05/17/2026
This is Eric Noden. He really taught me everything I know on the guitar. Everything. He explained every lesson I couldn’t understand from every other teacher I had. We played together in the first band I ever played in by showing me what I’m supposed to be playing. He taught me how to practice. He taught me how to gig. I moved into his room when he moved away from Kent for Chicago. He took me to see Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Honeyboy Edwards and every surviving real deal Blues man left on the earth. He was a masterful musician and a world renowned musical educator. He was a loving husband to his wife Dayna. My heart goes out to her, his brother Kirk, his mom, and the huge musical community in Chicago he was such a big part of. I’m just dumbfounded by the news that he passed away. I mostly don’t make social media posts about the passing of my colleagues and personal relationships. But he showed me everything I know, and I think you should know that. I hate that he’s gone. I wish you could have known him. He opened the door for me.