Happy Birthday Dave Van Ronk!

[frankmcr]

[boombox]

I only discovered Dave Van Ronk when he died. Although he predated it to some extent, when people of my age (50s) in Britain think of American folk singers and the Greenwich Village scene, it seems most will know Dylan, a lot will know Joni, a few might know Tom Paxton, and next to no-one will know Phil Ochs and Eric Andersen. However, I don't know anyone at all who knows DVR, yet he influenced so many. Of all the artists I never got to see live, he's one of those about whom I have the most regrets. Oddly, it was only as an adult that I realised I knew "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" from his reading of it. His autobiography "The Mayor Of MacDougal Street" is a very enjoyable read too.

[6L6]

One of my all-time guitar heroes! I regularly cover his versions of "Cocaine Blues", "Candyman", "He Was a Friend of Mine", and others.

I first heard him in 1965 and worked hard to get his fingerpicking style down.

[MakingMusic]

Thanks for posting that. The only time I saw him was at the old Cafe au Go-Go in Greenwich Village. What a great venue that was. Brought back a lot of memories.

[Al Acuff]

Dave made a great guitar lesson video called 'Folk, Blues and Ragtime'. Highly recommended!

[reeve21]

He was underappreciated. I also enjoyed his autobiography, completed posthumously by his protegee, Elijah Wald (also underappreciated). This led me to watch the Llewyn Davis movie, which is said to be based on the book. Movie was mediocre IMHO.

[hess]

His arrangements of the Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag are the best! He had a unique and interesting approach and style. Sunday Street and Blood Red Moon are some of my favorite guitar pieces. Thank you for posting. I need to check out his autobiography.

[MakingMusic]

"Red Blood Moon". Completely forgot about that one. A great song. I think I'll learn it tonight.

[PHJim]

I first heard about Dave Van Ronk at the 1964 Mariposa Folk Festival. I met a fellow whose name I can't recall and he was singing and playing Cocaine Blues. I asked him about it and he told me to get the Dave Van Ronk, Folk Singer LP.
My brother Bob and I taught ourselves to fingerpick using that Dave Van Ronk LP and Libba Cotten's Negro Folk Songs & Tunes LP.

I was browsing through the Mariposa Archives website a few years ago and was surprised to find this photo from the Toronto Telegram newspaper with the caption, "Four young men, one with guitar". I'd never seen this photo before, but the young man with the Buddy Holly glasses is me, behind me is my brother Bob, beside me is my friend Dennis and holding the J-50 is the guy who introduced me to the music of Dave Van Ronk.



I did get a chance to see Dave perform and to shake his hand and thank him for the wonderful music and the inspiration. Dave would be 84 today.

[TeleBluesMan]

https://credo.library.umass.edu/search?q=dave+van+ronk

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by TeleBluesMan

https://credo.library.umass.edu/search?q=dave+van+ronk

Nice article on DVR.

[godfreydaniel]

I took lessons from Dave in the mid eighties. He taught me so much. Interesting man, “The Mayor of McDougal Street” is definitely worth reading. Regarding the film “Inside Llewelyn Davis,” here’s what Dave’s ex-wife had to say about it:

https://www.villagevoice.com/2013/12...lewyn-davis-2/

[sayheyjeff]

Love DVR. Played his albums til they were totally worn out. Only got to see him once and that was in the early 70s at The Childe Harold off DuPont Circle in Washington, DC. The links posted here were a lot of fun. In addition to the writings focused on DVR, the little ad in the back of publication from Cambridge for an upcoming concert by young folk singer Robert Dylan from Minnesota was a hoot.

Jeff

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by sayheyjeff

the little ad in the back of publication from Cambridge for an upcoming concert by young folk singer Robert Dylan from Minnesota was a hoot.

Jeff