Goodbye Dave Van Ronk!
I'll always be your candy man if you'll be my salty dog!

He was one of the greatest folk, jazz & blues artist that's been a household name in Greenwich Village even before the Dead Sea got sick (well... almost).
It's a shame he never got to see and enjoy the recognition he so deserved, yet he died a wealthy man having had so many close musician friends, fans and followers. I'll miss his talented fingerpicking guitar style, unique personality and his expressional face as he played and sang.
So long, Mayor.
Thanks, Arnie
http://www.folkloreproductions.com/Html/vanronk.html

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That's a real shame. Never got to see him live or meet him, but I sure did get in a lot of good hours of listening to him. Hasta la vista, Dave.

Here's to you Dave....


"If I ever get back on my feet,
I'll move from Saturday Alley
up to Sunday Street..."

thanks for all the workshops at philly...

you'll be missed.

I was lucky enough to see Dave perform 4 times. The first time was at the Newport Folk Festival in the mid-80's, the first one they had after a break of several years. I made my way to the front of the crowd, camera in hand, and prepared to take a picture. Dave noticed me and SMILED just for me. I was totally startled, 'cos I'd always heard he was sort of a curmudgeon, and it kind of threw me. My sister saw the whole thing from way back where she was sitting. "Wow! Was he ever smiling at you!" My pictures weren't memorable, but the moment was.

In the mid-90's my blues musican friend Dan Stevens studied guitar with Dave for a while, and I got to see Dave perform 3 more times, with Dan as the opening act. Awesome shows. One time they played at this great old inn in PA, the Temperance House. Dan caught me after the show there, and said, "Hey, Judy, can you take a picture of me and Dave, and then...go away? Sorry, it's just that Dave is kind of a private guy." "Sure, Dan, I understand." They were sitting in the bar and it was dark and I couldn't see well, but I took their picture. I'm looking at that picture right now as I write this--Dave smiled (Again! Some curmudgeon.), and Dan was beaming--and as I look at it, I'm grateful for performers like Dave. Legends who keep the music alive, and take the time to pass it along to younger generations. Dan always performs some of the songs he learned from Dave at his gigs, and they're some of my favorites.

Rest in peace, Dave Van Ronk, and thanks for sharing the music.

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"Folk's Missing Link"
by GENE SANTORO
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020422&s=santoro

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