Last night I learned of the untimely passing of an old friend. Mitch Lewis, musician extraordinaire, and a fixture on the Windsor music scene died suddenly on Tuesday. As I read the Facebook tributes I recalled many happy times with “Cowboy”. We first met in 1980, when he worked at Long and McQuade Music.

PHOTO CREDIT - Tim Cornett, OurHometown.ca

Windsor - May 29, 2013 - Last night I learned of the untimely passing of an old friend. Mitch Lewis, musician extraordinaire, and a fixture on the Windsor music scene died suddenly on Tuesday. As I read the Facebook tributes I recalled many happy times with “Cowboy”. We first met in 1980, when he worked at Long and McQuade Music. And while I certainly don’t pretend to qualify as a musician by any means, it didn’t matter to Mitch. He made time for you. He was one of the first musicians I ever pointed a camera at back in those days. He was a great guy, and a friend to everyone he met.

Here are few of the tributes that were posted to his Facebook Timeline last night.

“He was kind, gracious, funny and always supportive. And he was a local music icon!”

“Always had a smile on his face or some hilarious story to tell you. I hope your gig up there is AWESOME!”

“Now entertaining at a higher level. Rest in peace my friend.”

“So sad... "THE" piano man...Windsor is hurting over this one. Gonna miss him, especially his crazy humor. Great loss of talent.”

”Everyone who ever had the chance to work with Mitch over the years (and there were many) are heartbroken tonight.”

“The Doc has left the building to play in that great piano bar without any of us having a chance to say good bye.”

And the list goes on. The outpouring of comments, tributes, and words of condolence is fitting for the man who touched so many peoples’ lives over the years. The last time we got together we talked about the good times. He made me laugh. He made everyone laugh. He was one of a kind. And he will be missed.

Farewell, Cowboy. Rest in peace, my friend.

TC out