Cancer takes another fine one. He was indeed a fighter and one of the most genuine guys you would ever meet. The world is a sadder place today.

Peace and healing for his family.

So sorry to hear this.

It was always a good time when Dan was around. He made you feel special even when you knew you weren't. If you look up "Southern Hospitality" in any dictionary, you find a picture of our TanDan, with his smile beaming bright. I am a better man for having met Dan and I'll always treasure the times we spent together at Wanee all them years.

Love You, Bro
We're gonna miss you

🙁 Oh No ...so sad . RIP find the glory in your new journey , you will be missed

So sorry to hear this.

Thoughts and prayers to Dan's family and friends.

We lost another wonderful soul. I only met Dan twice and he exuded southern charm. We will miss you brother.

Sorry to hear the loss of a brother, prayers and thoughts go out to TanDan's family and friends.

Sorry to hear this. My condolences to Dan's family and friends.

My condolences to Dan's family and friends.

Dan and I bonded over our mutual love of Rory Gallagher shortly after I first started posting here.

We traded more than a bit of music back and forth in the last few years and in the process....he turned me into a hardcore Townes Van Zandt, Larry McMurtry, and Guy Clark fan.

But except for one chance meeting in Macon in 2010, where I happened to meet him and his wife purely by chance entering the H&H just as I was leaving, ( I recognized him by photos posted here) ,our friendship was pretty much email and music trading related with the occasional phone call thrown in.

But, regarding that meeting in Macon. He and his wife were on their way to see their son at band camp and even though they were on a tight schedule, Dan insisted on taking me on a quick mini version of his famous Macon tour, filling in a couple important ABB stops that were not in the guide that I had obtained from the Macon tourist office.

That was it. A little over a half hour spent with him and his wife, driving through Macon in his pickup and chatting about the ABB when they should have been on their way to their important engagement.

But, if you know Dan, that was just Dan being Dan, ever gracious and considerate.

It was brief but wonderful and I'm so glad that I will carry that happy memory with me for the rest of my days.

RIP TanDan

Rory On brother ...

[Edited on 4/23/2016 by les_paul_sunburst]

And of course...my sincere condolences and sympathy to Dan's family and to the many friends who loved him...

So sad to hear this news. He was such a generous sharer of music. My Rory collection mainly came from Dan over the years.

I'm sure he is listening Rory right now with a big grin on his face. Rory On and prayers to his family and friends. Blue Sky's Forever.

So sad to hear this news. He was such a generous sharer of music. My Rory collection mainly came from Dan over the years.

I'm sure he is listening Rory right now with a big grin on his face. Rory On and prayers to his family and friends. Blue Sky's Forever.

I'm guessing he's hanging with Rory right now, and that Rory is really enjoying his company...:)

So sad to hear this news. He was such a generous sharer of music. My Rory collection mainly came from Dan over the years.

I'm sure he is listening to Rory right now with a big grin on his face. Rory On and prayers to his family and friends. Blue Sky's Forever.

I'm guessing he's hanging with Rory right now, and that Rory is really enjoying his company...:)

I'm sure he is and asking a bunch of questions to Rory, Duane, Berry, Townes, Stevie and sadly now Lonnie Mack

r.i.p. dan. 🙁

Can anyone tell us how to upload a photo or two here?

We have some great photos of TanDan & us in Macon

Is there anywhere on the site that may have that info?

[Edited on 4/24/2016 by Samntuck]

Dan's arrangements are as follows....

Friday, April 29, 2016 at 2:00PM visitation. 3:00 PM Celebration Of Life at Ford Stewart Funeral Home. 2047 Hwy 138 S.E. Jonesboro, Georgia 30237. Phone number 770.210.2700

There are no words. Dan was one of the finest humans I have ever known. Rest in peace sweet brother. Thank you for your friendship. You will be missed forever. Until we meet again. xoxo

My condolences and sympathy to Dan's family and to his many friends. He certainly has a lot of them here. Rory on brother .

So sorry to hear this.
Condolences to family and friends

Sorry to be late in posting to this, but have had a hard time processing this. I am glad in a way that my friend Dan has been relieved from the pain, but I sure am going to miss him.

We met at a McMurtry show in 2008 (where Dan received the standard James sneer on greeting him as he came in). We would see ten more McMurtry shows together, along with dozens of other ones.

My best memories are the road trips we took, because, as many of you know, Dan was full of stories, and I would get a good dose. My favorite had to be Neil Young in Tuscaloosa in 2012, along with Rusty and Donna. Dan had never seen Neil before, so I was glad to be able to share that with him. Or maybe it was camping at Hoopee Jam in 2013 when I first met his son Ethan. They both liked my apple fritters and french press coffee. Or maybe it was Dickey in Macon in 2014, where I received the standard TanDan Rose Hill tour.

Dan shared a lot with me. I would sometimes mention I'd like to explore an artist, like Townes or Prine, and within a few days a ton of their music would arrive at my office. I tried to return the favors, but never came close. I last saw Dan (and Mary Ann) the day after Thanksgiving where he gave me many of his music books and a bunch of his Mule shows. I only bought their lunch.

For reasons I won't share, I know Dan treasured his ABB family more than you know. Every year at Christmas, I'd get a card with a handwritten message "thank you for your friendship." Dan, thank you for yours.

I will see some of you next Friday.

FamABBly, there's been a lot Dan's pass thru our lives, but there's never been one quite like "Wanee TanDan"! RIP

[Edited on 4/25/2016 by willieB69]

So sad to hear this. RIP, brother. 🙁

Very sorry about this, God Bless love and peace him and to his family at this time and always.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around a world without Dan Hills. 2016 has been a tough year for losing friends and heroes. Dan and I shared a lot of time together at shows all over the southeast. My favorite TanDan story is when the first WaneeFest was about to happen in April 2005. Dan had a ticket, and as Bluedad and I were excitedly rolling down I-75 south toward Live Oak, I called Dan. He wasn't sure he was going to make it to the festival. I told him how disappointed I would be if he didn't make it. We had only met just a couple months before at a GA&F show at the Tabernacle in Feb. of 2005. That night, he introduced me to Brother Bill Ector. Anyway, when he heard the disappointment in my voice over him not possibly coming to Wanee, that was all the motivation he needed to come on down. From that point on, he didn't miss one until last year. Dan was a lovely man, and to know him was to love him. I was fortunate enough to meet his family on a couple occasions, and to watch his son Ethan grow up as he was Dan's constant concert companion. Yes, this one hurts....bad. But Dan faced his illness with courage and dignity. My life is better for knowing him. I will miss him and think of him fondly, as I still do with Brother Bill, each time I'm enjoying live music. I'm grateful for our last visit in his home, me, Dan and Bluedad, reminiscing over all the good times we had. And I got a last hug. RIP Willard Daniel Hills. I love you, brother.

Sorry to be late in posting to this, but have had a hard time processing this. I am glad in a way that my friend Dan has been relieved from the pain, but I sure am going to miss him.

We met at a McMurtry show in 2008 (where Dan received the standard James sneer on greeting him as he came in). We would see ten more McMurtry shows together, along with dozens of other ones.

My best memories are the road trips we took, because, as many of you know, Dan was full of stories, and I would get a good dose. My favorite had to be Neil Young in Tuscaloosa in 2012, along with Rusty and Donna. Dan had never seen Neil before, so I was glad to be able to share that with him. Or maybe it was camping at Hoopee Jam in 2013 when I first met his son Ethan. They both liked my apple fritters and french press coffee. Or maybe it was Dickey in Macon in 2014, where I received the standard TanDan Rose Hill tour.

Dan shared a lot with me. I would sometimes mention I'd like to explore an artist, like Townes or Prine, and within a few days a ton of their music would arrive at my office. I tried to return the favors, but never came close. I last saw Dan (and Mary Ann) the day after Thanksgiving where he gave me many of his music books and a bunch of his Mule shows. I only bought their lunch.

For reasons I won't share, I know Dan treasured his ABB family more than you know. Every year at Christmas, I'd get a card with a handwritten message "thank you for your friendship." Dan, thank you for yours.

I will see some of you next Friday.

This is a wonderful post, Brock. Dan was certainly one of the good ones. Like so many here, I've got a pretty good collection of TanDan CDs. He maintained and shared a vast collection. I also have fond memories of the Neil Young show in Tuscaloosa. We all had real good seats, but a certain member of our party got a front row upgrade - leaving the remaining three to enjoy the show together. 😉

I was also present at the Dickey show in Macon (did Dan make it to the Chastain show?). Standing in line waiting for the doors to open was one of the finest visits with friends that I can ever remember. I believe Dan even made it into Dickey's bus for a short visit and signature.

There was also the Hot Tuna show in Atlanta's Little 5 Points. Great, great show - but the visit (dinner at the Yacht Club) with Dan, Brock, Bill Ector, HotlantaTim and others again was the true headliner.

Lastly, I love the picture (above) of Dan, Ethan and Jimmy Hall. Even with the lush full beard, you can discern that Dan is grinning like a jackass eating briars! A true rarity here!

Donna and I are planning on being at the service on Friday. I hope to catch up with as many peach heads as possible. It will be great to convene in Dan's honor and memory. I'll hate the circumstance, but I look forward to visiting with Dan's family and friends.

Very sorry to hear about this. I had some great interactions with Dan, live and online. a true fan, as you all know.

Wow, what sad and tragic news. Glad i was able to meet Dan a few times - always a super pleasant guy to speak with. My prayers go out to him and his family.

Sorry to be late in posting to this, but have had a hard time processing this. I am glad in a way that my friend Dan has been relieved from the pain, but I sure am going to miss him.

We met at a McMurtry show in 2008 (where Dan received the standard James sneer on greeting him as he came in). We would see ten more McMurtry shows together, along with dozens of other ones.

My best memories are the road trips we took, because, as many of you know, Dan was full of stories, and I would get a good dose. My favorite had to be Neil Young in Tuscaloosa in 2012, along with Rusty and Donna. Dan had never seen Neil before, so I was glad to be able to share that with him. Or maybe it was camping at Hoopee Jam in 2013 when I first met his son Ethan. They both liked my apple fritters and french press coffee. Or maybe it was Dickey in Macon in 2014, where I received the standard TanDan Rose Hill tour.

Dan shared a lot with me. I would sometimes mention I'd like to explore an artist, like Townes or Prine, and within a few days a ton of their music would arrive at my office. I tried to return the favors, but never came close. I last saw Dan (and Mary Ann) the day after Thanksgiving where he gave me many of his music books and a bunch of his Mule shows. I only bought their lunch.

For reasons I won't share, I know Dan treasured his ABB family more than you know. Every year at Christmas, I'd get a card with a handwritten message "thank you for your friendship." Dan, thank you for yours.

I will see some of you next Friday.

This is a wonderful post, Brock. Dan was certainly one of the good ones. Like so many here, I've got a pretty good collection of TanDan CDs. He maintained and shared a vast collection. I also have fond memories of the Neil Young show in Tuscaloosa. We all had real good seats, but a certain member of our party got a front row upgrade - leaving the remaining three to enjoy the show together. 😉

I was also present at the Dickey show in Macon (did Dan make it to the Chastain show?). Standing in line waiting for the doors to open was one of the finest visits with friends that I can ever remember. I believe Dan even made it into Dickey's bus for a short visit and signature.

There was also the Hot Tuna show in Atlanta's Little 5 Points. Great, great show - but the visit (dinner at the Yacht Club) with Dan, Brock, Bill Ector, HotlantaTim and others again was the true headliner.

Lastly, I love the picture (above) of Dan, Ethan and Jimmy Hall. Even with the lush full beard, you can discern that Dan is grinning like a jackass eating briars! A true rarity here!

Donna and I are planning on being at the service on Friday. I hope to catch up with as many peach heads as possible. It will be great to convene in Dan's honor and memory. I'll hate the circumstance, but I look forward to visiting with Dan's family and friends.

Yes, but that certain someone in Tuscaloosa missed the UFO!

Yes, Dan did make the 2013(?) Dickey show at Chastain as this show is where the rare smiling Dan photo came from. He and I and Ethan got backstage thanks to MissTerry. Here is another shot from the show, taken by Donna I think and showing Buzzy82 (light beer, WTF?).

Funny sort of related story, at the Capricorn Experience where Wet Willie also performed (maybe 2011), I got backstage thanks to Terry, and when I came back out he asked how it was. I replied "oh, the debauchery!" He has never laughed so hard and Mary Ann got a kick out of it too as he later related the story. Of course, all that was happening was a fruit tray and water!

It must have been another Brock at the Tuna show as I never saw them at Variety. Not that it matters I guess.

Looking forward to seeing you and Donna (and all Dan's other friends) Friday.

And Rusty, here's one for you, taken at ABB '12 Chastain (that is Steve Nourse to the left, can't remember his screen name):

[Edited on 4/25/2016 by Brock]

What a heartfelt tribute I have read through here.....A community in the purest form.

R.I.P. my friend

Sorry to be late in posting to this, but have had a hard time processing this. I am glad in a way that my friend Dan has been relieved from the pain, but I sure am going to miss him.

We met at a McMurtry show in 2008 (where Dan received the standard James sneer on greeting him as he came in). We would see ten more McMurtry shows together, along with dozens of other ones.

My best memories are the road trips we took, because, as many of you know, Dan was full of stories, and I would get a good dose. My favorite had to be Neil Young in Tuscaloosa in 2012, along with Rusty and Donna. Dan had never seen Neil before, so I was glad to be able to share that with him. Or maybe it was camping at Hoopee Jam in 2013 when I first met his son Ethan. They both liked my apple fritters and french press coffee. Or maybe it was Dickey in Macon in 2014, where I received the standard TanDan Rose Hill tour.

Dan shared a lot with me. I would sometimes mention I'd like to explore an artist, like Townes or Prine, and within a few days a ton of their music would arrive at my office. I tried to return the favors, but never came close. I last saw Dan (and Mary Ann) the day after Thanksgiving where he gave me many of his music books and a bunch of his Mule shows. I only bought their lunch.

For reasons I won't share, I know Dan treasured his ABB family more than you know. Every year at Christmas, I'd get a card with a handwritten message "thank you for your friendship." Dan, thank you for yours.

I will see some of you next Friday.

This is a wonderful post, Brock. Dan was certainly one of the good ones. Like so many here, I've got a pretty good collection of TanDan CDs. He maintained and shared a vast collection. I also have fond memories of the Neil Young show in Tuscaloosa. We all had real good seats, but a certain member of our party got a front row upgrade - leaving the remaining three to enjoy the show together. 😉

I was also present at the Dickey show in Macon (did Dan make it to the Chastain show?). Standing in line waiting for the doors to open was one of the finest visits with friends that I can ever remember. I believe Dan even made it into Dickey's bus for a short visit and signature.

There was also the Hot Tuna show in Atlanta's Little 5 Points. Great, great show - but the visit (dinner at the Yacht Club) with Dan, Brock, Bill Ector, HotlantaTim and others again was the true headliner.

Lastly, I love the picture (above) of Dan, Ethan and Jimmy Hall. Even with the lush full beard, you can discern that Dan is grinning like a jackass eating briars! A true rarity here!

Donna and I are planning on being at the service on Friday. I hope to catch up with as many peach heads as possible. It will be great to convene in Dan's honor and memory. I'll hate the circumstance, but I look forward to visiting with Dan's family and friends.

Yes, but that certain someone in Tuscaloosa missed the UFO!

Yes, Dan did make the 2013(?) Dickey show at Chastain as this show is where the rare smiling Dan photo came from. He and I and Ethan got backstage thanks to MissTerry. Here is another shot from the show, taken by Donna I think and showing Buzzy82 (light beer, WTF?).

Funny sort of related story, at the Capricorn Experience where Wet Willie also performed (maybe 2011), I got backstage thanks to Terry, and when I came back out he asked how it was. I replied "oh, the debauchery!" He has never laughed so hard and Mary Ann got a kick out of it too as he later related the story. Of course, all that was happening was a fruit tray and water!

It must have been another Brock at the Tuna show as I never saw them at Variety. Not that it matters I guess.

Looking forward to seeing you and Donna (and all Dan's other friends) Friday.

And Rusty, here's one for you, taken at ABB '12 Chastain (that is Steve Nourse to the left, can't remember his screen name):

[Edited on 4/25/2016 by Brock]

Steve Nourse's screen name is "skypup"..... 😉

Spun Rory's Stagestruck cd yesterday while at the office. Of course I thought about our friend Dan. If there is a Rory Gallagher Top 10 fan club, Dan is right in the mix.

A big thank you to all those who are attending Dan's services this Friday. I'll be keeping you along with Dan and his family in my thoughts. Safe travels.