It's been nearly a year since local super-fan Cy Rawls passed on -- and I still catch myself looking for him at shows with some regularity. I think my Cy pangs hit their peak in April, when his beloved Tar Heels won the NCAA championship, but they've hardly ebbed since then. And I don't think I'll ever hear the Rosebuds, among other bands, without thinking about him.

It's a nice thought. And even though he's gone, folks continue doing good works in his name. The latest is Rawls' friend Tim Ross, who is running in next month's Chicago Marathon in his memory -- and to raise money for brain-tumor research. Check here for details on how to sponsor him, then do it.

I didn't go to college anywhere in this time zone, let alone in the Triangle, so I've never cared much one way or the other about any of the local schools' fight songs. But I heard a very moving version of the University of North Carolina's fight song, "Hark the Sound," Saturday morning -- at a "Celebration of Life" ceremony for the late Cy Rawls, who died last October.

More than once over the past few months, I've been at a show and caught myself looking around in search of Rawls, the local music scene's biggest supporter. You can bet he would have been at all three nights of Raleigh Undercover, and more than likely at the Loners' album-release show Friday night.

Saturday's service included Rawls' friends telling lots of funny and touching stories about him, recounting everything from goofy wedding presents to the coolest Las Vegas trip anyone has ever taken. More than one speaker also noted Rawls' passionate fandom of his alma mater, UNC. Since the Tar Heels will tip off against arch-rival Duke on Sunday, it seemed appropriate for the service to conclude with everyone singing a piano-accompanied version of "Hark the Sound":

Hark the sound of Tar Heel voices.
Ringing clear and true.
Singing Carolina's praises.
Shouting N-C-U.
Hail to the brightest star of all.
Clear its radiance shine.
Carolina priceless gem.
Receive all praises thine.

'Twas nice.

Sadly, local super-fan Cy Rawls is no longer with us after passing away from a brain tumor in October. But bands are paying tribute to his memory (and, not coincidentally, raising money to cover medical costs he left behind) with CyTunes, which goes online Friday at midnight. For a quick Cy primer, check this lovely remembrance by his friend Kerry Cantwell (and some national coverage from Pitchfork).

Red Collar, Dirty Little Heaters, Birds of Avalon, Hammer No More the Fingers, Superchunk and I Was Totally Destroying It are among the contributing music to the cause. There's also a free show/launch party tonight at Chapel Hill's Local 506 with Magic Babies, the Rosebuds-Schooner-Sames supergroup Flute Flies and more.

The following is long overdue.

I’ve been wondering if I should throw in a few words about the recent passing of Cy Rawls over on my blog. As most of you know, I'm not that good when it comes to eloquent memorializing. But, like most people in the Triangle, I too had a relationship with the man. However, it wasn’t as close of a bond as one would expect. A couple of years ago, he and I were on the same trivia-night team. It was me, him, Sam, Dimitri and Kathy. Every Tuesday night, we’d convene at the Alibi Bar below the Martin Street Music Hall for its then-trivia night. (I would usually be coming from an awful movie screening, so I was looking to shoot off some steam.)

While I was there, I would often order these bottles of Thai Red Bull, which is Red Bull without the carbonation (just straight sugar!), one after the other from the bartender. (On many an occasion, the bartender would be that Angelina Jolie-looking keyboardist from The Rosebuds.) As you would expect, the endless bottles of Red Bull would make me jazzed for competition. While Cy and the crew kept their composure, I would get way too into it. This came into light when we lost a round one night because the guest quizmaster docked us a point after we (or, should I say, I) referred to the star of “That’s So Raven” as Raven-Symone and not just Raven. I lost it and vowed never to return.

That pitiful story aside, it was fun hanging out with Cy and company on Tuesday nights. Rawls was a quiet, laid-back creature. He occasionally e-mailed me about movies. As one would expect just by talking to him, he was an idiot savant when it came to music. We often discussed music during our trivia-filled evenings. I even helped him pick out music when he was DJing over at the radio station at Duke one Sunday morning.

While we weren’t close friends, it was truly a pleasure to make his acquaintance. Like everyone who came in contact with him, I ended up not only liking the man, but admiring him. People who didn’t even know Cy loved and respected him. (When I broke the news of his death to a bartender/musician colleague of mine who never met Cy, even he got emotional.)

To the local music community, Cy Rawls was a dedicated fan. I only hope that he knew how much everybody —including myself— were fans of him.

I spent a subdued weekend thinking a lot about a recently departed friend, Cy Rawls, whose funeral is today in Jacksonville. If you come around here much, you've no doubt read about him. And if you've gone to local-band shows with any regularity over the last decade, you probably recognize him. I wouldn't say I knew him well. But I'm not sure too many people did.

Most of our interactions consisted of shouted conversations in loud places with a band blaring in the background, plus the occasional interview about this or that. Since he was everywhere and seemed to know everyone, he was a good person to keep in touch with -- even though he wasn't the best quote source. He was just such a sweetheart that I never heard him utter an unkind word about anyone, even people who deserved it.

"Cy," I told him once, "you're just too danged reasonable." His only response was to grin, and shrug.

He seemed content to go his own mysterious way, appearing and disappearing without calling much attention to himself. But in his quiet, unassuming way, he was a star. Because, for all the attention that bands get, those of us on the other side of the stage also have an important role to play -- bearing witness, and supporting the efforts of those who get up there to do it. As Chapel Hill's ubur-fan, Rawls played that role better than anybody.

You get back what you put into the world. That seems like a cruel thing to say about someone who dies at age 33. Yet it applies to Rawls. The very small silver lining of this tragedy is that his friends had a chance to let him know how they felt. And it's still going on. All you have to do is read the tributes his friends are leaving to know how much he was loved and appreciated.

Over the last few months, the local music community came together in a show of support that was inspiring and overwhelming. That's what's worth remembering -- and also how much he did to earn that respect.

ADDENDUM: Woody Durham's on-air tribute. 

A month ago, things seemed promising for beloved local-scene fixture Cy Rawls in his battle against a brain tumor. But now... Well, the situation has taken a serious turn for the worse. He's back in the hospital and it doesn't look good, according to the latest update.

So on this beautiful Friday, please pause long enough to send a prayer his way if you've got one to spare. You know you do.

UPDATE: Cy Rawls passed away peacefully this morning at 9:51 in the company of his parents and a few close friends. Please check back for information about the visitation tomorrow night and a memorial service in the future.

Meantime, check out the comments.

ADDENDUM (10/5/08): His obituary.

The latest benefit show for our man Cy Rawls happens Saturday in Raleigh, and it's a good one -- check the details here. And if any of you recording artistes out there are of a mind to help out, you can now contribute a "CyTune" to the cause. Information on how to do so is here.

...at the latest Cy Rawls Has a Posse show wasn't music (although that was plenty good). It was the onstage announcement that Rawls' brain tumor is shrinking. Even better, Rawls himself was there to hear it.

Hang in there, dude, we're all pulling for ya. The rest of you, keep checking here for updates.

Things are pretty upbeat on the Cy Rawls front this week. He was well enough to attend Sunday's big "Cy Rawls Has a Posse" benefit show at Cat's Cradle. And in the wake of Tuesday morning's 20th and final radiation-treatment session, his father sends along this update:

All reports from the doctor look very good, especially the blood chemistry profiles. Cy had been using a wheelchair to go from the car to the radiation building but yesterday walked from the car to the building and back. Everyone was very glad to see him walking into the building.

With any luck, Rawls should also be able to attend the big Aug. 29 Superchunk/Rosebuds/Birds of Avalon bill at the Cradle. The rest of you, don't sleep on getting tickets because it will probably sell out soon. And keep those prayers and good thoughts comin'.

You may not know Cy Rawls by name; but if you've gone to very many local-band shows around here over the past 15 years, you probably know him by sight -- even though he's something of a mystery even to his friends. A person of enigmatic tastes, he loves Journey as well as Polvo. And while he's the most mild-mannered sweetheart you could ever hope to meet, locals still talk with awe about Rawls' star turn as a blood-spattered Glen Danzig at "The Great Cover-Up" back in 2000.

"How well can anybody really know Cy?" asks James Hepler (drummer for various cool bands) in a tone of mock solemnity. "I knew him by reputation before I ever actually met him, and I can't even remember when I did. Same as anybody else, I'd see him all over the place. He'd seem to appear and disappear magically and suddenly, then show up again hours or days later. Erie Choir was playing in Atlanta once, and there he was. He was on his way to New Orleans, so he stopped in on his way."

For the past month, however, Rawls has not been getting out to rock. Instead, he's been battling a malignant brain tumor. The prognosis is uncertain, but Rawls' friends have rallied to his cause with a heart-warming fervor that recalls the closing scene of a Frank Capra movie.

For more, check the story in Thursday's paper; and keep up with the ongoing fund-raising efforts for Rawls here.