Today I received a message from good friend, blues musician and fellow podcaster Mark Kerr that another fellow podcaster Les Lewellyn has died. Although I never had the opportunity to meet Les personally, his absence will certainly be felt. Les Lewellyn, Mark Kerr and myself produce music podcasts that are carried by Kansas City Online Radio (KCOR) and as such I feel that in some small way was part of his extended family.

Here is a copy of the message that Mark Kerr left this morning on Myspace

Hello friends and fans,

It deeply saddens me to inform all of you, that my best friend Les Lewellyn, passed away in his sleep Tuesday March 11, 2008.

Les was the DJ for the #1 online blues radio show called “The Road Rash Blues Show.
Les also had other online radio shows such as,

1. The Hot Sheet Mon Show - #1 Rock Radio Show online.
2. Chill Pill Show
3. Pirate Radio Hard Rock Show
4. Pirate Radio Soft Rock Show
5. Road Rash Blues Show - #1 Blues Radio Show online
6. No Mans Land - All female artists
7. The Eclectic Podcast
8. Instrumental Madness

Les touched many lives through his shows.
He marketed, featured and promoted indie bands and artists of all genres’.
That otherwise, may have never been given a chance to have their music aired.

I don’t know of another person that was behind the indie movement more than Les.
And he did it all for free.
Les’s fan-base was absolutely enormous.
And well deserved !

Les was a good man with a big heart and beautiful soul.

Les played a big role in the marketing of my music, the building of my website, and the launching of the #2 online blues-rock radio show, “Mark Kerr’s Blues Nation.”
Knowing that I would become his competition, he did these things for me anyway.
He undoubtedly was a great friend.

I miss talking to him online and on the phone so much, that I can’t put it into words.

Les’s brother Bob, is going to keep his website up and running.
And I will be taking over The Road Rash Blues Show, by permission of Les’s family.
It will be more than a honor for me to do this for my best friend.

Les, you will be missed by the thousands of people that you touched on a daily basis.
And aside from your family, I will miss you most of all.
I will never forget you.

You can visit Les’s site here