Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)

Subject: John Cohen has died
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 17 Sep 19 - 12:01 PM

I am surprised to see that No-one has yet reported the sad loss of John Cohen on Mudcat. It appears that he died yesterday - Sunday.

The last of the three founding members of the New Lost City Ramblers. An excellent musician, researcher and photographer.

John, Mike and Tom were responsible for so many of us getting into this music so we have a lot to thank/blame them for.

I had the pleasure of meeting and being in picking sessions with him, Penny Seeger Cohen and Tom several times on this side of the pond.

Apparently his latest book has just been published which looks very promising. More great photographs to enjoy.

Subject: RE: John Cohen has died
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 17 Sep 19 - 12:30 PM

I first met John when he was over in London for a year with Penny and family. We worked together on his Walter Pardon film. Then I met up with him on a number of occasions when I was later in New York. I had previously seen him playing with the New Lost City Ramblers in Manchester.
He was a really nice guy and this is sad news indeed. His recordings from the Appalachians, together with those that he made in Peru, are outstanding and could only have been made by somebody who knew how to get on with all kinds of people. Luckily many of his great photographs are available in his books. And his film of Dillard Chandler should be seen by anyone who has the smallest interest in folk music.
A great loss indeed.

Subject: RE: John Cohen has died
From: GUEST,maeve
Date: 17 Sep 19 - 12:30 PM

John Cohen (New Lost City Ramblers)

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: Lighter
Date: 17 Sep 19 - 12:40 PM

Sad. One of the first truly old-timey-style musicians I ever heard - Mike and Tom being the others.

A wonderful performer.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: Rex
Date: 17 Sep 19 - 01:17 PM

Ah, I'm sorry to hear of the loss of the last of the NLC Ramblers. Yes, they kept many of the old treasures alive with their work. John was still carrying on the mission going solo as well.

Rex

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 17 Sep 19 - 05:07 PM

Very sad news. He made a very great contribution as performer, researcher and film maker.
Derek

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: GUEST,LarryTheRadioGuy
Date: 17 Sep 19 - 08:58 PM

I'm so sorry to hear that. I remember talking to him at The Mariposa Folk Festival sometime in the early 1970's when The New Lost City Ramblers played there.   He gave me an hour long interview with so much wise information. I think I still have it recorded. Such an open person---as well as so knowledgeable.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Sep 19 - 01:55 PM

That was an unexpected shock. There will be many like me who will remember him
fondly.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: Stringsinger
Date: 18 Sep 19 - 02:00 PM

I have known John through the years casually and always found him to be helpful,
warm, encouraging and an all around nice person. It's a great loss to folk music.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 18 Sep 19 - 02:06 PM

End of an Old Song was one of the great films on Traditional singing,n my opinion, though I was disturbed that it had upset one of its main singers, Dillard Chandler
We heard him talk about it at it's showing at London's National Film Theatre
Seemed a warm intelligent man,
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: Stringsinger
Date: 18 Sep 19 - 02:10 PM

John would not have knowingly offended anyone.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 18 Sep 19 - 02:39 PM

"John would not have knowingly offended anyone."
I couldn't agree more
John made a similar mistake with Dillard to one Ewan and Peggy made with the Stewarts - these things happen
I've always thought these things are best learned from rather than glossed over
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: gillymor
Date: 18 Sep 19 - 02:40 PM

I'm still knocked out by NLCR. Mr. Cohen and his partners left one heckuva legacy.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: Rain Dog
Date: 19 Sep 19 - 08:33 AM

Just watched End of an Old Song on youtube. Enjoyable film. That's what I like about mudcat, threads like this which send you off to find something you have not seen or heard before. Thanks

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: GUEST,bernieandred
Date: 19 Sep 19 - 06:22 PM

Sorry to hear this. They did a small obit on CBC radio yesterday morning.
I've been watching the Ken Burns Country doc on PBS TV.Not sure if we'll see more, but one of the visuals, last night, was a shot of the NLCR's taken from behind, although I don't think they've been mentioned by name so far in the series.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: GUEST,Roger Knowles
Date: 20 Sep 19 - 03:02 PM

He'll be missed. Farewell old buddy.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 24 Sep 19 - 03:27 PM

There are many references on the web to this remarkable man. May he rest in peace. I have added his name to the "In Memoriam" thread. My condolences to all those who know and love him.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Sep 19 - 04:10 PM

National Public Radio obituary

New York Times obituary

Here is more about the music from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Subject: RE: Obit: John Cohen (1932-2019)
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 19 - 07:32 PM

John Cohen. I met him when I was 16 when the NLCR did a nooner at the summer program I was attending. He had just come back from Berkeley, recording people who would become huge huge huge in my life - my husband Eric, dear friend and bandmate Sue Draheim, Will Spires and others. He was so enamored of Berkeley and that brief encounter shaped my life's trajectory. Around 40 years later I co-produced a film about the NLCR (it's available here: "Always Been A Ramber" documentary film about the NLCR ). John and I had some shouting matches during that adventure but I think it actually brought us closer in a weird way. A few years ago, Eric and I brought our daughter Allegra to visit John and we had an amazing visit with music, walks, and talking late into the night. He was brilliant and difficult and I really loved him, we all did. He was not exactly a peaceful guy but RIP John Cohen anyway.