A founding editor of Frets Magazine (a sister publication of Guitar Player), where he worked from 1978 to 1986, Rick Gartner was especially known for his insightful interviews with classical guitarists, including Andrés Segovia, Julian Bream, John Williams, Narciso Yepes, and Christopher Parkening.

Born on 3 December 1950, Rick began playing when he was 14. Before landing the Frets job in 1978, which enabled him to bring his deep love for classical guitar to a large audience, he had graduated from California State University, Chico (1978), and taught guitar at nearby Butte Community College (1973 to 1978). In recent years, he had worked on a book concerning his decades-long battle with chronic back and neck pain.

His suffering ended on 16 May 2013, when he died of natural causes at the age of 62, taking with him the rare ability to understand things that he did not directly experience, including aspects of music. It recalls the quote by Leo Tolstoy, ‘All, everything that I understand, I understand because I love’.

Rick was a talented guitarist, gifted writer, and good friend to many. It was an honor to know him.

-Jim Ferguson