Ellyn Webb, longtime owner of the Northside Tavern and a woman known in the Atlanta blues scene as a matriarch, died Thursday morning of cancer.

She was 63.

The family released the news via a Facebook post shared by local musician and tavern regular Danny "Mudcat" Dudeck.

Webb, the daughter of the original owner, took over the tavern in 1982.

“Thousands of music shows, celebrity customers, career starts and a family of musicians that play the place are the result of her kind, loving open doors to those who wanted to play,” said local musician Dan Francis, known as “Dan Dan the Healin’ Man.”

Sign and view the guestbook here.

The Northside Tavern has presented blues music since 1994. (Credit: Stephen Talkovich)

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