Vale Glen Hansard

This has been a shite of a year when it comes to celebrity deaths. On the heels of Sam Neill and Brenda Blethyn, news came through that Glen Hansard had died after being taken in a motorcycle accident. 

You might say, "Who's Glen Hansard?"

I say he was this amazing Irish singer, composer and music luminary who's worked on everything musical that's come out of Ireland. He was down to earth, incredibly talented, humble and an all-round great bloke. 

The first time he registered was in The Commitments. He was the guitarist. You knew he was there, giving weight to this great film. In this clip, he's the baby ginger. 

He wrote and performed in the incredible film Once - which was then turned into a stage musical. This is a film, loosely based on Hansard's time as a busker in Dublin, where the music takes over every part of your body. If you haven't seen it, hunt it out. He won an Oscar for Best Song in 2008. 

He's the musician who led the tribute to Shane McGowan at his funeral. 

Hansard was a musician's musician. Talented, generous, wonderful. 

He used to busk for charity down Grafton Street every year, long after he needed they money. 

His death has hit hard. He's an artist I've hunted out for years, since seeing Once and being blown away. By seeing how he melded into the Irish music scene - ever present, ever supportive, incredibly talented.  He leaves a wife and three-year-old child. He was 56-years-old.

Rest well. Mr Hansard. Thank you for the joy you've brought the world. 

Today's song: