MOREHEAD —
Sandy Knipp, a well-known educator, musician, radio host and ambassador for bluegrass and traditional music, died Wednesday in University of Kentucky Medical Center. He was 62.
Knipp had for years battled a kidney disease known as IgA nephropathy, which occurs when IgA — a protein that helps the body fight infections — settles in the kidneys and causes renal cysts to form and kidney function to gradually deteriorate. His death came roughly 11 months after he received a donor kidney from his daughter, Leigha Hale of Mount Sterling.
Knipp, an Olive Hill native and Morehead State University graduate, began his career in education in the Carter County School District, at Upper Tygart Elementary, where he taught physical education and coached basketball, track and volleyball. He then went to the Rowan County schools and for many years was a teacher and principal at the now-closed Haldeman Elementary School. He retired from the school system in 1998.
Knipp’s brother, Danny, is a former principal in the Boyd County School District.
Knipp, a skilled musician who was proficient on guitar, banjo and bass, served as the first director of MSU’s Kentucky Center for Traditional Music and was instrumental in its creation.
However, Knipp may have been best-known to area residents as a bluegrass DJ. For more than 20 years, he hosted “Bluegrass Diversion,” a program that aired Saturday mornings on WMKY-FM. His signature phrase was “Smile, sunshine is good for your teeth — and so is bluegrass music.”
Knipp also was a songwriter whose works have been recorded and performed by numerous artists, including Don Rigsby, the Bluegrass Strangers, Scott Tackett and Kentucky Sunrise, Goldwing Express and Darvin Sturgill. He was also a poet and author who recently published a volume titled “Set Another Place at the Table” through the Jesse Stuart Foundation.
Knipp’s funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Johnson First Church of God in Rowan County. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. today at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals and after 1 p.m. Saturday at the church.
KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.
Local News
Sandy Knipp, well-known area educator, musician, radio host, dies
- Local News
-
- Secretary of Education coming to Louisville
-
New laws go into effect next week
New laws approved during the Kentucky General Assembly’s 2013 regular session go into effect on Tuesday.
-
Local in brief: 6/19/13
Southland Bible Institute’s training for high school students continues through Friday at the school at 238 W. Southland Drive.
-
Saturday's Flatwoods Music Festival will include tributes to Mike Murphy
The songs of Mike Murphy and Zachariah will be remembered and performed Saturday amid an afternoon and evening of free music at the annual Flatwoods Music Festival.
-
Local WinShape camp gaining steam
The WinShape Camps for Communities at Bridges Christian Church the first week of July are starting to draw considerable buzz.
-
Camp Invention full of science-based discovery
The formula for inventing a new machine, according to 9-year-old Hayden Wheeler, goes something like this: “First, I run it through my mind and plan it out, and then I make adjustments in my mind, and then I try it out.”
-
Boyd staying with same health plan
Boyd County officials heard pitches Tuesday for two new health care plans — one for employees, the other for inmates. Both claimed they could save taxpayers thousands of dollars in medical expenses over the coming year.
-
Sentencing in Carter drug trafficking case
Five people were sentenced to prison terms last week in a federal drug-trafficking case that involved selling cocaine and pills in Carter County, according to court documents.
-
19-year-old launching one-man food drive, ‘Cans for a Cause’
Never accuse Aaron Hannah of not being ambitious and failing to set high goals for himself.
Later this month, Hannah, a 19-year-old 2012 graduate of Raceland-Worthington High School, will launch what is essentially a one-man food drive. His goal: to collect at least 10,000 pounds of canned food for River Cities Harvest to distribute to local nonprofits and churches that help feed the hungry.
Hannah, who just completed his freshman year as a Bonner Scholar at Berea College, said scholars are encouraged, but not required, to do community projects designed to help the needy. -
Westwood man charged with attempted murder
A Westwood man was arrested on attempted murder charges following an incident Sunday night, according to the Ashland Police Department.
Michael L. Thompson, 38, was charged following an investigation. - More Local News Headlines
Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs
Solar Power Chargers in NYC Parks
Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
