Folk

Died On This Date (November 14, 2011) Jackie Leven / Scottish Singer-Songwriter

Jackie Leven
June 18, 1950 – November 14, 2011

Jackie Leven was an influential Scottish folk singer who actually first found recognition as part of a new wave band, Doll by Doll.  The group, formed by Leven in 1975, was critically acclaimed, but never quite caught on like many of its peers, perhaps due to their darker sound.  Following the break up of Doll by Doll in 1983, Leven went on to have a notable solo career during which time he released over 20 albums.  In 1984, Leven was randomly attacked and strangled which left him unable to speak for nearly two years.  In 1994, Leven signed with the influential Cooking Vinyl Records, who was also home, at one point of another, to Billy Bragg, Prodigy, Killing Joke, and the Lemonheads, to name a few.  He released his final album, Wayside Shrines And The Code Of The Traveling Man, in September of 2011.  Jackie Leven died of lung cancer on November 14, 2011.  He was 61.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Forbidden Songs of the Dying West - Jackie Leven

Died On This Date (October 27, 2011) David Rea / Influential Folk Singer-Songwriter

David Rea
October 26, 1946 – October 27, 2011

Photo by Jack Bawden

David Rea was folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist who, although he was born in Ohio, became a longtime fixture of the Canadian folk scene.  Over a career that spanned four decades, Rea collaborated with the likes of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Judy Collins, Skip James, Mississippi John Hurt, Tom Rush, and perhaps most famously,  Ian & Sylvia, and Gordon Lightfoot. He can be heard on Lightfoot’s debut album as well as tapes from his early shows.  For Ian & Sylvia, Rea played on So Much For Dreaming, Nashville, and Full Circle.  The duo recorded a handful of Rea’s songs as well.  As a songwriter, Rea’s biggest hit came with Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen” which he co-wrote with Leslie West, Felix Pappalardi, and Corky Laing.  He recorded several respectable albums of his own over the years as well.  As reported by Spinner, 66-year-old David Rea passed away on October 27, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Scott Miller for the assist.



Died On This Date (October 8, 2011) David Hess / Hit Songwriter & Actor

David Hess
September 19, 1936 – October 8, 2011

David Hess was a singer, songwriter and actor whose writing credits include “Come Along” (Elvis Presley), “Your Hand, Your Heart, Your Love” (Andy Williams), and “Speedy Gonzalez” (Pat Boone).  Born in New York City, Hess began making records as a singer in the mid ’50s.  In 1956, he released the original version of the Otis Blackwell penned “All Shook Up,” which later became a #1 hit for Presley.  A year later, he signed on with Shalimar Music as a songwriter.  He continued to write for Presley throughout the ’60s as well as numerous other popular acts.  Hess’ recording of “Two Brothers” became a top 10 folk hit during the late ’60s.  In 1969, he went to work for Mercury Records as an A&R rep.  He continued to record music well into the 2000s.  As an actor, Hess was a favorite among fans of horror movies in particular.  He played significant roles in such films as the original The Last House On The Left and Swamp Thing.  On October 8, 2011, 69-year-old David Hess died of a heart attack, reports Spinner.

Thanks to Scott Miller for the assist.

Died On This Date (October 5, 2011) Bert Jansch / Scottish Folk Great

Bert Jansch
November 3, 1943 – October 5, 2011

A highly influential singer-songwriter, Bert Jansch was one of the cornerstones of the British folk revival of the ’60s.  Cited as an influence by no less than Neil Young, Jimmy Page, and  Paul Simon, Jansch’s mark was made on younger generations as well as evident by praise from and collaborations with the likes of Devendra Banhart, Pete Doherty, Johnny Marr, and Beth Orton.  Considered a virtuoso of the acoustic guitar, he is often mentioned in the same breath as John Fahey or Leo Kottke.  Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Jansch launched his career in 1960 and began building a following by playing British folk clubs.  By the mid ’60s he was hitchhiking and busking across Europe.  He soon settled in London where he recorded his first album, Bert Jansch, which has since been included in the reference guide, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.   In 1968, Jansch co-founded Pentangle, a British folk supergroup of sorts that counted John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee, Danny Thompson, and Terry Cox among its members.  Perhaps a bit more jazz and baroque influenced than Jansch’s solo work, the group was one of the most popular of its kind during the late ’60s and early ’70s.   Pentangle disbanded in 1973 after which Jansch moved to a farm and took a bit of a break from the business.  He had regrouped by the end of the ’70s and continued on as a solo performer but reunited with Pentangle during the ’80s.  He continued on and off with the band for the better part of the next decade.  The 2000s found Jansch enjoying a renaissance of sorts, as evident by releases coming out on such hipster indie labels as Drag City and Cooking Vinyl.  His 2006 release for Drag City, The Black Swan, is considered one of his finest.  As reported by ABC News, Bert Jansch died of lung cancer on October 5, 2011.  He was 67.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

L.A. Turnaround (Remastered) - Bert Jansch

Died On This Date (September 4, 2012) Hilde Heltberg / Norwegian Singer-Songwriter

Hilde Heltberg
September 30, 1959 – September 4, 2011

Hilde Heltberg was a popular singer-songwriter from Oslo, Norway.  She launched her career during the late ’70s, finding inspiration from the likes of Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton.  By the early ’80s,  Heltberg had played in such local groups as Uncle John’s Band and X-tra.  She released her first solo album in 1982, and went on to release a total of 12.  She competed in the esteemed Eurovision Song Contest on four separate occasions.  Hilde Heltberg was 51 when she died of cancer on September 4, 2011.

What You Should Own

Elske Fritt - Hilde Heltberg