Jeff Austin Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Jeff Austin Yonder Mountain String Band

Getty Jeff Austin pictured during a performance in May 2007.

Jeff Austin has died, three days after rumors began to float around on social media of his suicide.

A statement from Austin’s family on June 25 read, “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of a beloved family member, mandolinist, singer, songwriter and founder of The Jeff Austin Band, and Yonder Mountain String Band, Jeff Austin. Austin passed away June 24, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. He was son of Eileen Austin, husband to Devlyn, and father to Lily Rose (12), Penelope (5), and Jude Patrick (2). He was a dear friend whose music touched the lives of so many, and will be sorely missed.”

Austin, a native of Arlington Heights, Illinois, had been the subject of rumors that began on the night of June 21.

Here’s what you need to know:


1. Austin Said He Suffered a ‘Medical Emergency’ on June 22

On June 22, Austin released a statement on his Facebook page that read, “My friends… due to a to a medical emergency I am unfortunately unable to play my sets next week at ROMP music festival, Back Home Appalachian Arts & Music Festival, and Smoky Run Music Festival. Thanks for your understanding and continued support.” There is no elaboration on what exactly happened to the bluegrass legend to cause this “medical emergency.”


2. Austin Left the Yonder Mountain String Band in 2014 After the Birth of His Daughter

Since April 2014, Austin has been forging his own solo career after departing the Yonder Mountain String Band. In a statement at the time, the rest of the band said that they were in “full support” of Austin’s solo efforts. Prior to his departure, Austin had been absent from many of the band’s shows thanks to the birth of his daughter.

Jeff Austin Suicide

GettyAustin performs at the Vegoose music festival at Sam Boyd Stadium’s Star Nursery Field on October 28, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In a July 2018 interview with Westword, Austin spoke about his family saying, “Yes. I have three kids. I took a break from touring with Yonder Mountain in 2014 when my daughter was born. You make a lot of wrong decisions and some right ones. And the most right decision I ever made was to stay home with my newly born little girl. I didn’t grow up with a father, so I thought I should stay home and be a dad.”


3. Austin Was a Musical Theater Student in College

Austin was a musical theater major at the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. It was during his college years that Austin first took up the mandolin. In a 2009 interview with Relix, Austin said, “My mom let me go to Grateful Dead shows when I was 12 or 13 years old. The things that taught me. And I think about these kids – it’s like a sense of community, a different sense of giving and caring – we’re all here together. If you create something, you’ll have this beautiful bubble that will occur.”

Austin told Festy Go Nuts in an interview in 2019 that he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati at the age of 17 after he won singing competitions in high school. Austin is listed on the conservatory’s website as one of their most accomplished graduates.

When asked in his Westworld interview about how long he had played the mandolin, Austin said, “No. I started out with voice. I was exposed to a lot of music from a young age. I was born in 1974, and my mom, who was born in the late ’40s, was a baby boomer. We listened to the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead and all that kind of stuff, as well as Willie, Waylon, Kris Kristofferson and lots of classic country.”


4. A Fund Has Been Set Up to Help Austin’s Family During This Difficult Time

Jeff Austin Dead

Facebook/Jeff Austin

A fundraising page has been set up to help Austin’s family during this difficult time. Among the tributes left in the comments, one read, “Jeff was one of my favorite musicians to go see live and Yonder was my stepping stone to great bluegrass music. I’m so so sorry for this loss. He will live on in the memory and music library of many! Sending love your way!” While another read, “You changed my life after I moved to Colorado. Thank you for all you’ve done in our music community!”


5. In Paying Tribute to Austin, His Former Bandmates Referred to Him as Their ‘Brother’

The Yonder Mountain String Band said in a statement upon hearing of Austin’s passing, “We are saddened to report that we have lost our brother Jeff Austin. Remembering the incredible times and magical moments puts us at a profound loss for words. While we honor his memory, we will continue to pray for his family and for the journey they now face without him. If you’d like to lend them a hand.”

Earlier in 2019, Austin said of his time in the Yonder Mountain String Band, “I’ve had the opportunity…when I was in Yonder, man I had 15 years when I traveled the world with my friends…and was able to make a living, and spread a lot of joy, and it’s like, possibly, with the right amount of work, I could do it again! Let’s try that! It’s a lot of hard work, but I knew it was going to be. So, little bits of light are always super helpful. But the good thing is I got Lasik and my vision is really good, so I can see really far.”

READ NEXT: Teenage Porn Star Controversy Rocks California High School