Spotify Release Info
Track: Hang Me, Oh Hang Me
Artist: Dave Van Ronk
Album: Folksinger
Artist Bio
Name: Dave Van Ronk
Spotify Genres: folk, traditional folk, country blues
Followers: 67,784
Popularity:
Biography
Born 30 June 1936, Brooklyn, NY, USA. Died 10 February 2002, New York City, NY, USA Nicknamed the Mayor of MacDougal Street, New York City native Dave Van Ronk was considered by many to be music's raconteur, troubadour, and provocateur. Arriving at Washington Square Park in the mid 1950s during the folk revivalist boom, Van Ronk lived hand-to-mouth while teaching himself to play guitar and dabbling in communist political circles. By 1958, he and life-long friend, musicologist [a666121], released their first album, [l72976]'s "Skiffle in Stereo" as members of [a1941172]. After a stint in the Merchant Marine, tireless gigging in most every cabaret in the city, and a one-off collaboration as a [a1916070] on [a869023]'s album of sea shanties, Van Ronk settled on the lower west side Manhattan, in Greenwich Village. Referred to as “the great, grizzled, guitarist” by [a362340], Van Ronk’s music eluded classification. As a self-described ‘moldy fig’ who eschewed the term “folk artist”, Dave Van Ronk’s eclectic blend of dixieland jazz, ragtime, blues, vaudeville, and other styles were often in direct conflict with the format-conscious world of the commercial music business. Reminding listeners his only constant was, "I've always been inconsistent”, his recordings followed one rule, “anything that I like and that I think I can find a handle to, I'll take a whack at. And as it has been, so shall it be." Though more an arranger than a songwriter, Van Ronk was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers toward the end of his four plus decade career in December of 1997. Debuting on [a688836]'s [l20694] label in the early 1960s, Van Ronk moved onto [l19591] with Dixieland revivalists [a1927057] and [l39357] with [a1927050]. At the close of the 1960s, [l30679] released his sole rock album with the [a1927051]. As the folk boom ebbed, Van Ronk’s gravelly voice was relatively quiet, releasing an album for [l1610] in 1972, another the following year on [l31486], then landing on the [l30531] roster in 1976. By the early 1980s, Van Ronk was recording several one-off projects with assorted independent folk labels, including a handful for [a666121]' New England-based [l78952] imprint. Joint ventures with [a1237867] and [a1088718] followed in the 1990s. Van Ronk continued performing live right up to his death from complications following colon cancer surgery in Winter 2002. His autobiography, written with [a1914189], and live album, "[Link]", which was recorded at the end of his life, were both posthumously released. In the early Summer of 2004, the City of New York commemorated its unofficial mayor’s passing by permanently renaming the eastern side of Sheridan Square on Washington Place as Dave Van Ronk Street. Throughout his life, MacDougal Street’s mayor served as a mentor to countless up-and-coming artists that migrated to New York. [a59792], who met Van Ronk upon his arrival from the Midwest, remembers him as "Greenwich Village’s king of the street" where "he reigned supreme." Singer-songwriters such as [a406171], [a90233], [a536656] and [a41182] have all sung his praises as a mentor, teacher, and friend. Dave Van Ronk’s younger, west coast contemporary, [a82294], paid homage when stating, "In the engine room of the New York Folk Scene shoveling coal into the furnace, one Big Man rules; Dog-faced roustabout songster, bluesman Dave Van Ronk. Long may he howl." Married to [a1935492] in the 1960s, lived for many years with Joanne Grace, then married [a=Andrea Vuocolo], with whom he spent the rest of his life. Manager: [a7690088].
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Check this outPopular Tracks on Spotify
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1.Hang Me, Oh Hang MeFolksinger
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2.Mack the KnifeLive At Sir George Williams University
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3.Luang PrabangGoing Back To Brooklyn
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4.Tell Old BillVan Ronk Sings
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5.Green, Green Rocky Road...And the Tin Pan Bended, and the Story Ended...
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6.He Was A Friend Of MineOn Air
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7.He Was A Friend Of MineFolksinger
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8.Dink's SongVan Ronk Sings
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9.Cocaine BluesFolksinger
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10.Another Time and PlaceGoing Back To Brooklyn
Discogs Release Info
Release: Dave Van Ronk - Folksinger
Year: 2023
Genres: Folk, World, & Country
Styles: Folk