Richmond music community mourns musician Joseph Hunt

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond music community is remembering 45-year-old Joseph Hunt, a local musician who died after he was stabbed Tuesday night.

Hunt, who performed under the stage name Joseph Blacfellow, was set to perform at Mell J's in Henrico County on Thursday, Nov. 20. Instead, the venue held a tribute, playing his music in his honor.

A singer and guitar player, his friends and musical peers will forever miss his voice.

"Everywhere you go, he showed love," said Kelly Jones, owner of Da Spot Recording studio in Richmond.

Jones recalled meeting a 16-year-old Hunt when Jones was moving into his first studio space.

"This little skinny kid comes walking across the street," Jones said. "He's like, 'Y'all guys need help?' And we're looking at him like, 'Uhh, not really.' And before you know it, he's helping us -- he's just carrying a couch upstairs."

Jones said from that point on, Hunt stuck around the studio. Jones grew to view him like a nephew. He also watched Hunt evolve into the musical artist he became.

"Once he picked up the guitar, that's when he developed his own style. I can't really tell you what it is. It was his own state, his own way of playing," Jones said.

The music forever stopped on Tuesday, Nov. 18, after police found Hunt with a stab wound inside a Richmond home on North Thompson Street. Detectives said the stabbing happened after a reported assault. Hunt was taken to a hospital, where he died.

The Richmond Police Department has since arrested 23-year-old Devonte Knott of Richmond in connection with Hunt's death. He has been charged with second-degree murder.

Jones was in a recording session when he got the news.

"It was 2 in the morning when I found out," he said. "And I was like, 'Okay, I'm gonna have to stop the session, we're done here.' It was just like ... I couldn't go any further."

Jones said he'll always remember Hunt for his infectious energy, his command of a crowd, and most of all, his music.

"It's not just songs. It's a transmission. It's a transmission from him," Jones said. "I would say, listen to that. And it could change you in a lot of ways."

Some of Hunt's music and performances can be viewed on his Facebook page and YouTube channel.