Folk

Died On This Date (May 23, 2008) U. Utah Phillips / American Folk Singer and Union Organizer

themusicsover May 23, 2010 No Comments

Bruce U. “Utah” Phillips
May 15, 1935 – May 23, 2008

Utah Phillips was a great folk singer, poet and much respected labor organizer. Phillips first picked up a ukulele when he was a child but soon switched to guitar after he moved to Yellowstone Park to work on a road crew. It was there that he was exposed to the music of Jimmie Rodgers and Gene Autry. After the Korean War, Phillips began to turn his focus on politics and worker unions, going as far as unsuccessfully running for Senate as part of the Peace & Freedom Party. Phillips continued to use his voice and writing as a weapon to defend what he felt were injustices toward his fellow-man. Phillips performed and recorded into his early ’70s, but died of heart disease at the age of 73.

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Folk Musician Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (May 9, 1999) Shel Silverstein / Respected Singer-Songwriter

themusicsover May 9, 2010 No Comments

Shel Silverstein
September 25, 1932 – May 9, 1999

Shel Silverstein was, among many other things, a musician, composer, and singer-songwriter. Over the course of his career, he released no fewer than a dozen albums and amassed a catalog of songs which include those that have been recorded by Dr. Hook, Belinda Carlisle, Emmylou Harris, Bobby Bare, Lou Rawls, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Loretta Lynn, to name just a few. Silverstein’s most celebrated songs were “The Cover of the Rolling Stone,” a huge hit for Dr. Hook, and “A Boy Named Sue,” whose iconic Johnny Cash recording won him a songwriter Grammy in 1970. On May 10, 1999, Shel Silverstein was found in his home, dead of a heart attack. Although official reports indicate that he could have died on either May 9th or 10th, most sources cite the 9th as the day of his passing.

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Folk Musician Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (May 9, 2009) Travis Edmonson / Bud & Travis

themusicsover May 9, 2010 No Comments

Travis Edmonson
September 23, 1932 – May 9, 2009

Travis Edmonson is, along with Bud Dashiell, best remembered as the folk duo, Bud & Travis, who gained popularity in the early ’60s. Growing up near the Arizona/Mexican border, Edmonson’s music was became heavily influenced by the Latin sounds he heard as a child. Part of the duo’s success was due to the fact that they included many Spanish songs in their act. Another factor was their beautiful harmonies and their excellent guitar work. During the early ’60s, Edmonson took a break from Dashiell and forged out on his own. No less than Frank Sinatra signed him to his Reprise label. Edmonson continued as a solo act until an untimely stroke in 1982 left him paralyzed, after which he kept active as a songwriter and arranger. Travis Edmonson passed away after years of struggling with Parkinson’s Disease and other afflictions. He was 76.

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budandtravisLP — Click to find at amazon.com

Folk Musician Singer Songwriter

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

themusicsover May 7, 2010 No Comments

Dave Fisher
DOB Unknown – May 7, 2010

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.

Folk Musician Singer Songwriter

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

themusicsover April 30, 2010 No Comments

Richard Fariña
March 8, 1937 – April 30, 1966

richard-farina Along 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.