DUNCAN AND BRADY DAVE VAN RONK TOM RUSH LEADBELLY.

118 years ago to this date, an event would transpire that would serve as the basis for the murder ballad Duncan and Brady that is still commonly played to this day. On October 6, 1880, Patrolman James Brady was shot and killed at the Charles Starkes Saloon in downtown Saint Louis, Missouri. A man by the name of Harry Duncan would be arrested, convicted and executed for the crime.

The prevailing legend is that the crime was something of a reaction to police harassment of African-Americans in the area, which at the time was the "red light" district of Saint Louis. It all started with a simple brawl at the saloon that exploded into gunfire when police arrived on the scene and tried to take suspects into custody. Brady was hit in the hail of bullets and would die from his wounds.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• DUNCAN
• AND
• BRADY
• FOLK
• SONG
• HISTORY
• DAVE
• VAN
• RONK
• TOM
• RUSH
• LEADBELLY

[ragtimeD]

Interesting title. I guess you mean Van Ronk learned it from Leadbelly [and changed it] and Tom heard Van Ronk and changed it to this. I like all 3 but learned the van Ronk version for my 60's coffee house gigs. Back then I knew nothing of the racist story behind it.

[friendlyisle]

Riding in that front rumble seat would be pretty scary!

[quartrees]

Best job I've heard of singing this song a la Dave Van Ronk while avoiding the shoals of total rip-off. This performer (Tom Rush?) stays legal by turning in some fine work both vocally and on the humble stringed instrument we all know so well.

[quartrees]

Best job I've heard of singing this song a la Dave Van Ronk while avoiding the shoals of total rip-off! This performer (Tom Rush?) stays legal by turning in some fine work both vocally and on the humble stringed instrument we all know so well.