Tragic and troubling news from Bisbee over the last two days, as Amy and Derrick Ross, known to local music fans as Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl, have both died.
Monday, Amy Ross, who had significant health issues, including suffering from lupus and needing kidney dialysis, died in a Tucson hospital, prior to heart surgery related to an infection. Strangely, the news was delivered via a post on her Facebook page:
- https://www.facebook.com/amy.l.ross.90/posts/10201570348653124
- From Amy Ross’ Facebook page
This morning, in news we’ve unfortunately confirmed with Bisbee police, Amy’s page announced that Derrick committed suicide:
The two were incredibly talented and dedicated musicians and both will be missed.
It’s a rough listen, especially considering how things turned out, but Derrick was a guest on Doug Stanhope’s podcast last week, discussing Amy’s illness.
More information as we get it.
UPDATE:
UPDATE: Mel Mason is organizing an event to celebrate the couple and their music at 7 pm tonight at Delectables. More information can be found on Facebook.
UPDATE: According to a post retweeted by Doug Stanhope, a friend of the couple, there’s a gathering tonight at the Bisbee Grand at 6 PM.
Friends of @nmwg , 6 PM Bisbee Grand tonight. @hdfatty @DougStanhope pic.twitter.com/WAalLisDoA
— Gretchen Baer (@gretchenbaer) October 15, 2013
This article appears in Oct 10-16, 2013.
Those fb posts are very strange. At this point, I’d want to know if this is even real.
It’s real. The context is bizarre, but there’s a context. This life is an unfathomable mystery.
Very tragic news.
It’s real, check Stanhope’s page
It’s real, but who wrote the posts?
We were unfortunately able to confirm both of their deaths.
Likely Bingo, Doug Stanhope’s partner (their landlord).
http://ec.libsyn.com/p/9/b/8/9b895209c4681…
I think it’s entirely possible that the posts came from Derrick. He sometimes would send out e-mails pretending to be Amy. Maybe it was his way of letting people know without having to say it himself.
So sad, my favorite local singer/songwriters.
You can time-delay when your posts appear on Facebook. Seems like Derrick set the posts on Amy’s page. Heartbreaking.
So so sad
The posts are strange, but they are exactly how Derrick and Amy would have wanted it to be. She was tired of being sick and Derrick had years to prepare for how he would feel without her being around. I loved them both very much and have such terrible sadness for knowing that I won’t see them smile at each other any more. They had a romance to envy.
This breaks my heart. While I did not know them, I do visit Bisbee regularly, and I know this must be a tragedy for so many of their friends and family. It is obvious that they shared an amazing love for one another and I wish them joy and happiness together forever and ever.
Their song was so wonderful that I feel like I kind of knew them.
Doug Stanhope wrote the posts on Amy’s FB page.
This is so sad; however, I can’t stop my brain from comparing them to Johnny and June Cash…soul mates that couldn’t live without the other. I didn’t know them and I feel like I missed something.
I saw them the first time at the 2008 blues festival. I have that cd and they are the first two songs. I saw them several times in bisbee and Tucson. I thought they were wonderful.
My heart is filled with sadness. Their deaths will be felt far beyond Bisbee. They endeared themselves to the folk music community and the loss of such talented, beautiful young artists will not soon be forgotten.
Oh no. They played for my wedding and on my second anniversary we listened to them play at the Copper Queen Hotel bar and bought a CD from them. They signed it about how happy they were that we were still together. Sadly my love was cheating on me at that time, (unbeknownst to me), and I am now single. This just breaks my heart so much. I loved to hear and watch them play. Another huge void in the world. This is just too tragic.
Jerome is going to miss Whiskey Girl & Nowhere Man. They were Loved in this little community. I heard them for the first time in Jerome at 15 Quince Grill & Cantina. Loved their song stylings and became an instant fan. They performed a few times at the Spirit Room as well.
I had read about these folks in the Weekly, but never saw them perform. All the stories in the news suggest they were warm and caring and talented and giving. The music videos are touching because they show how much, without pretense or hesitation, they really loved each other. Rare and kind of wonderful these days.
A huge hole has opened in Bisbee’s heart. These two remarkable people will be greatly missed by all who value good music and the power of love.
This is so hard to put into words, but on a trip from Nashville to Arizona, I happened to wander into a farmer’s market in some small AZ town and there under the shade of a big tree sat Amy at the piano, I sat down and was instantly taken with her voice, her spirit and I was in the music business at the time so I approached her and ask questions about the music she wrote and performed.. that’s when she told me about Derrick, not long after that he arrived and uncased his guitar and joined Amy under the big tree. I thought then what a wonderful couple, so in love and their music showed all that love and beautiful spirit they both possessed. Tears are filling my eyes as I type this.. you only meet a few along life’s path that touch you like these two touched my soul. I will always remember them and the sweetness that surrounded them… I don’t know any of their relatives at all, but if any related read this, I want you to know I wish you peace, comfort from the pain of this horrific loss. Amy always sent me emails keeping me updated on their gigs and shows they played, also on the new music they made. I would have never dreamed this could happen but I’m cruelly reminded what suffering there is in this life. One last thing, Amy and Derrick let me know quickly they wanted to do their music their way and really wasn’t interested in chasing the latest trends, moving away from AZ and chasing the brass ring, I always had such respect for them and their courage to stay true to what they did. I was in a position in the music business to have helped them possibly land a record deal with the label I worked for at the time. I’ll end with what I said earlier, you only meet an Amy and Derrick Ross once if you’re lucky in a lifetime. Safe travels to you both as you streak across the sky towards that peaceful place where you can once again make the sounds of beautiful music and hold each other
Larry Shell
Nashville, Tn.
My wife and I were on vacation in Bisbee around 2007 or so and stayed at the Copper Queen. We watched Amy and Derrick do a long set in the bar and really liked them. The highlight was their rendition of reading/singing Sendak’s “Where The Wild Things Are”. Amy held the book up for all to see while she went through it, like were all in kindergarten. We thought that was beyond cool.
Clearly he created the post about her death… And then set her page to issue a post at a certain time the day after he committed suicide (it is a feature for public pages).
I didn’t know either of them, although my wife had met them at a performance in Bisbee. I read the story, and cried like a small child.
Love your loved ones. Love them.
I am joining others in having a cry myself. Obviously, these two amazing people shared a very uncommon love — such a force that immeasurably impacted on an infinite number of people. I didn’t know them, nor did I know about Amy and Derrick until I viewed this post. Still, I can say that my soul is warmed and moved by their lives, their life story. Yet, I am also incredibly sad.
Blessings to Amy and Derrick… as they continue their journey together.
What were the details of the suicide? How did they do it? Note left? etc.
I first saw them play in 2008 and I was intrigued. I watched endless Youtube videos of Amy playing the piano and singing; I admired her for her musical tenacity. They both had a strong presence– magnetic, even– (well, at least for me)– though they said very little. I shared a table and some light conversation in 2012 of Groovefest American Music Festival, where we had both played that day. I am genuinely sad to hear this. I have never forgotten them, and I never will. I hope the world will be touched by their music and their story for years to come. I often fantasized about meeting them again or playing a show with them someday… or at least hearing more of their music… I will miss those thoughts… I will miss the presence of Amy and Derrick in the world.
I have just met the two of you after reading the news of your passing. I know how loved you were by reading all of the beautifully heart felt posts by your friends family and fans. It is no wonder how loved you both were and how much of your love for one another reached so many others through your soulful music. Many blessings to you and yours and to all you have been touched by your love and creativity.
Sad story…beautiful song.
What a sad and lovely story, I wish I’d met them sooner. Btw, Doug Stanhope wrote both facebook posts from a whisky girl’s page, Derrick gave him Amy’s password and asked him to make the announcement after she died, which he did, then on Tuesday when told Derrick had shot himself he again used her page to announce his passing. RIP
I’m blessed to have learned of their love for each other and the beauty of their music together. While I only just discovered it over a year after the fact, I will share the story of Amy and Derrick with those in my life. Their memory will never be forgotten. Two truly wonderful souls whom we wish eternal love together. Thank you Derrick, thank you Amy for showing the world true love.