Died On This Date (June 6, 2015) Ronnie Gilbert / Folk Music Great; The Weavers
themusicsover Ronnie Gilbert
September 7, 1926 – June 6, 2015
Simply put, Ronnie Gilbert was folk music royalty. Along with Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, and Fred Hellerman, Gilbert formed the Weavers in 1948. Based in the folk mecca of New York’s Greenwich Village, the band was arguably the most influential folk group the scene had ever produced. Artists and activists like Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mimi & Richard Farina, and Peter, Paul & Mary were all products of the folk revival they kicked off by putting a contemporary spin on folk music. The band gained popularity, mostly by word of mouth, while their songs resonated with so-called progressive causes like civil rights and workers’ rights. Their recordings of “If I Had a Hammer,” “This Land is Your Land,” and “Goodnight Irene” – among many others – became folk music standards. During the 1950s, the Weavers became a victim of the “Red Scare,” causing them to become blacklisted from radio stations, television and beyond. Due to a lack of bookings and recording opportunities that followed, the band broke up. But in 1955, they reunited for a much-heralded performance at Carnegie Hall, which lead to renewed interest in their music. The group continued on, though with Erik Darling replacing Seeger, over the next decade before calling it quits again. Gilbert went on to enjoy a career in theater as well as as a solo recording artist. In 1980, the surviving Weavers reunited once again to a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Ronnie Gilbert was 88 when she passed away on June 6, 2015
What You Should Own
Jesse Winchester was an American singer-songwriter who made his biggest mark on popular music during the early ’70s. Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Winchester moved to Montreal in 1967 in order to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War. It was while in Canada that he launched his career in music thanks to early encouragement and support from the Band’s Robbie Robertson. Winchester released his debut self-titled album in 1970 and continued to record acclaimed albums on and off over the next 40 years. Since he couldn’t tour the U.S. as a draft resister during the peak years of his output, Winchester became better known as a songwriter than a live performer and recording artist. The long list of those who recorded his songs includes Elvis Costello, George Strait, Jimmy Buffet, Joan Baez, the Everly Brothers, and Wynona Judd. In 1976, President Jimmy Carter pardoned many so-called draft dodgers, so Winchester was allowed back into the US. His first show back on US soil was in April of 1977, a performance that prompted Rolling Stone magazine to declare him “the Greatest Voice of the Decade.” He permanently relocated back to America in 2002 and continued to record and tour throughout the remainder of his life. Jesse Winchester died of cancer on April 11, 2014. He was 69.
Doug Dillard was a world-renowned banjo player and founding member of the Dillards. Formed in 1962, the pickers eventually added electric guitars, drums and keyboards to the mix which in turn, laid the foundation for country rock to come in the early ’70s, and newgrass in the ’80s and ’90s. Artists who have taken a cue for the Dillards include the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Eagles, New Grass Revival, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sam Bush, String Cheese Incident, Ricky Skaggs, and the Byrds. The Dillards made their mark on television as well. During the ’60s, they had a recurring role as the Darlings, a bluegrass band that performed on the Andy Griffith Show. The group continued to release albums well into the ’90s. Outside of the Dillards, Doug also performed alongside the Byrds‘ Gene Clark as the Dillard and Clark Band. Throughout his career, he either performed or recorded with the likes of Elton John, 
Tom Roady was a much respected drummer and percussionist who is perhaps best remembered for his recent work with Ricky Skaggs. Roady can be heard playing on Skaggs’ latest offering, A Skaggs Family Christmas, Volume 2, and was gearing up to go out on tour with Skaggs. Throughout his long career, Roady played with the likes of Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks, Joan Baez, Bob Seger, and Kenny Chesney. Earlier in his career, Roady was a session player at the storied Muscle Shoals studio, working for 
Roberto Cantoral was a Mexican singer-songwriter who, over the course of some 60 professional years, scored several hit records including “El Reloj” and “El Triste.” Many of his songs are considered standards of Spanish language music. As a songwriter, it has been reported that upwards of 1000 artists have covered his songs. That list includes Joan Baez, Linda Ronstadt, Luis Miguel, and Placido Domingo. In later years, he composed music for popular telenovelas. Roberto Cantoral was 75 when he died following a massive heart attack on a flight from Brownsville, Texas to Mexico City. The plane made an emergency landing in Toluca, Mexico where he was pronounced dead.