Free-spirited, big-hearted, fast-strumming musician

In the living room of a house in Squirrel Hill, a group of middle-aged men poured out shots of tequila. With guitars lining the sides of the room, they raised their glasses together.

Before they started their jam session, they toasted Doug Malone, their friend who died on July 25 of amyloidosis, a rare disease that results from abnormal protein deposits in the organs.

Mr. Malone had been a central figure in this group, unofficially known as “Fridays at Frank’s.” After a life of playing guitar and producing music professionally, he relied on his perfect relative pitch to keep the group in tune and keep the music flowing. The crew at Frank’s called him, affectionately, “The Mangster.”

“He has the greatest ear in music,” said Frank L. Rupert, who would host the group at his home. “I know he’s up there with Glen Campbell saying, ‘Hey Glen, tune your guitar and let’s play.’ ”

Born Oct. 5, 1955, Mr. Malone was no stranger to the music greats of the 20th century. In his 10 years studying under the great jazz guitarist Jimmy Ponder, they dominated the Pittsburgh jazz scene. One night, when Mr. Ponder got a call from jazz great George Benson, the three men walked into a club on the South Side and played until dawn.

“Here’s this little white guy walking in with a couple of beautiful guitars, and there’s Jimmy Ponder and George Benson,” Mr. Rupert said, laughing. “Jimmy had just taken him under his wing.”

Mr. Malone went on to play on and produce Mr. Ponder’s 2007 album “Somebody’s Child,” which was widely listened to when released and continues to be well regarded in the jazz community.

“After spending about 10 years with Mr. Ponder, he became a brilliant guitar player, probably the best I’ve ever played with,” said Michael Albright, who wrote a song in memory of Mr. Malone after his death.

Although Mr. Malone lived elsewhere throughout his life, Pittsburgh was always his home. He was a lifelong Penguins fan and well-versed in what his friends called “Pittsburghese,” lived through his Pittsburgh connection most strongly as a direct descendent of Alexander Negley, who settled Highland Park.

“When he looked out across Pittsburgh to the east, he saw his grandfather’s farm,” Mr. Albright said. “He had a view of history here from his family that made the city just seem real to him. He loved this place more than anything.”

Music had been the central part of Mr. Malone’s life since childhood. His lifelong friend Wally Pease moved into Point Breeze when Mr. Malone was 11 and Mr. Pease was 15, and the two boys almost immediately formed a band, the first of many they’d play in together. On the weekends or after school, the boys would sit on a hill by Shadyside Junior High School and look at the people passing by.

“There was so much to learn from the people walking by,” Mr. Pease said. “He was so aware of the human condition. He was one of the most aware people that I will ever know.”

Mr. Malone brought this awareness with him wherever he went. He called himself “Maddog Doug” during his years with the WYDDFM (now 104.7 WPGB-FM), playing free-form rock ’n’ roll all night. Sometimes, he’d put on an album and drift away along with his listeners, letting the music fill the airwaves. Later, he went on to start his own electronic music studio, working for stations in New Mexico and in Hawaii for a time to learn a complex finger-picking genre called slack guitar.

“He was very independent, like a free spirit,” said Susan Wachter, one of Mr. Malone’s oldest friends.

Mr. Malone lived with Ms. Wachter and her family on their property near Scottdale, at the time of his death. A wonderful cook, he would make large dinners for the family and they would sit outside trading stories for hours. Alongside his beloved Manx cat, Lena, Mr. Malone would play music outside or help take care of the Wachter’s animals in his final days.

Throughout his life, despite wild days and wild nights in his youth, Mr. Malone sought serenity.

“He was always looking for that quiet place outside of the quiet place,” Mr. Albright said, “where the loudest thing other than your own thoughts are the incidental sounds of nature.”

A memorial party to remember Mr. Malone will be held at Portagallos Pepper's N’at in Braddock from 6 to 8 p.m. next Sunday. Family and friends are encouraged to donate to local animal shelters in his memory.