Marc Fisher lets us know that longtime D.C. radio fixture Red Shipley, the host of WAMU’s Stained Glass Bluegrass program for 25 years, died over the weekend from cancer in Charlottesville. Shipley introduced two generations of Washington area music fans to legendary and contemporary bluegrass music, up until last month, when WAMU took all of its bluegrass programming off the air and put it on HD Radio.

“Radio lost one of its own legends last night,” said Caryn Mathes, WAMU’s general manager. “I’m deeply saddened by the news of Red’s passing, but grateful that he was able to spend 25 years on the air with us at WAMU, and heartened that he was able to continue doing what he loved for so long.”

In 2006, Shipley was honored with a Broadcaster Of The Year award by the International Bluegrass Music Association.

For those Bluegrass fans who were upset by the end of Shipley’s program on WAMU last month, the news of his death only makes the loss that much sadder.

Image courtesy crawdaddydave.com