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Fort Myers Beach loses a dear friend and one hell of a musician

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Tag Graves, famed musician and longtime Fort Myers Beach resident, lost his battle with Stage 4 liver cancer, passing away Monday, Dec. 19, at the age of 59.
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Local musicians and dear friends of Tag’s, Bryce Barnes and Joe Monroe share some touching words with the audience.
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The 2011 Tabarrini Music Scholarship recipients hold up their donated instruments, including a guitar donated in Tag Graves’ honor.

The music scene was rattled last week, as Tag Graves, famed musician and longtime Fort Myers Beach resident, lost his battle with Stage 4 liver cancer, passing away Monday, Dec. 19, at the age of 59.

Friends and fans inundated Tag’s Facebook page with memories, photos and images of candlelit vigils, and locals continue to mourn the loss of a great musician and a great friend.

The night after his passing, Bob Tabarrini and the Tabarrini Music Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit group dedicated to providing music lessons and instruments to children less fortunate, awarded the “Tag Graves Music Scholarship,” along with a guitar donated to The Tabarrini Music Scholarship Foundation by local musicians, laminated with the infamous, memorable photo of Tag that was on his “Cancer Fight 2011” T-shirts.

“At least in this rough time, we know that Tag’s music will live on in a kid that otherwise may have not ever been able to play,” said islander Karen Morrealle of Surreal 2 Reel Studios and dear friend of Tag’s.

Several local musicians are in the process of planning a local memorial gathering and concert, to play in memory of Tag, sometime in early 2012, including Stet Howland and 10,000 Views. Stay tuned to The Beach Bulletin for further details.

Also, a memorial Web page has been designed for all friends, fans and aquaintances of Tag, who wish to share a fond memory, photo or story. Visit AuldsFuneral.com. A direct link to Tag’s memorial site will be placed on the Beach Bulletin’s website, at FortMyersBeachTalk.com.