Tragedy has struck a long-standing member of Houston's musical community. Elizabeth Danheim, 43-year old wife of Eric Danheim, died Jan.30 while swimming in Hawaii.

Eric Danheim, who also worked under the alias Eddie Lee Dale, has been a fixture on the Houston roots-music scene for over 20 years, playing with Herschel Berry in the '80s and later with the Rounders. He is probably best-known for his work with Houston favorites the Hollisters, who ruled the scene for a number of years in the late '90s.

Danheim is also a guitar builder and has worked for a number of years at Rockin' Robin Guitars on Shepherd. Elizabeth "Betsy" Danheim had been a product-line manager for amazon.com. Her job led to the family relocating to Seattle for a number of years, during which time Eric played with Seattle roots favorites the Picketts.

Mrs. Danheim had only recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd. Call 713-862-8844 for more information.

Below is the initial report from Maui TV News:

NEWS FLASH - January 30, 2009 4:35 p.m. HST

Texas Woman Dies After Swim in Honolua Bay

On 01/30/09 at approximately 1035 hours, Maui Police Officers responded to Honolua Bay on a report of three (3) swimmers in distress on the rocks. Upon arrival, police officers arrived with C.P.R. already in progress by the paramedics and fire personnel on a 43 year-old female victim, identified as Elizabeth Danheim from Houston, Texas who appeared to have suffered from a cardiac arrest and did not drown as suspected.

According to witnesses, at one point Danheim was struggling to swim, so she was helped up onto the rocks, when she had difficulty breathing. After a duration of revival efforts from emergency personnel, Danheim was unresponsive and expired at the scene.