Obit: Bob Blue (1948-2006)

Subject: Obit: Bob Blue (March 18, 2006)
From: DebC
Date: 21 Mar 06 - 10:26 AM

I just heard that Bob Blue passed away on March 18. Not only was he an amazing musician and songwriter, but an amazing person. Even though his MS got progressively worse, he never, ever let it get him down and was creating music and songs until quite recently.

He wrote many many songs, but his most famous is probably "The Ballad of Erica Levine". he was active in two wonderful organisations, "The People's Music network" and "The Children's Music Network"

I feel that my life is a lot richer to have known him and to have sung for him in his living room a few times. The world is a wee bit poorer without Bob. He will be missed.

There is more information at Bob's website
Deb

---

https://www.bobblue.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Blue

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (March 18, 2006)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 21 Mar 06 - 12:24 PM

Thanks, Deb. I didn't know Bob, but several of my dear friends are stunned and saddened by the death of a friend. I have sung his songs and enjoyed his humor over the years. Go well, good man.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (March 18, 2006)
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 21 Mar 06 - 01:16 PM

I never had the pleasure of meeting Bob, but his reputation and work has been inspirational. He made a difference. My condolences to his family and friends, he will be missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (March 18, 2006)
From: Genie
Date: 27 Mar 06 - 02:11 AM

My condolences to his family and friends, too. The only song of his that I'm familiar with is Erica Levine, but that one by itself qualifies him for a special place in folk music. It's one of my favorites.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (March 18, 2006)
From: Jacob B
Date: 27 Mar 06 - 10:47 AM

I just heard about his death last night, and came looking for this thread. I'll add my voice to the chorus. Go in peace, Bob.

Genie, there are many more delights in store for you if you look up the rest of the songs Bob left us. If you put "Bob Blue" into the Lyrics And Knowledge Search box, you'll find three of them in the DigiTrad. Take a look at his version of The Eensie-Weensie Spider.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (March 18, 2006)
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Mar 06 - 12:18 PM

That you for the info on his other songs, Jacob. Just sang the Eensie-Weensie Spider one to my daughter and grandson.

Its always sad when we lose another Good Folk. Go well, Mr. Blue and thanks.

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (March 18, 2006)
From: Suffet
Date: 27 Mar 06 - 05:56 PM

Greetings:

I believe Bob Blue passed away on March 17. There has been some confusion about the date because a lot of people received an e-mail two days later that said he had died "yesterday."

Be that as it may, I last saw Bob just a short while ago, on Sunday morning, January 29 of this year at the Johnson Chapel on the campus of Amherst College in Massachusetts. He was participating, as he often had, in a People's Music Network a cappella Songs of the Spirit session. That's kind of a leaderless hybrid between a Quaker meeting and a pub sing. Someone starts a song, usually a Freedom song or a Gospel song, and others join in until the song wells up, continues for a while, and then finally dies down. Then there are several seconds of silence before someone else feels moved to start another song. The session usually lasts about an hour and a half.

On this particular morning Bob appeared more lively and energetic than I had seen him in several years. He sang out loud, and he voice was remarkably clear, considering the advanced state of his multiple sclerosis. At one point during the session, Sandy Pliskin, a singer from Boston, stood up and started to sing a song called Tremors and Phlegm he had written in Bob's honor. While that may seem to be in awfully bad taste, it really wasn't. Everyone in the chapel, perhaps 200 people, stood and turned towards Bob as they picked up on the refrain. Bob himself seemed to get a great kick out of the song, and when it was over everyone remained standing and applauded Bob for several minutes.

A few days later I learned that Bob had fallen ill with pneumonia and had to be hospitalized. Somehow he pulled through and returned home in mid-February. That he lasted so long is truly a miracle. Bob Blue was a person of enormous talent, and he was also a person of great courage, compassion, intellect, and humor. Those attributes are a rare combination in any human being. We should all feel blessed that he walked among us, even though it was for fewer than 58 years.

--- Steve Suffet

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (March 18, 2006)
From: Cool Beans
Date: 28 Mar 06 - 05:54 PM

His song "Dear Mr. President" is another gem. RIP, Bob.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (March 18, 2006)
From: GUEST,Paul Kaplan
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 10:46 PM

Bob was a regular at the monthly song and Story Swap which I host in Amherst, Mass. This coming Sunday, April 9, we will be sharing Bob memories and Bob songs. All are welcome. It is at 7:00 PM at the Harp Irish Pub. More information can be found at http://www.filbert.com/pvfs    Or you can call me for more information: [phone].

Paul

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (March 18, 2006)
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 11:36 PM

I met Bob at a People's Music Network weekend when I was still in High School, and was impressed not only by his music, but also by what an amazing guy he was. I've sung a few songs of his over the years, mostly "The Ballad of Erica Levine," already mentioned, and his brilliant parody, "I Did It Their Way."

What sad news. Damn.

Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (1948-2006)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Sep 22 - 01:31 AM

I came across an interesting YouTube playlist this evening, Remembering Bob Blue Night, 30 July 2016:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRHsUegkrESn7ch20D8JHZINwy8pQK551

Also https://www.bobblue.org/remembering-bob-blue-song-night/

One more, Bob Reid singing Bob Blue's "Rebecca Jones":

https://www.facebook.com/bob.reid.796569/videos/10224497834060014

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (1948-2006)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Feb 24 - 07:15 PM

Anybody know whom to contact to license Bob Blue songs for recording?

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (1948-2006)
From: Howard Kaplan
Date: 26 Feb 24 - 08:32 PM

I'd suggest starting with Bob's daughter, Lara Shepard-Blue. I don't have current contact information for her, but you might try contacting the workplace of someone with the same name: https://uchc-aaup.org/uchc-aaup-office-staff/.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Blue (1948-2006)
From: GerryM
Date: 26 Feb 24 - 08:53 PM

At http://www.filbert.com/pvfs/bobblue/ there's an address given for Lara Shepard-Blue: 139 Eddy St., Springfield, MA 01104. I don't know when that website was last updated.