Matt Reynolds Memorial Fund

Dark Star Orchestra & the Family of Matt Reynolds have been so overwhelmed by - and grateful for - all of the love and support for the sudden, unexpected loss of a true kindred spirit.

The Family is asking that in lieu of sending flowers, making contributions to your local food bank would be something Matt would appreciate. 

In addition to this typical Matt-Reynolds-approach-of-always-giving-and-putting-others-first, Dark Star Orchestra is spear-heading this GoFundMe account to raise funds for some unsettled expenses and as a testament to the community to show financial support in this time of great sorrow for His Family.

In a soul-stirring tribute offered by Matt's brother, Brad, we want to share an inkling of what kind of inspiration Matt had created within us, and likely for you as well:

"It was August 9th, 1979 when Charles and Sandra Reynolds welcomed their 9lb 13oz baby boy into the world. The youngest of four, Matthew Ryan Reynolds had arrived, and for the next 37 years and 10 months, the world would be better.

Matt’s love for music was inevitable. The echoes of strumming guitars and vocal melodies bounced off the walls of his Buxton Court home in Greenville, SC for years, as his father would sing the old country classics on which he grew up. Matt was right there in the mix, taking it all in, listening and eventually joining in. Over time, creativity collided with passion and the songwriter emerged.

Though his love for music was deep and real, it was a distant second to his true love; you. Yes, you. It doesn’t matter who is reading this, Matt Reynolds loved you and would do anything for you. He understood as much as a man can, how to love like Christ. It is hard to argue that anything describes Matt’s approach to all those around him better than 1 Corinthians 13, aptly known as “The Love Chapter”. We could easily replace the word “love”, with “Matt”.

Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love does not envy or boast.
Love is not arrogant or rude.
Love does not insist on its own way.
Love is not irritable or resentful.
Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends.

There is no denying that the world lost something special when Matt said goodbye. But just as he always looked for and found the good in others, we will do well to follow his lead. May we strive to love deeply and genuinely in all that we do, just like Matt. He will live on because though the body fades, true love never ends.

I love you Matt and have always been proud of you. You will be desperately missed.

Brad"