Scotty Moore, the pioneering rock guitarist whose sharp, graceful style helped Elvis Presley shape his revolutionary sound and inspired a generation of musicians that included Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and Bruce Springsteen, has died at the age of 84.

The recent death of Eagles frontman Glenn Frey hit me hard. It’s not that I knew the man personally or anything like that. He lived the sunny Californian dream, surrounded by beautiful people, while I live here in the rain-soaked hills of Kilmichael where, but for the distant braying of a solitary donkey, I am all alone.