Died On This Date (May 7, 2010) Dave Fisher / Lead Singer of the Highwaymen

Dave Fisher
DOB Unknown – May 7, 2010

Photo by Ken Greengrass

Dave Fisher is best remembered as the founding lead singer of ’60s folk group, the Highwaymen.  Formed in 1958, the group, along with the Kingston Trio, became popular along the college circuit while popularizing traditional American music with a whole new generation.  In 1961, the group scored their biggest hit with “Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore,” which reached #1 on the singles chart and sold over a million copies.  That was followed by the nearly as successful, “Cottonfields.”  The Highwaymen broke up in 1964, but reunited a handful of times in later years.  At one point, Fisher moved to Hollywood where he composed music for film and television and worked as a studio singer and musician.  He was 69 when he died of a rare blood disease on May 7, 2010.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.

Died On This Date (April 30, 1966) Richard Fariña / Respected ’60s Folk Singer

Richard Fariña
March 8, 1937 – April 30, 1966

richard-farinaAlong with being a beat writer, Richard Fariña was a folk singer-songwriter who performed and recorded with second wife, Mimi Fariña, sister of Joan Baez.  As a counterculture author, Fariña had stories published in the Transalantic Review and Mademoiselle.  He also wrote the critically acclaimed and cult favorite novel, Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me.  Considered a protest singer, Fariña’s music career was born around 1961 in the Greenwich Village folk scene.  At the time, he was married to Carolyn Hester who introduced him to Bob Dylan, thus launching a friendship that would eventually lead him to meet Joan Baez and younger sister, Mimi.   After divorcing Hester, Fariña married Mimi and together they moved to the central coast of California where they began writing songs together.  Mimi & Richard Fariña signed to Vanguard Records who released three albums, one of which after Richard’s untimely death.  Just two days after the release of Been Down So Long, the Farinas were home celebrating Mimi’s 21st birthday.   During the party, Richard got on the back of a friend’s motorcycle for a ride.  Allegedly driving at a high rate of speed, the driver lost control of the bike on a windy road, causing it to crash.  Richard Fariña was killed instantly at the age of 29.

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Mimi and Richard Farina: The Complete Vanguard Recordings - Mimi and Richard Farina

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Died On This Date (April 25, 2010) Susan Reed / Post WWII Folk Star

Susan Reed
January 11, 1926 – April 25, 2010

Susan Reed was a popular American folk singer and musician who came to prominence during the mid-’40s.  She was one of the leading voices during the folk revival that also included Woody Guthrie and Burl Ives.  By the time she was 20, Reed was filling New York City nightclubs with sets that were dominated by Irish ballads accented by her playing the harp and zither.  She released several albums throughout her career, but after being blacklisted during the late ’50s, she pretty much retired from the business.  Susan Reed was 84 when she died of natural causes on April 25, 2010.



Died On This Date (April 22, 2008) Bob Childers / Americana Singer-Songwriter

Bob Childers
November 20, 1946 – April 22, 2008

Oklahoma singer-songwriter Bob Childers passed away on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 of emphysema and related lung disease. Childers was a the so-called godfather or Red Dirt Music, a hard to define sub-genre of country/Americana that includes elements of country, rock and folk. After touring much of the country’s dive bars and honky tonks through the ’70s, Childers released his debut album at the dawn of the ’80s. Over his career, he wrote over 1500 songs and earned accolades from no less than fellow Oklahoman, Garth Brooks who wrote a song with him. He was even invited to perform at the White House in 1982. 2004 saw the release of Restless Wind – A Tribute To The Songs of Bob Childers, a 3-CD set that included Jimmy Lafave, Cross Canadian Ragweed and The Red Dirt Rangers.




Died On This Date (April 17, 2008) Chris Gaffney / Hacienda Brothers, Dave Alvin

Chris Gaffney
October 3, 1951 – April 17, 2008

chris-gaffneyChris Gaffney was a beloved member of the Americana music scene of Southern California and beyond.  As a child he learned to play the accordion, which would later add a Norteño element to his music.  But it was his guitar playing that would and song writing that would endeared him to such peers as Dave Alvin, with whom he played as part of the Guilty Men.  Gaffney also released three solo albums and also co-formed the Hacienda Brothers with San Diego musician, Dave Gonzalez.  Chris Gaffney died of liver cancer on April 17, 2008.  He was 51.

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Chris Gaffney