Gulfport musician, massage therapist Leta Woloshuk dies

Leta Marie Woloshuk, of the Gulfport-based musical duo Urban Gypsies, died May 22 of complications from breast cancer. She was 47.

A licensed massage therapist, Woloshuk was also the owner of the studio The Art of Massage.

The Urban Gypsies, which paired Woloshuk with her husband, Barney Waterbury, was a local favorite at coffeehouses, festivals, weddings and more; the duo regularly performed at the Saturday Morning Market downtown, playing an exuberant blend of mostly original songs they called “Tribal Disco Gypsy Bluegrass Music.”

In addition to singing alongside Waterbury, Woloshuk – a native of Santa Fe, New Mexico – played mandolin, banjo, African djembe, pennywhistle and percussion.

She announced in January that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer; a GoFundMe page raised more than $37,000 for her medical bills.

“It is because of God’s wondrous gifts that I have had the privilege of performing at so many great  venues all over St. Pete and Tampa,” Woloshuk once wrote on the Urban Gypsies’ website. “It has been a tremendous honor to be a part of such a joyous project. These are the good old days we will remember, filled with great people and great music.”