Folk

Died On This Date (January 18, 2010) Kate McGarrigle / Popular Folk Singer

Kate McGarrigle
February 6, 1946 – January 18, 2010

Kate McGarrigle, along with her sister Anna McGarrigle, made up the popular Canadian folk duo, Kate and Anna McGarrigle.  They began singing and playing in folk groups during the ’60s, but went off on their own during the early ’70s, releasing their debut album in 1975.  Over the course of their career together, they released ten albums, two of which won Juno Awards (Canada’s answer to the Grammys).  Their songs have been recorded by the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Billy Bragg, and Emmylou Harris.  They have also collaborated with Nick Cave.  Having been married once to Loudon Wainwright III, Kate is the mother of popular contemporary singer-songwriters, Martha Wainwright and Rufus Wainwright, with whom she made her final television appearance on a 2008 episode of Spectacle:  Elvis Costello with….  Diagnosed with cancer in 2006, Kate McGarrigle died of clear cell sarcoma on January 18, 2010.  She was 63.

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Kate & Anna McGarrigle - Kate & Anna McGarrigle

Died On This Date (January 1, 2010) Lhasa de Sela / Acclaimed Mexican American Singer

Lhasa de Sela
September 27, 1972 – January 1, 2010

Lhasa de Sela was an acclaimed Mexican American folk singer songwriter who although born in New York and raised in Mexico, spent most of her adult life split between Canada and France.  That multi-National background mixed beautifully throughout her music.   De Sela released her first album, La Llorona, in 1997, and though sung completely in Spanish, it incorporated elements of South American, Mexican, Eastern European gypsy and alternative rock.  Embraced by fans and critics alike, the album won her a Best Global Artist Juno award in 1998.  That album was followed by The Living Road in 2003 and Lhasa in 2009.  Her albums have sold in excess of 1 million copies combined.  In 2005, the BBC World Music Awards named her the Best Artist of the Americas.  Lhasa de Sela died of breast cancer on January 1, 2010.

Thanks to Lellie Capwell for assist.

Died On This Date (December 29, 1980) Tim Hardin / Popular American Folk Singer

Tim Hardin
December 23, 1941 – December 29, 1980

tim-hardinTim Hardin was an American folk singer and songwriter who is best remembered for his “If I Were a Carpenter” and “Reason to Believe.”  After serving a tour of duty as a marine in Vietnam, Hardin moved to New York City where he became immersed in the local folk scene.  In 1963, he moved to Boston where he was signed to a recording contract with Columbia Records.  Unfortunately, Columbia didn’t quite understand what they had in Hardin, so he was dropped from the label before any records were released.  He was soon snapped up by Verve who began releasing a series of albums that are considered milestones of the folk movement.  His songs have been made into hits by the likes of Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart, Bobby Darin and Robert Plant.  Hardin had been struggling with both stage fright and heroin (which he had been introduced to in Vietnam), so he never was able to fully capitalize on the popularity of his songs due to his lack of consistent touring.  For financial reasons, he had to sell off his songwriting rights during the late ’70s.  On December 29, 1980, Tim Hardin, age 39, died of a heroin and morphine overdose.

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Tim Hardin

Died On This Date (December 24, 2009) Tim Hart / Steeleye Span

Tim Hart
January 9, 1948 – December 24, 2009

Tim Hart is best remembered as a founding member of British electric folk band, Steeleye Span, who released a handful of moderately successful albums while Hart was in the group between 1970 and 1982.  He played guitar and sang for the band while writing some of their more traditional sounding songs.  In later years, Hart released a handful of solo releases included two children’s albums.  In late 2008, he was diagnosed with lung cancer which caused his death on December 24, 2009.  Tim Hart was 61 years old when he died.

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All Around My Hat - Steeleye Span

Died On This Date (December 20, 1973) Bobby Darin / Celebrated Pop Singer

Bobby Darin (Born Walden Cassotto)
May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973

bobby-darinBobby Darin was a pop singer and actor who scored numerous charting hits during a career that spanned from the mid ’50s until his death in 1973.  He was of the Frank Sinatra mold in that he could interpret songs no matter what the genre and could also hold his own as an actor.  He is best known for the hits, “Splish Splash,” “Beyond The Sea,” “If I Was A Carpenter,” and “Mack The Knife,” which sold over a million copies and earned him a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1960.  He was also named Best New Artist that same year.  As an actor, he is best remembered for his Academy Award Nominated supporting role in 1963’s Captain Newman, MD.  He continued to record and act through the ’60s, but his health was starting to go south by the time the ’70s hit.   On December 20, 1973, Bobby Darin, died from complications immediately following heart surgery.  He was just 37.

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