife Barb and their children Brian and Bree.
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"Don was an amazing wonderful man and was loved by all who met him. He will be sorely missed by all of us who called him friend.
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"That is truly the measure of a man, how you are remembered and Don has no worries when it comes to that." -- Andy Gates
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Andy and his wife Mimi added, "God bless you Don, you have been a dear friend. Heaven is going to have one heck of a festival. All our love and Prayers go out to the Tucker Family."
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The entire Gates family has enjoyed a special relationship with Don and Barbara Tucker. The Huck Finn audience watched Scott Gates grow-up from his pre-teen years, with his performances at each year's festival. It's where the Guide first heard and met Scott and his parents. It's where 17-year-old Scott sat-in with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and where, at age 19, Scott introduced his stellar ensemble, Salty Suites.
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Scott's farewell to Don reads simply, "Thank you, ol pal. For everything. We all love you so much."
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The Guide's editor was privileged to know Don and bring our readers news every year as he assembled dazzling line-ups for the "Huck Finn Jubilee" and added new dimensions. He was a genius who saw that inviting the "California State Arm-Wrestling Championships" to be held at the Jubilee insured bigger crowds for both, and additional funding for booking top music acts. And everything he did was done well, with class and personal commitment to quality and maintaining good feelings and smiles all around.
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Don and his wife Barbara booked many of the biggest stars in bluegrass and acoustic roots americana.  Their warm and friendly natures made countless musicians their friends. It is certain that many prominent folks from the music world will be sending messages to Don's family and mourning publicly with their (and his) fans. 
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For now, the Acoustic Americana Music Guide shares in the grief and profound sense of loss, and we join so many others in the inadequate expression of sympathy for Don's family.
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Here are a few quotes from Don's Facebook wall, offering some sense of his influence and how much he will be missed:
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"To the Tucker family - Karyn and I are so sorry for your loss. Don was a great person with a good heart and soul. I am sure that Bluegrass was only a small example of what he truly loved and put his work into. Together with all of you and his friends, he put the chaotic world on hold for all of us for one amazing weekend every year. Words cannot describe what a retreat it is to come to Huck Finn and just enjoy the music, the setting and Don's smile & handshake. I can only imagine what the rest of the year was like having him as a husband and father. But I do know what it's like to call him a friend. All of us are fortunate to have that privilege... we will miss him." -- Mark Miracle.
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"When I was a little kid growing up in Southern California, the Huck Finn Jubilee was always the highlight of my summer. I looked forward to that festival all year long. I remember sitting in class and wishing I was putting on my 'Huck Finn' costume and preparing for the bluegrass festival.
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"Don... you put on wonderful events and always supported my career in bluegrass music. You were a true friend to me, and for that I am glad I knew you. Thank you for you generosity. I will miss you." -- Danny Hootenanny Clark.
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Sondra Sondi Baker, whose L&S Promotions produces a number of bluegrass festivals in two states, wrote, "We are at a complete loss for words. A GREAT man who taught us so much about the Festival business. Also a TRUE friend. Barb, Bree & Brian, you will forever be in our prayers. RIP, our friend."
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The Guide will keep readers posted about any public memorial service.
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