I (Wade speaking here) got to see Dave Van Ronk perform in Davis, California, in the early 90s. Van Ronk was an influential and talented performer who made his home in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan, New York. Van Ronk was an influence on many performers but most famously he was one of Bob Dylan's early New York mentors. I got to see him in a small and intimate setting in Davis. It was a real delight to be able to see Van Ronk perform live. He was a mighty big bear of a man and it was hard to believe that a fellow with such a powerful gruff voice could play such delicate and perfect guitar parts. Van Ronk seemed to enjoy himself at the show: telling stories, laughing, joking, and (most of all) singing his blues and ballads. He seemed full of life and to enjoy sharing that energy with his audiences. I was sorry to hear that Van Ronk passed on this year. A popular and well loved figure in Greenwich Village and with folk and blues music lovers everywhere, Van Ronk will be missed even among those of us who didn't personally know him.
Van Ronk released a number of albums in this career. Particularly recommended are "Sunday Street" and "Somebody Else, Not Me" both still in print on CD. I also like "Live at Sir George Williams University" which is an live performance, though the sound quality of the recording is not pristine. Also recommended is a video called "Dave Van Ronk In Concert" which presents a live set and a few snippets of an interview with Van Ronk. All are available on Amazon.com. Click on his name above to go to a fan website set up about Dave Van Ronk.
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