As a matter of fact, Taj attended the Univ of Massachusetts - I only know because I took a music course as an elective one year, and the professor had had Taj in class a couple of years prior. I am guessing he did not graduate though. So PoppaG is right on the money. I have mentioned before, but for a really close look at country blues as reported by one of the creators, see The World Don't Owe Me Nothin' - Honeyboy Edwards' autobiography.

Van Ronk has a long discography, yet there is still not enough. The CD of his last concert - The Song Ended and the Tin Pan Bended - is a wonderful example of a DVR show. I also understand that he had learned of his cancer just before this show, but that fact surely does not show up in the recording. Another wonderful document is his show (DVD) at the Bottom Line from June 2001 (Dave died in Feb 2002).   This is also a good look at just how Dave played, and I have stolen much!

As far as being a teacher, Van Ronk taught a good friend of mine for several years. My friend made the weekly trips into NYC as much for the hour or so of Dave's company as for the lessons. He also became a great blues guitar player in the process. Years ago I purchased an audio cassette course (that is now available on CD from Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop) in which DVR takes the student through a note by note, fret by fret, string by string lesson for a bunch of songs. Such patience.