Hundreds of tributes have been paid to a ‘genius’ York musician who has died suddenly.
Kieran White was 63. He suffered a heart attack on Monday and died in York Hospital on Wednesday.
Hugely talented, Kieran was a pianist and composer who leaves behind countless friends.
His wife Kate led the tributes. She and Kieran were together for nearly 42 years.
“He was the love of my life and he will be greatly missed,” she said.
“He was a sweet, loving, funny, clever and talented man.”
Since graduating from the University of York in 1984, Kieran worked as a pianist, composer, arranger and teacher.
As a performer, he was equally adept at classical recitals, rock concerts and jazz gigs.
He taught hundreds of people piano, both privately and at York St John University.
Kieran had a remarkable ability to play by ear, with the ability to pick up a tune if a few bars were sung to him.
And he was a gifted improvisor, able to play a music in any given style – a classical piece in the style of Chas’n’Dave, for example, reminiscent of the comedian Bill Bailey.
Kieran was also a familiar sight busking on the streets of York for many years, often in his favourite spot outside the Minster.
He was also a brilliant composer. He created scores for Buster Keaton’s silent movie classic The General and Steamboat Bill, Jr, and performed at many screenings.
His loss has been felt across the city, particularly among those in the music world.
Promoter Charlie Daykin said: “So hard to sum up his talents – he was one of the most complete musicians I had the pleasure of meeting and his touch and technique on the piano were second to none.
“A truly outstanding musician and person.”
Singer songwriter Holly Taymar Bilton said: “Whenever I think about Kieran, I can hear the texture of his voice and his expert piano playing in my mind instantly.
“And thanks to his career in music, others will always be able to hear him too. What an incredible legacy he leaves.”
Performer and songwriter David Ward Maclean has many fond memories of Kieran. One that particularly stands out was in 2009, when he was the lead singer for a band Kieran and Kate had formed, called Souled Out.
David was struggling at an important University of York gig due to throat problems.
He said: “I could tell in the break that everyone in the band was as concerned as I was, and I was staring into the abyss, when Kieran said: ‘Look, just go out there and have fun. Just enjoy yourself. What else you gonna do?’
“We then proceeded to absolutely smash it, and by the last song I was in the audience jumping up and down, giving it large with the croakiest voice ever.
“Everyone went totally mental at the end, and all the band members had a look of stunned relief on their faces– all except Kieran, he just had a wee smile. He knew what to say, and he knew I could deliver.”
Lead singer of the band Huge, Ian Donaghy, has very loving memories of Kieran too. Ian called him “quirky with a capital Q but with a heart of gold.”
They went to care homes together where Kieran would play for the residents.
Ian recalled one time where a resident, a retired GP who he called Dr Joan Hopkinson, was the only one not to join in.
She was considered to be “spiky and cantankerous”.
Most of the residents were loving Kieran’s turn as a “dexterous juke box”, playing any song they called out. But she kept her distance.
Until, after the applause had stopped, she said: “You have excellent technique, but they won’t know that. Outstanding technique!”
Kieran coaxed out of Dr Hopkinson that she played piano too, and asked her to play something.
They ended up duetting on show tunes and boogie woogie, she finished by giving Kieran an enormous hug.
Here are just four more of the many tributes left for Kieran.
- He was a genius at the keyboard and one of the most memorable people I ever had the pleasure of playing with.
- I’m so sad to read this, Kieran was the best piano teacher I ever had, he showed me another world of jazz and blues, always had something exciting to play me. I was always in awe of his talent, and he was such a wonderful teacher.
- A kind and thoughtful man and great fun to be around. I’ve never known anyone with such a musical talent as Kieran, a great loss.
- Kieran was a wonderful soul who brought so much joy to those that had the pleasure of meeting him. He was a phenomenal pianist, had a wealth of knowledge on such a vast range of subjects, a true intellectual and most of all a tremendously kind and generous gentleman.