John Koerner
August 31, 1938 – May 18, 2024
As reported by Chris Riemenschneider in the Minneapolis Start Tribune, Spider John Koerner, a revered American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, passed away at the age of 85 after a battle with cancer. Known primarily for his work with the influential blues trio Koerner, Ray & Glover, alongside Dave Ray and Tony Glover, Koerner also enjoyed a prolific solo career and collaborated with Willie Murphy.
Koerner’s impact on music was profound with no less than Bob Dylan citing him as an early influence in his autobiography, Chronicles. Koerner was known for his distinctive style, playing a big-body 12-string acoustic guitar and performing a repertoire that spanned traditional folk and blues songs, as well as his own originals.
Originally from Rochester, New York, Koerner became a cornerstone of Minneapolis’ West Bank folk and blues scene in the early 1960s. He mentored a young Bob Dylan and recorded albums that left a lasting impression on artists like John Lennon, David Bowie, Bonnie Raitt, and Beck.
Koerner’s life in Minnesota began in 1956 when he moved to study aeronautical engineering. Despite his fascination with engineering, his path veered towards music after a stint in the Marine Corps. The formation of Koerner, Ray & Glover in 1963 marked the beginning of his musical career, with their debut album Blues, Rags & Hollers released on Elektra Records, followed by Lots More Blues, Rags & Hollers in1964. Although their records didn’t achieve commercial success, they were treasured by musicians of the time. Lennon praised their first album in a 1964 Melody Maker profile, and Bowie later lauded it in a 2016 Vanity Fair story. The trio also gained recognition through their performances at the Newport Folk Festival, sharing the stage with blues legends like Muddy Waters and Son House.
After the trio disbanded in the late ’60s, Koerner continued to make his mark with the 1969 album Running, Jumping, Standing Still, a collaboration with Willie Murphy. The album featured the track “I Ain’t Blue,” which Bonnie Raitt covered on her debut album.
Koerner’s legacy was celebrated in 2012 when he returned to the Newport Folk Festival after a 43-year hiatus, receiving a warm welcome from younger fans and musicians like Conor Oberst and Trampled by Turtles.
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