In one of D.C. Fitzgerald's final songs, "Pilot Me," the Pittsburgh singer-songwriter contemplates mortality and opens a dialogue with his maker.

The popular Edgewood guitarist died Monday from complications from a liver transplant. He was 61.

In his trademark fedora, Mr. Fitzgerald struck a familiar figure on Pittsburgh stages. A member of the popular local folk group Common Threads, he also played in several trios, duos and as a solo artist, and taught guitar for Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society.

His contemporary finger-style guitar picking and original folksy blues songs were admired by musicians and audiences alike, but Mr. Fitzgerald is perhaps most remembered for volunteering his stage time at countless fund-raising benefits.

His final Pittsburgh performances were less than a month ago at First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood, a private house party and a friend's wedding. His last gig, performed with frequent musical partner Bob Beach, was in Cleveland on Oct. 28.

"'Pilot Me' was the title cut from our last CD together," said Mr. Beach, a former Pittsburgher who now lives in Philadelphia. "It's about his spiritual side. I don't know if you could say Fitz was contemplating death, but he was in a good place spiritually. He had a lot of faith and one of the last songs he wrote [was] a conversation with his creator."

Mr. Fitzgerald was a follower of spiritual leader Meher Baba.

Frequent collaborator Casey Deely, who played with Mr. Fitzgerald in Common Threads and more recently in a pop standards trio, remembers him as a partner and mentor.

"I have never met a more gifted musician who could get me to do things that I never thought I could," she said. "The world without his music? I still can't handle it."

"I went to the hospital to see him on Sunday," said Calliope managing director Patricia Tanner. "So many musicians stopped in to visit and share stories. He performed in our concert series and donated his performance fee for numerous Calliope events over the years. He was a wonderful musician and a dear friend. He touched so many lives."

"D.C. was an amazing finger picker," said Larry Berger, of the independently produced "Saturday Light Brigade" radio program, which has spotlighted Mr. Fitzgerald's music live and on recordings. "He was a complete, passionate and effortless kind of player with an incredible amount of soul."

Saturday at 11 a.m., "Saturday Light Brigade" will showcase the songs of Mr. Fitzgerald in an hourlong tribute simulcast on WRCT 88.3 and WSAJ 91.1 FM, WURP 1550 AM, and streamed online at www.slbradio.org.

Mr. Fitzgerald is survived by his wife, Kathlee Link Fitzgerald, and sons Damon Che, Jesse and Nathan Fitzgerald. Services will be private.