Northland musicians react to the passing of guitarist George Zissos

DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - A lot of us dabble with the guitar but few of us can make it sing like George Zissos of the Centerville All Stars.

“George was the Eric Clapton of Minnesota, undisputedly.” said Sammy Maida.

Sammy Maida is the drummer for the Centerville All Stars, a Duluth band with a name based on an obscure Frank Zappa movie.

George Zissos was the lead guitarist of the group which was inducted into the Mid America Music Hall of Fame last year.

Zissos passed away unexpectedly earlier in the month and the Northland’s music community is reeling.

George was a huge supporter of the Bluebird Foundation that gives scholarships to music students.

“He supported that organization every year with a song that he’d arrange and put together for our Christmas by the Lake album.” said Tracy Lundeen of the Bluebird Foundation.

Now the Bluebird Foundation is working to put together a scholarship in George Zissos’s name.

There may also be a local band tribute concert like those done for Mick Jackson and Bill Sandwick in the past.

In the meantime, Sammy Maida says the Centerville All Stars will have to discuss their future without their guitar slinger.

“You don’t have Van Halen without Eddie and it’s hard to have Centerville without George.” pondered Sammy.

Memorial service plans for George Zissos are in the works.

In Duluth, Dave Anderson, Northern News Now.

Click here to download the Northern News Now app or our Northern News Now First Alert weather app.