My cousin who lives in Minneapolis sent me the notice about the death
of Redhouse Records leader, Bob Feldman, who worked with Greg Brown to
build up a wonderful record business...good for the listeners, good for the artists. Here is a post i sent to the Greg Brown chat list:

Sad news about Redhouse records Bob Feldman


My condolences to his family, friends, and assiciates.
Greg, please accept huge sympathy from Redhouse fans
and I hope that there will be a way to re-group and
carry on bringing great music to all and supporting
so many great artists in their careers.

http://www.startribune.com/466/story/178526.html

Star Tribune * January 12, 2006

Folk-music impresario Bob Feldman dies
He was president of the St. Paul-based Red House Records
and a national force in folk music.

Jon Bream
Star Tribune

Bob Feldman, president of St. Paul's award-winning Red House Records and a national force in the folk-music movement, died Wednesday afternoon at his home in St. Paul. He was 56.

"It was a shock," said Chris Frymire, Red House's vice president of operations. "We expected him at work tomorrow."

Feldman had not been at work since the end of December, but Frymire said "it was nothing we thought was serious." As of late Wednesday night, Frymire had no details about Feldman's death.

"His impact was huge," said Bill Kubeczko, director of the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. "He was well-respected nationally and internationally. I'd go to London and see Red House records displayed prominently in the stores. He gave a platform and voice to a lot of musicians on a big scale."

In 1983, Feldman restarted Red House, Iowa singer-songwriter Greg Brown's dormant label. Over the years, Red House's roster has included a who's who of contemporary and old-school folk music, including Rosalie Sorrels, Utah Phillips, Adrian Legg, Eliza Gilkyson, Loudon Wainwright III, Robin and Linda Williams, Claudia Schmidt, Greg Brown and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, whose "South Coast" won a Grammy for best traditional folk album in 1996.

The roster also featured many Minnesota artists, including Spider John Koerner, Prudence Johnson, Peter Ostroushko and John Gorka.

In addition, Feldman put together compilation albums with themes. The 1998 tribute to Pete Seeger, "Where Have All the Flowers Gone," featured performances by such heavyweights as Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, the Indigo Girls, Judy Collins and Jackson Browne.

Red House has received several awards from NAIRD, an independent music association, and a handful of Grammy nominations.

Red House has put out about 180 albums over the years; it grosses between $2 million and $3 million annually, according to Frymire.

Feldman, who grew up in Florida, started teaching high school classes about business in Minnesota in the early '80s, and he actually resurrected Red House while still teaching.

In the late '80s and early '90s, Feldman also organized Summerfolk, a Twin Cities folk-music festival, and he was a folk-music DJ on KFAI-FM.

Feldman is survived by his wife, Beth Friend, and their son, Ari; his parents and a brother. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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Jon Bream • 612-673-1719

© 2006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

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http://blogs.citypages.com/ctg/2006/01/bob_feldman_194.asp


Bob Feldman, 1949 - 2006

Bob Feldman, founder and president of Red House Records, died in his St. Paul home Wednesday. Jon Bream's obit in the Star Tribune has more details. Jon Dolan's feature on Red House from 1998 has more details about the importance of Feldman's independent spirit.

The last time I saw Feldman was in the fall. We were walking our dogs at the dog park near the Mississippi River with our families. He and his wife, Beth Friend, gushed to us about how beautiful the woods and river are in the winter, and how the dogs love to romp through the snow.

We talked fast and furiously about our latest mutual fave, Eliza Gilkyson, who had recently released her tremendous Paradise Hotel on Red House. He was thrilled that it was getting airplay on The Current.

When I think of Feldman's terrific radio show, Urban Folk, on KFAI- FM, I go back to the river. I was tooling around one Sunday afternoon during the Winter Carnival a few years ago, looking for the medallion, and he played Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows." It was such a perfect moment, all these souls with nothing better to do than sift through the snow looking for a little prize, and Cohen/Feldman commenting on the madness of the outside world.

I can still hear the enthusiasm in his voice. I can still hear the enthusiasm in his records. I discovered so much music from him. Please feel free to leave your own memories about Feldman in the comments section below on this very sad day.

-- Posted by Jim Walsh at January 12, 2006 08:56 AM