Died On This Date (April 5, 2011) Gil Robbins / The Highwaymen; Father Of Actor, Tim Robbins
themusicsover Gil Robbins
April 3, 1931 – April 5, 2011
Gil Robbins was a folk singer-songwriter and bassist who is best remembered as part of the influential folk group, the Highwaymen. Prior to Robbins joining the group, they had significant pop hits with “Michael Row Your Boat Ashore” and “Cottonfields.” Born in Washington state and raised in Southern California – where he was the drum major of the UCLA marching band, Robbins eventually found himself immersed in the thriving folk scene of Greenwich Village in New York City. He was a member of the Belafonte Singers (Harry Belafonte’s touring group), and the Cumberland Three. For a time, he and Tom Paxton were writing and performing partners. Robbins joined the Highwaymen in 1962 and played on five albums until they split up in 1964. He has been credited for taking the band in a more political direction. His children include actor, Tim Robbins. Gil Robbins died of prostate cancer on April 5, 2011. He was 80.
Thanks to Ed Hardy for the assist.
Jack Hardy was a respected and influential New York singer-songwriter who came to prominence in the early ’70s. After building a following in Greenwich Village, Hardy began hosting a weekly gathering of local singer-songwriters in his apartment. It eventually became a must-visit for aspiring songwriters which included the likes of Suzanne Vega and John Gorka, to name a few. By the ’80s, Hardy was becoming quite popular – mainly in Europe, and was touring with friend, David Massengill as the Folk Brothers. He released several albums over the course of his career and has been cited as a direct influence on the likes of Vega, David Wilcox, and the Roches. Jack Hardy was 63 when he passed away on March 11, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released, but he had reportedly been diagnosed with cancer just a few weeks prior.
Diane Izzo was a respected Chicago-raised singer-songwriter who, upon the release of her 1999 debut, One, was called one of the best to come out of that city in recent years. She never released another album, but left behind several worth in unreleased songs. On February 25, 2011, Diane Izzo passed away after a brave battle with cancer. She was 43.
Terry Clements is perhaps best remembered as the longtime guitarist for folk legend, Gordon Lightfoot. He joined up with Lightfoot in 1970 and continued to play with him for some 40 years. Clements was just five years old when he picked up the guitar, and over the years his playing would be influenced by the likes of Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs, and Dick Dale. After high school, he served in the US Navy for a couple of years and then returned to his music career, first playing with Golden Sunflower while working as a session player for Lou Adler, and later joining forces with Lightfoot with whom he stayed until the final years of his life. Terry Clements was 63 when he died on February 20, 2011. The cause was attributed to a stroke he had recently suffered.
Irwin Sibler was a music journalist and longtime editor of Sing Out! magazine. Co-founded by Sibler in 1950, the quarterly publication is one of the most respected folk music magazines in the world. Sibler acted as editor from its inception until 1967. The magazine and Sibler’s pieces were largely responsible for the folk revival of the ’50s and ’60s. After leaving the magazine, Sibler became more politically outspoken, becoming an editor and movie critic for the radical weekly, The Guardian. He also launched Paredon Records where he released albums that spoke for the radical liberation movement of the ’70s. Irwin Sibler was 85 when he passed away on September 8, 2010.