ANDY GOESSLING

Railroad Earth multiinstrumentalist (1959–2018)

Andy Goessling, who has died from cancer, was a central figure in Railroad earth, the new Jersey collective whose broad remit made room for bluegrass, jazz, roots rock and Celtic folk. His mastery of everything from banjo and mandolin to saxophone and pennywhistle are in evidence across the band’s seven albums, commencing with 2001’s The Black Bear Sessions. He also played with a number of other local bands and shared stages with luminaries such as Guy Clark, Rick Danko and Phil lesh.