Eddie Kirkland, an 88-year-old blues legend known as the “Gypsy of the Blues” was killed in Florida yesterday when the car he was in turned into the path of a Greyhound bus.

Mr. Kirkland was traveling on U.S. Highway 98 in Crystal River,just north of Tampa, early Sunday morning when he tried to make a U-turn in front of the bus, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The bus, which was traveling northwest, pushed Kirkland’s Ford Taurus about 200 yards before the vehicles stopped.

According to his website, Mr. Kirkland, who lived in Macon, Ga., performed Saturday night at the Dunedin Brewery in Dunedin, his  final stop in a four-city mini tour through Florida this February. His tour was to pick up April 8 in Pensacola.

Eddie Kirkland performed with Atlanta boys Drivin N Cryin at the Holiday Hangover show this past December 26th.

He was a true guitar legend and a kind and generous man.  He will be missed.

The Backstage Beat sends our thoughts and prayers to Mr. Kirkland’s family, friends and fans.