I first came to Champaign-Urbana in 1985 as a shy college student. The first thing I did when I arrived was get a Mabel’s schedule and hit the local record stores. I was immediately drawn into the local music scene and was lucky enough to catch the tail end of Turning Curious and the amazing Nick Rudd. I mostly admired him from afar and left Champaign in 1991 never really getting to know Nick. I returned to Champaign in 2005, and it was during these past 15 years that I was lucky to get to know Nick as a good friend. His passion and joy for music was contagious and to see him play was magical. The world has lost a special person. Our community has lost a musical giant.