Black Crowes Keyboardist Eddie Harsch Dies at 59

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Eddie Harsch of the Black Crowes (Photo from Facebook)

Eddie Harsch, The Black Crowes’ keyboardist from 1991-2006, died this morning November 4, 2016. The cause and place of Harsch’s death were not announced. He was 59.

Harsch was scheduled to make his debut with a new Black Crowes spinoff band called The Magpie Salute in January 2017. According to a statement from that band, the tour will continue as planned.

The complete statement from the Magpie Salute reads as follows:

“’It is with the saddest of hearts that we bid farewell to our dear friend Eddie Harsch,’ said Rich Robinson of the Magpie Salute. ‘Eddie was a brilliant musician, with a beautiful heart. We should remember Eddie for his music, his great sense of humor and his positive outlook on life. We ask that everyone please respect the privacy of Eddie’s family at this time. Let’s honor him by celebrating his musical contributions to the world, and by sending positive thoughts and prayers to him and his family. Our hearts will forever remain with our musical brother.

Original poster for the forthcoming Magpie Salute tour

“The Magpie Salute’s sold-out four-night engagement at the Gramercy Theatre in New York (January 19, 20, 21 and 22) will continue as planned,” continued the press release. “The band consists of three key members from the Black Crowes—Rich Robinson, guitarist/vocalist, guitarist Marc Ford and bassist Sven Pipien—with members of Rich’s own band: drummer Joe Magistro, keyboardist Matt Slocum, and backing vocalists Adrien Reju and Katrine Ottosen, along with some other friends TBA.”

Eddie Harsch was born Edward Hawrysch on May 27, 1957, in Toronto, Ontario. In the 1980s, he was a member of blues great James Cotton’s band. He joined the Black Crowes in 1991 and also played with the Detroit-based band Bulldog, which he joined during the Black Crowes’ hiatus of 2002-2005. During the same period he also played bass in the Detroit Cobras. After exiting the Black Crowes, Harsch was replaced in the band on keyboards by Rob Clores and then Adam MacDougall.

Watch Eddie Harsch performing with the Black Crowes’ Rich Robinson for the first time in 10 years, in August 2016