Sue Draheim obit

Sue Draheim Obituary

 

She was not on the list.

Musician and artist Sue Draheim, an Oakland native, died Thursday, April 11, 2013 at her home in Berea, Kentucky. She was 63. Sue had a heralded international career as a diverse violinist and fiddler in classical, blue grass, Irish, and folk music, with over 30 record albums to her credit.

Sue won first prize at the Pulaski, Virginia Old Time Fiddlers Convention as well as being featured in a cover article, "Sue the Street Fiddler," in the S.F. Chronicle's magazine supplement.

Throughout her amazing career, she performed and recorded with talented musicians like Jim Bamford and Mac Benford, Howlin' Wolf, Quicksilver Messenger Service, John Fahey, John Renbourn, Ashley Hutchings, Joe Cooley, and Richard Thompson. She joined the Any Old Time String Band in 1977. During the 90's she free-lanced in several Bay Area /Northern California regional orchestras, chamber groups, and toured with The Lamplighters, and the Western Opera Theatre. Going back to the fiddle she played and toured with The Golden Bough, Caliban, and Tempest.

In 2011, she moved to Kentucky with her life-partner, Wayde Blair, and quickly won over everyone. She loved her Kentucky life. Her last recording was a CD with Wayde, "Live at the Art House".

Originally trained as a classical violinist, Draheim became involved in many other genres and recorded albums with groups representing Cajun, Old Time, country, Zydeco, folk jazz, Irish and British folk music. Early on in her career, Celtic fiddle became Draheim's major focus.

While Draheim was primarily a fiddler, she never lost touch with her classical training, and was a member of the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra and the Bay Area Women's Philharmonic as well as UC Berkeley's University Chamber Chorus; Draheim, along with fiddler Kerry Parker, also "augmented" the harp trio "Trillium". She also played in the US premiere of Frank Zappa's experimental orchestral piece A Zappa Affair. She was described by Gael Alcock, cellist/composer with whom she performed one of Alcock's pieces, as "fiddler extraordinaire".

In addition to her musical accomplishments, Sue was an avid gardener and artist. She brought light and creativity to all her endeavors, including her friendships and her family relationships.

She is survived by brother(s) David & Alan Draheim, niece and nephew, Robyn & Christopher, Sister-in-Law, Roberta Draheim, and beloved life-companion, Wayde Blair, of Berea, Kentucky. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.