An all girl bluegrass band, "Della Mae" has made big waves on the national bluegrass scene in recent years. A founding member and current fiddler, Kimber Ludiker, is the daughter of a well known fiddle champion. Five time national fiddle champion, Tony Ludiker, died recently of cancer at the age of 52. He had moved from his longtime home in the Spokane Valley to Colorado, but came home to Spokane where he wished to live out his last days. I had known of him and had heard him play, however I learned much more from the story of his death on Facebook and the Spokesman Review article. He
was only 52 and must have been battling cancer for quite some time. I
didn't know his daughter was a founder and member of the all girl
bluegrass group Della Mae or that he was classically trained and had
been the concertmaster of the Couer d' Alene, Idaho Symphony. He was the
first fiddler I heard play that ringing two string version of "Sally Goodin"
with all those verses when he judged at the Polson contest years ago. His article
said, "He went peacefully surrounded by family while listening to Benny
Thomasson play ‘Sally Goodin.’" It must have been one of his favorite fiddle tunes. 52 is much too young to die today, but cancer strikes young and old indiscriminately. I lost a 13 year old daughter and a wife to that terrible disease myself. Barbara had her 59th birthday and 18 days later she was gone. That was in 2000. Life goes on for those of us surviving, but it takes awhile. Our condolences to the family of Tony Ludiker. May he rest in peace.
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