After an intense and extended battle with cancer, Triangle-area rock musician Reese McHenry died Thursday. She was 51 years old.
The artist behind records like “No Dados” and “Tourist” had been fighting “incurable and inoperable” sarcoma that had metastasized to her back and lungs, according to McHenry’s website in July. All Y’all Records, who had signed Reese as one of its inaugural members in December, confirmed her death on Thursday with a post on Facebook.
“It is with an extreme heavy heart that we say goodbye to our All Y’all sister in arms Reese McHenry today,” wrote the Carrboro-based label. “[Our] hearts are broken and this is such a huge loss for our amazing community of musicians. Reese was a force of nature. We will miss her larger than life spirit and her unique and powerful voice that captivated every audience she ever performed for. But mostly her kind sweet heart.”
McHenry had been sharing occasional updates of her latest battle with cancer on the website Caring Bridge, chronicling her trips back and forth from treatment at Duke University Hospital. A GoFundMe established in the summer also featured some updates — and began to see more donations on Thursday as news of the local musician’s death was learned. This was McHenry’s second battle with the illness, having initially having beaten cancer in 2022, and just the latest in a series of hurdles with her health. In 2008, she put her career on hold after suffering a series of four strokes and underwent a series of intensive surgeries to recover from their effects.
McHenry’s passing came just one day before a tribute show in her honor, “Rock for Reese,” is set to unfold at The Local 506 in Chapel Hill, which had been scheduled to initial cover her medical expenses. Rock bands Pipe, Spider Bags, LUD and Hot Brains will now perform sets to raise money to help with end-of-life and funeral costs for the rock-and-roller’s family. On Friday, doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show will start at 8 p.m. with tickets priced at $15 each.
Featured photo via ReeseMcHenry.com.
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