Lonnie Knight was a singer-songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire who once joked that “legendary is just another way of saying been around a long time”, but the lanky Minnesotan was one of those rare musicians who truly earned the title Legendary. Knight has long been known as a stellar guitar player, receiving multiple awards for his musicianship, including Best Guitarist by the Minnesota Music Awards. Knight’s unique guitar style was a blend of melodic lines and virtuosic licks executed with panache and precision, allowing the music to breathe.

With a poet’s sensitivity, his guitar-playing always supported the lyric content. He was a master of improvisation, utilizing great tone for each instrument and genre that he played. Knight’s songwriting comes to the fore in all of his albums, revealing a truly gifted artist. While no one played like Knight, he has often been compared to the stylings of Mark Knopfler, Richard Thompson, Bert Jansch and Brooks Williams.

Lonnie Knight was a tireless and joyful musician whose decades-long career as a songwriter, guitarist, and performer deeply shaped Minnesota’s music scene. Until two weeks before his passing in 2017, he remained devoted to his craft—writing, producing, and performing. Even while facing illness, he continued to play and mentor with unwavering passion, inspiring fellow musicians through his resilience and gratitude for the community that had supported him—and whose heart he helped define.