RIP Ben Kihnel, first hire CD Baby made after moving to Portland

I apologize if this is the first you’re hearing of this. JOhn Rokos reached out to let me know about the passing of Ben Kihnel, who was the first person hired — and the second hire overall — when CD Baby relocated to Portland back in the day. He also spent time at local music startup Rumblefish. He was 48.

Derek Sivers, the founder of CD Baby, shared the following in a post:

Ben was employee #2 of CD Baby. (#1 was the great John Steup.) John hired Ben the day we moved the company to Portland, Oregon. I don’t even know how we met Ben. Then all of the early employees at CD Baby were Ben’s friends, so Ben was really the start and the heart of everything for us in Portland.

Ben was one of my favorite people. Such a warm, open, empathetic guy. Such a great conversationalist. Many people, when talking, are somewhat insincere — echoing phrases they think they should be saying, or saying one thing but meaning another. But even Ben’s shortest communications were really open-hearted and engaged — fully listening, understanding, and sharing. He was always great at getting to the heart of things.

I hope I remember to tell people how I appreciate them when they’re alive.

My thoughts go out to Ben’s family and friends given this tragic news.