Bert Jansch
November 3, 1943 – October 5, 2011
A highly influential singer-songwriter, Bert Jansch was one of the cornerstones of the British folk revival of the ’60s. Cited as an influence by no less than Neil Young, Jimmy Page, and Paul Simon, Jansch’s mark was made on younger generations as well as evident by praise from and collaborations with the likes of Devendra Banhart, Pete Doherty, Johnny Marr, and Beth Orton. Considered a virtuoso of the acoustic guitar, he is often mentioned in the same breath as John Fahey or Leo Kottke. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Jansch launched his career in 1960 and began building a following by playing British folk clubs. By the mid ’60s he was hitchhiking and busking across Europe. He soon settled in London where he recorded his first album, Bert Jansch, which has since been included in the reference guide, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 1968, Jansch co-founded Pentangle, a British folk supergroup of sorts that counted John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee, Danny Thompson, and Terry Cox among its members. Perhaps a bit more jazz and baroque influenced than Jansch’s solo work, the group was one of the most popular of its kind during the late ’60s and early ’70s. Pentangle disbanded in 1973 after which Jansch moved to a farm and took a bit of a break from the business. He had regrouped by the end of the ’70s and continued on as a solo performer but reunited with Pentangle during the ’80s. He continued on and off with the band for the better part of the next decade. The 2000s found Jansch enjoying a renaissance of sorts, as evident by releases coming out on such hipster indie labels as Drag City and Cooking Vinyl. His 2006 release for Drag City, The Black Swan, is considered one of his finest. As reported by ABC News, Bert Jansch died of lung cancer on October 5, 2011. He was 67.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.
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