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14 Mar 09 - 05:17 PM (#2588936) Subject: Obit: Rick Altman Folklore Center Passed Away From: GUEST,James Leo (Bluesman) Rick Altman, former owner of the Folklore Center of Village, who assumed management after Izzy Young, has passed on. Rick was born in Brooklyn and raised in Long Island. He took to the village as did many of us. He was an excellent carpenter, a skilled guitar repairman, a devoted father. He leaves behind his wife Christine and his children Cara and Christopher. For many years, he and Ed Diehl tried in vain to keep the Center open but the times changed and with rising Village rents its time had come.Until the 70's they continued to hold concerts; He later took a civil service position with the NYCTA, he loved trains so this was the closest to a railroad. I am devastated folks I hope someone here remembers the old folk scene. |
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14 Mar 09 - 09:25 PM (#2589030) Subject: Obit: Rick Altman From: Mark Ross I just called my old boss Rick Altman to tell him about Citizen Kafka/aka Ritchie Shulberg, only to be told that Rick had died of complications of pneumonia today. Noone knew he was ill. We are losing too many, dammit! I worked for Rick for 2 and a half years at the Folklore Center in New York in Greenwich Village. Rick took over the store from Israel Young when Izzy couldn't handle the harrassment from the state and went to Sweden. For 10 bucks Rick got the store and the inventory and all the debts, which he tried to pay off. Those were great times, selling instruments, poutting on concerts and occassionally, when he sold an expensive guitar going out to the liquor store, for 3 bottles of booze, Tequila for Rick, Jack Daniels for me, and I think Gin for Eddie Diehl the luthier. When he couldn't keep the store open any more Rick went to work for the subway system, he always loved trains of any kind. I talked to him a couple of times over the past couple of years since I came West. My heartfelt condolences to his family. Mark Ross |
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14 Mar 09 - 10:07 PM (#2589038) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman From: GUEST,James Leo Bluesman Mark Ross: I posted a message this afternoon. Rick and I maintained our friendship. I now live in New Paltz, NY and Ed Diehl lives across the river in Poughkeepsie, NY. We are all devastated. Rick was getting close to retirement This was suppose to be a routine Hernia procedure. We just spoke on Thursday. We are traveling to Brooklyn tomorrow to be with Chrissy and the family. I am lost for words
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14 Mar 09 - 10:53 PM (#2589060) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman From: Mark Ross I talked to Chris this afternoon. I called to tell Rick about Richie Shulberg. Losing two friends in one day is a little too much to take. I thought Friday the 13th was bad, Saturday the 14th is a lot worse! Mark Ross |
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15 Mar 09 - 12:04 AM (#2589080) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman From: Janie Mark, My condolences to you for the loss of these two friends. You are in my thoughts. Janie |
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15 Mar 09 - 07:30 AM (#2589208) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: GUEST,Bluesman James My two favorite Folklore Center Shows (post Izzy Young) were the Elizabeth Cotton) at the Washington Square Church and Blues man Ian Buchanan. At that time Ian Buchanan was in a wheelchair but he played and sang magnificently even doing a version of Bach' Bouree` AL la Andres Segovia. What a time; so many memories |
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15 Mar 09 - 08:21 PM (#2589711) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: Mark Ross James, I remember both those shows. Buchanan had to be carried up the Center stairs on a friends back. And he did a wonderful show. I went to Penn Station to go get Miss Libba and escort her down to The Folklore Center before taking her to the church for the sound check. It was almost impossible to get her off stage. We had to be out of the Methodist Church by 11, and I kept giving her the one more sign, She just kept playing and playing. She stayed with Rick and Chris in Brooklyn. The next day Rick told me that though they offered her their bed she insisted on sleeping on the couch. Mark Ross |
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15 Mar 09 - 09:49 PM (#2589755) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: GUEST,Eileen I didn't know Rick from the "Folklore Center" , but I loved listening to his stories...his wife Chris and I became best friends in the early 80's and Rick, somewhat reluctantly at first, put up with me and at some point we became friends as well. He was truly a "GOOD MAN" and that's not something I say lightly...he will be missed for his dry humor, his offbeat smile, his generousity, his guitar and his friendship. He turned 60 in March and was joking around about retiring. I'm in shock ... He and Chris were down to visit in So.Florida this past October and we truly had a great time, I'm thankful for that. My world is a better place because our paths crossed, he will be missed dearly and the world itself should shed a tear at the loss of a GRAND GENTLE MAN!!! My prayers, my thoughts, my love and my heart are with Chrissy, Chris and Cara. SAFE PASSAGE RICK...to your next adventure!!! |
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16 Mar 09 - 01:08 PM (#2590190) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: EBarnacle I only met him a few times after he took over for Izzy. One of the things I remember was being able to get stuff there which was not available elsewhere. If any place can be considered an influence, the Folklore center under Rick and Izzy was it. |
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16 Mar 09 - 04:43 PM (#2590412) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: Mark Ross Just talked to Ricks' wife Chris. The funeral will be Friday. Location to be announced. Mark Ross |
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17 Mar 09 - 03:56 PM (#2591277) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: GUEST Services in memory of Richard Altman will be held this week in Park Slope Brooklyn on: March 19th from 7-9pm at Joseph G. Duffy Funeral Parlor 255 9th St Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 499-8700 (between 4th and 5th ave) Funeral Services will be held this Friday March 20th at 11:15am at Saint Savior Church 611 8th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11215 (between 6th and 7th street) Please send any flowers, cards or notes addressed to my mother: Christine Altman 407 10th street Brooklyn NY 11215 Please feel free to distribute this information to any people, who wish to pay their respects. |
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17 Mar 09 - 09:18 PM (#2591468) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: GUEST I just heard about Richie and ran a google search and I'm crushed to learn about Rick. I spent a lot of time with Rick when he was running the Folklore Center...I was a sponge, teenager soaking up all I could about folkmusic. One night Rick and I went drinking...I was only about 16 or 17, and we drank all the money we had. We went back up to the store and emptied the register and drank that. Then we went back up to the store, and Rick threw the register against the wall it was stuck on whatever number ($32.12???) for the rest of time. At my wedding, Rick followed me and made sure I always had a drink in my hand. As much as I'm upset about Richie, I'm devistated about Rick even though I haven't seen him for over 20 years. While some people treated me like a kid, Rick was encouraging, supportive and most of all a friend. Chrissy, my heart is with you... |
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17 Mar 09 - 11:10 PM (#2591501) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: GUEST Siting here reading...just looked at some old pictures. I remember the Libba Cotten show...we rode home on the Subway together...I got off a little later than they did. Libba was tellig us about how she worked for Seeger family. Also remember Pink Anderson...Once Van Ronk showed up at a show unannounced. I asked if he would do St. Louis Tickle...He said he couldn't he was too drunk...So many memories. Somewhere I still have a Folklore Center tshirt. I wish I had my Altman Brothers Band shirt... Joel Stein |
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17 Mar 09 - 11:15 PM (#2591503) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: GUEST,Dan Hamburg I deeply regret waiting too long to reconnect with Rick and Chris. Many were the times in the 70's that I dropped by the Folklore Center after work, and spent time with my pals Rick and Eddie who always were welcoming to me. Although I only saw Rick and Chris a few times over the intervening years, when I did, I always felt that I had just seen them only yesterday,and together they were always warm,smart,funny, honest and above all,REAL. My deep sympathies to Chris and her kids. I hope my words, thoughts and wishes can provide some small comfort to them. The untimely and tragic loss of Rick has got to be a shock to all of us who were priveledged to know him and call him our friend. |
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18 Mar 09 - 01:56 AM (#2591535) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: Art Thieme Mark and all, At our age this happens way too much. Please accept our heartfelt condolences. We had our Old Town Folklore Center in Chicago with so many similar tales of grand flames of life who are gone now. I got to the Village Folklore Center only once. Mark Silber was there, and Izzy had few kind words for us as he felt we had stolen his store's name for our store. So be it. Onward to Rick and Izzy. Art Thieme Peru, Illinois (Where our governors make our license plates!) |
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19 Mar 09 - 10:15 AM (#2592568) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: GUEST,Bluesman James If anyone will be in the Hudson Valley on Sunday at the Unison Arts and Learning Center, New Paltz, NY, Dennis Leone and myself will be doing a special version of "Knocking on Heaven's Door" for our dear friend Rick. Its a special arrangement with two 12 string guitars. Its an open mic thing but its my tribute to our wonderful friend. I have known Rick since I was 16 years old. I saw the demise of the Folklore Center, his new carer with NYCTA (he loved trains. His ups and downs. He helped through my family crisis. Neither of us came from the most functional families but we are who we are. |
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19 Mar 09 - 11:39 AM (#2592620) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: RangerSteve You could hang out all day at the Folklore Center and never spend any money, and Rick didn't care. He once let me conduct a Harmonica workshop there. We didn't take in a lot of money, so Rick didn't take a cut for the Center. He clearly wasn't there to make money. NYC lost a great place when the Folklore Center closed. RIP, Rick. |
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19 Mar 09 - 11:51 AM (#2592630) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: GUEST,Bluesman James I was at that workshop. Saul Brody was one of the workshop presenters. Saul was pretty respected at the time. He was a Vietnam War Veteran. |
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03 Oct 13 - 01:42 PM (#3564011) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center passed away From: GUEST I am looking for the ABC notation for the song |
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10 Mar 15 - 12:45 PM (#3692876) Subject: RE: Obit: Rick Altman of Folklore Center (2009) From: GUEST,Dana Braunstein contributing poet from NJ. I recently recovered a copy of a poetry book that was in the collection of this store and through research found this thread I never knew the man but I am happy that my poem in the book that was published was part of his collection anyone looking to contact me for information my email is dktordee@aol.com. |