dave van ronk '63

 DAVE VAN RONK at Newport in 1964. He was a true character and great musician with a gravelly yet tender, expressive voice, playing a beautiful variety of deep old blues, down in the holler folk songs, stunning piano ragtime on the guitar, and more.

He started out in the 1950s playing trad jazz in Greenwich Village in New York City and eventually became known as the "Mayor of MacDougal Street" (which is the title of his biography by Elijah Wald), encouraging many young and aspiring talents in those days such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell and so many others. I feel very lucky to have known him and was very touched by his kindness, irascible humor and wisdom.