R.I.P. guitarist Marc Roy

Sadly, talented guitarist/mandolinist Marc Roy – who made every band he played with sound better – has passed away far too soon.

Chris Quinn remembers Marc Roy

Many years ago, Dan Whiteley phoned me.  “Quinn!  You have to come to OVs right now!  There’s some kid tearing up a mandolin and you have to hear him play.”  I arrived at the last minutes of the third set.  

Sure enough, on the stage among the 5 over 50-year old musicians, there was a skinny 17 year old kid with a ball-cap and a huge blingy chain around his neck, playing a plugged in Washburn mandolin, and he was playing his third variation of Bill Cheatham at 180 beats a minute!  His playing was impeccable! Every note was a diamond! Clean, super creative, great note separation, and loud!!  The mandolin kid was Marc Roy. 

Dan and Marc and I became regular picking buddies; Marc and Dan bonded strongly as both worshipped Tony Rice as their guitar hero!  Marc was instantly adopted by the Toronto bluegrass scene.  Underage Mark would walk in, guitar in hand, with the band so that no security would stop him.  Soon, everyone knew about this young virtuoso.  He would go on to play with countless musicians and bands. He was also a caring musical mentor. 

Marc would play with anyone. He was often the best musician in the room, but he treated other musicians like they were the best musician in the room.   Marc‘s guitar playing lifted anybody that played with him. He made good bands sound great, and he gave songwriters the benefit of his musical taste when he backed them.  At the height of his powers, Marc was unmatched anywhere.   Also, Marc never had an unkind word for anyone. 

 

Marc had demons, and demons wreak havoc!  Marc did not always make the best decisions but anyone who knew him recognized his goodness.  Marc loved his friends and family and his friends and family loved him.   If you wanted to see Marc light up, you just had to ask him how Eva was.

I don’t know how many jobs I did with Marc!  Whenever we parted, Marc would say, “Love you, man.”  He meant it too. He said that to a lot of people.  He had a lot of love to give.

RIP Marc Roy 

Love ya, man.

Chris Quinn plays "Marcel's Farewell" on mandolin as a tribute to Marc Roy right here. Watch a few clips of Marc performing below.