Tom Russell : "Van Ronk"

This video features the gifted singer-songwriter and capturer of vanishing America, Tom Russell, from his "Hotwalker" album, speaking to the legend of Dave Van Ronk. When I first came to Vancouver - one of Tom Russell's old stomping grounds when he was starting out - I played at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, staying at what was then the Centennial Hotel on West Broadway. After hours the first night I sat up with Van Ronk, Mimi Farina, Kate Wolf and a few others sharing songs in the performers' meeting room. Eventually everyone drifted off to their rooms, except for Van Ronk and Mimi. Dave was in rare form, sipping and smoking, telling tales, recounting what amounted to a history of American folk, blues and jazz musics. It was a night I'll never forget. How he made it to his morning workshop at the festival grounds I'll never know, but he did, and I'm told (I slept in, not having a workshop until two in the afternoon) that he was marvellous, cantankerous and spitting blood on every song. He was his own monument and gathering place in Greenwich Village when folk music had its revival, encouraged many young artists, Dylan and Ochs included, and in his own performances drew from the great streams of American music like few others. I'm grateful to Tom for capturing so much of Dave's character in this piece. There'll never be another like Dave Van Ronk..

Note: This video presentation is made out of my admiration for Van Ronk and for Tom Russell. If anyone objects to it being here due to copyright infringement, make contact and it will be promptly removed.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tom
• Russell
• Dave
• Van
• Ronk
• Greenwich
• Village
• Sixties
• Doug
• Lang
• paganmaestro

[mbeam64]

very nice. 

[rontros]

Awesome tribute! Too many of the great ones like Dave get missed.

[atelang666]

This is true art

[drwoe]

Wow just one word .... Perfection ...Thanks for putting this together.

[MikeyRed76]

My introduction to DVR was through Tom's "Man from God Knows Where" album. Then I went back and heard his version of "Hesitatin' Blues" and I thought "How have I not heard of this guy?" A real treasure.

[RIDETHESUNSHINE]

Thank You for posting.  This world, my world, misses this Crazy Man... Will

[mjuhanil]

just found this song..never heard it until last year

[cowboy7393]

I'm running back and forth on the highway a lot this summer and Tom's spending a lot of time on the CD player. I'm listening Tom (play that goddamn song again, Andrea, play it again). Boy, am I listening. This CD is like a roadmap back to the roots. Thank you paganmaestro, thank you Tom, thank you Dave. Some people still get it.

[Ravenmedicine]

I never, never tire of this man's voice. Tom Russell is an American Treasure.This is my favorite of all his works. Thank you so much for posting, I needed this.

[dell177]

He was force to be reckoned with. Thanks for posting it.

RIP, Dave.