from Russel Hannah, Illawarra Folk Club

Kevin was a singer, songwriter, poet, musician and foundation and life member of the Illawarra Folk Club. One way or another he was involved with the Illawarra Folk Club since its foundation in 1979. In 1982 he became Club President, a position he held for many years. In fact, early club’s meetings were always held at Kevin and Beth’s place.

He was also the editor of the newsletter for a number of years as well as fulfilling a number of roles (barperson, doorperson and MC) in many of our early concerts.

Kevin always had a broader view of where the Folk Club stood in the arts community and for a period of time was also president of the Illawarra Branch of the NSW Arts Council. In this capacity, Kevin was responsible for the Folk Club being able to access Arts Grants to bring notable performers such as Raglan Road to the club.

Kevin was one of a group of members who were responsible for establishing the Folk Club’s Festival at Jamberoo. (Jamberoo Valley Folk Festival) We initially co-jointly ran a Festival at Wilton in 1985. In 1986 we moved to Jamberoo where we remained for the next 20 years.

Kevin has played at almost every festival since then until the last few years when his health deteriorated sharply. His presentation of theme concerts and workshops were always thoughtful, incisive and entertaining. Along with John Broomhall, he was responsible for running the first Poets’ Breakfast at the festival. (In those days we actually had breakfast in the Youth hall).

Kevin was for a number of years in a group called Currency Folk where he played the flute and sang. Currency Folk were regular performers at the club and featured Beth Baker, Joe Brown and John Broomhall. In 1982 Kevin produced the seminal LP, ‘The Snowy River Men’. The title track off that was played by Macca on ABC radio and was placed on his first album. It led to the club hosting an Australia All Over concert at the Diggers Club and gave the Club a great deal of publicity.

Kevin later produced, with the assistance of the club, an LP featuring many of our multicultural club members. Called Beneath the Smoke, A Gathering of Nations, it featured The Billabongers (Alan Musgrove), Beth Baker, Gerado deLiseo, Vince Brophy, Fernando and Sonia Arancibia, Val Whittaker and Kevin. This was certainly a first for our club and probably a first for any folk club. He later produced an LP, ‘I Called Him a Worship Your Bastard’ of two other stalwarts of the Folk Scene, the late John Dengate and the late Denis Kevans. Kevin produced six albums and enhanced his folk credentials when in the early nineties he travelled extensively with Alan Scott, collecting songs and stories from the oral tradition.

His funeral was held on Monday 22nd March at Lakeside Memorial Kanahooka. Our thoughts are with Kevin’s family, including former wife and folk club stalwart Beth Muntz and daughter Simone.

We plan to hold a memorial concert for Kevin in the near future so keep an eye out. You can hear Kevin singing his Snowy River Men on YouTube

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There are only 2 of Kevin's songs on youtube
Snowy River Men using the letters sent home from French battle fields in 1917.

Riding the wind

I've added 4 of his songs to the Mudcat Australian/NZ songbook as I love his songs.