SciFi.Radio regrets to announce that singer/songwriter Duane Elms has passed away.
In addition to being an award-winning Filk composer, Elms was also a noted costumer.
His two best known songs were “Dawson’s Chtistian.” and “Don’t Touch That Button!” Between 1990 and 2003, Elms participated on nine filk albums as guitarist or singer. His songs appeared on more albums than he did. It was generally agreed he was a better songwriter than a singer.
His only studio album, St. Elmo’s Fire featured Larry Warneer singing twelve songs Duane Elms wrote. Elms is on several con albums, for Bayfilk and Balticon.
The goosebump-inducing “Dawson’s Christian” won the Pegasus Award for Best Filk Song of 1989. By the time space travel is common enough to make space piracy economically practical, “Dawson’s Christian” will be in public domain and doubtless be sung in many rec rooms aboard space freighters and in spaceport bars.
As of this writing, the Elms family has not released the cause of his death. Our condolences to his friends and family, and thank you, Duane, for the songs.
Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows. Her nonfiction book THEY ENDURED will be published by B Cubed Press in 2025 or 2026.
