2007 Obit: The passing of Monte Dunn

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: GUEST,Ruth Swayze
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 04:03 PM

I was so pleased to read all the wonderful things about Monte Dunn. I owned the Bell Book and Candle Coffee House where he played very frequently ... it was in Ridgeway ... about a 100 miles from Toronto. I think he was the finest musician I ever met. After the coffee house closed at night all the performers and some of my close friends always came to my house, sat around a gigantic table at the farm house where I lived and usually played all night. He was so incredibly talented and also one of the most delightful people I ever met. I was trying to raise my three kids alone at the time and they met him, of course, and loved him too. I believe folk singers liked to come because I wouldn't allow any talking during their performances ... it was just a quiet, lovely place for someone who really wanted to reach his audience.
Monty was so very special ... I'm now about 345 ... well, pretty old, but keep in close touch with all my "kids" who worked for me back then in a very small town, and all will be truly interested in hearing more about him. And again, despite the many people who sang in my coffee house, all of whom are mentioned in Don Cullen's web site and most of whom performed for me, he was far and away the best.
Thank you .... Ruth Swayze - [e-mail]

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: GUEST,Keith
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 10:10 PM

I am so happy to see that people have not forgotten Monte. When I heard that he had passed I tried to find out about a service for him in the paper. I am upset that our employer never acknowledged his passing. Monte and I worked together for a number of years. I would come in to relieve him and he would stay and tell me stories about his days in the city, his family, religion, politics, and everything! The man knew everything and I loved him for it. One night he stayed with me at work and we talked until 7 in the morning. There are very few people in the world who engage the world head on and Monte was one of them. He lived life on his own terms and ended it on his own terms. I regret it, but I respect him for it.

The last time I saw Monte he was on his way to perform at our company's office. He was obviously in a lot of pain. Yet still, he loved his music and the people he cared about so much to be there.

He lived every day. How many of us can say that!

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 07:50 PM

Jacqui:

So sorry to have missed it; I don't come by here very often, and just saw your message today. I hope you're holding up. I'm not in touch with Leo at all, since my TMA (Torrington Musicians' Association) days. If you, or anyone else for that matter, sees him, please tell him I said "hello".

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: GUEST,Ed Smith
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 09:15 PM

I first saw Monte at a coffee house called the Bell, Book and Candle in Crystal Beach, Ontario around 1963. We had a small group called the Five Quadrants and thought we were pretty hot. Monte and another chap came in to do a guest set and he just blew me away. At that time he was known as a finger picker, but, a few years later I saw him in an Ian and Sylvia concert at McMaster University and he could flat pick with the best of them. A fabulous musician and a major influence in my musical life. Thank you Monte

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 10:18 AM

Monte: Rest in Peace...
bob

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: jacquie
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 09:31 AM

To GUEST.Paul:

We are having a small service in Cornwall Bridge for Monte this coming Friday the 23rd at 10 a.m. I hope you can make it and please let other friends know who would like to be there. If you are in touch with Leo Liddle, perhaps let him know. Monte's service will be at the "Puffingham Cemetary" on Route 7 just past Route 45 on the right hand side before you reach the southern entrance to Route 45. We won't be meeting afterwards; it is too much for my mom.

Kind regards,
Jacquie

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: jacquie
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 09:15 PM

I tried to post three times a few minutes ago and hope this does not post three times....
I wanted to thank everyone for posting and sharing their memories of Monte. I especially want to thank Joanne who initiated the thread and kept things going. Monte would have been honored and I am deeply grateful. I had passed on the thread and site to his daughters a week or so ago. Your early memories have consoled recent ones. The legacy you have built ---I am forever grateful. These were early and important years. I can't thank you all enough, ---all of you.

Paul at Coe Park-- thank you for adding. I heard that story from Leo at the Music shop a few weeks ago when I went in to say hello and talk and buy some guitar cleaner to clean Monte's guitars. I had a wonderful talk with Leo. Great little store which Monte frequented as you may know. Thank you everyone--

Warmly,
Jacqueline
I hope you don't see this post 3 times..... my apologies if you do.

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 08:07 PM

I played with/for Monte on a couple of those Coe Park gigs, which were Musicians Performance Trust Fund (MPTF: Musicians Union sponsored) gigs, and I can vouch for the transposing of "Misty". He called the band Brown Buffalo, as a tribute to Hunter Thompson. A baptism by fire, if ever there was one, and I was playing pedal steel. Can't imagine what the horn players went through. It was an honor to play with the guy I knew from those Ian and Sylvia records. I always figured him as a sort of force of nature which would always be around. Sic transit, I suppose. RIP, Monte

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: balladeer
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 03:41 PM

Memo to Mark Ross. Here's a reprint of the letter Monte's stepdaughter wrote to me via the "Little known'60s folk singers" thread. It contains everything I know about the manner of his passing, and David may want to read it. Joanne


Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,jacquie - PM
Date: 14 Jul 07 - 05:50 AM

Joanne,
Thank you so much for writing. I did not take your writing as an insult to Monte at all. He would be honored that you mentioned him. I am trying to gather information to write a story and eulogy for Monte. No one has written anything, which makes me very sad. But he knew I liked to write and I thought the other day that he would probably tell me "well, why don't you write it" because we used to talk about how much fun it was to work with words. I wrote my first op-ed piece on his little word processor which I have with me and 20 yrs of his writing I have been printing for his kids!!! I would like to write it and maybe you could be a part of it and others if they would like. I would love to write it for him.

Monte was a grandfather too! He has 3 grandchildren , one step-grandchild and another grandchild on the way.
My mom told me when they used to go to Canada to meet Ian and Sylvia, that they visited someone else up there that he knew non-musician-- woman-- wish I knew so I could contact her-- had a horse farm, upper Ontario I think), but she could not remember. I wrote an email to Sylvia, but never heard back. Monte did quite a bit back in those days and continued to do much for many and I wish he was more acknowledged for his efforts, but many folks were not. You dated Monte before he met his now ex-wife Karen Kruse? I am sorry this news upset you, but by the same token I am glad Monte was recognized by someone who knew him. His children and myself, I am sure would love to know anyone who knew him in his early days. You and people like you are bridges to him and to time.

His passing is a very big loss, that few, if any of us, are handling very well. His health had deteriorated over the years and he was not well. I am sure he had a lot of spunk when you met him and dated him. He had one of the most brilliant minds I have known and his creatvity was boundless. I found old paintings he did, his writing, his book collection -- library is unimaginable and he read most of everything, and for the record he played every instrument he could-- he was known for that beautiful Guild guitar which we have both ( acoustic /electric acoustic)-- the acoustic he had when he recorded for Ian and Sylvia we just sent to his oldest daughter which even has his old songlist taped to it. He played the banjo beautifully and mandolin and he had saxophones and also a bass, but his love was those guitars. I have a tape of him from a little concert he did in Coe Park here in Ct that I am trying to convert to a CD for family members. You are welcome to one if I can find someone to tape it. Monte's wonderful humor is on it as well. He would be thrilled you connected with me.
One of the local musicians who played on that gig said that Monte played "Misty" a key lower and the horn section and rest of the musicians were struggling to play it and Monte would not let up or change keys.....(Monte was the lead of course!) and in the end he non-chalantly told them he was sorry but he couldn't sing that high so he had to drop it down an octave or two! My late sister used to sing with him on some gigs and he would change on her too and it drove her nuts! I love the stories, the happy and joyful moments especially with regards to music. He did cut one album with Karen on Cyclone Records. I have a CD if you would like one.

I am glad you thought of him-- no insult at all.   I was so happy to see his name mentioned.

Thank you Joanne-- I am glad you knew him. I wish he had continued with Ian and Sylvia. My mom tells me they made an offer for him to do that, but he moved on after 1965 and recorded with Sonny and Cher, toured with Carolyn Hester and Chad Mitchell, was Musical Director for the Mandrell Singers and recorded with Peter, Paul and Mary, and then came 1966.......with Tim Hardin, Tom Rush, Buffy St. Marie, Peter Walker and Kui Lee and that was just that year....

He contributed much.

I am glad you knew him. If you would like to hear him and what he was doing after all his recordings, let me know. And let me know if you would like to be aprt o fthe story I would like to write. Writers around here would not make the effort to stretch into the past which was very important time. Monte was also teaching a lot and he worked as a music therapist as well. He was quite a man and a very talented and giving one.

Kindest,
Jacquie

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: balladeer
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 03:22 PM

So touching and to hear these stories from pickers who were influenced by Monte. He certainly epitomized the "New York school" of picking as it existed in those days.

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: Duke
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 10:46 AM

I was visiting friends in Hamilton, Ontario when I heard about this incredible guitar picker who had droped in to the Black Swan Coffee House. Of course I had to go see what this was all about. That's how I met Monte. We both loved the tune, SanFrancisco Bay Blues and had each worked out our own arrangement for it. We started to play together and it was great. Then Monte took off his finger picks and said play it again and I'll flat pick it. To this day, I've never heard anything like it. He was amazing! At one point I had to stop playing myself and just watch. I told him that if he ever came to Toronto he would have it made. He did and he did! We stayed friends for quite a while and then I started travelling and lost touch with him. The only news I had of him was from David Rae whom I only saw rarely. Although we lost touch with one another I always thought of him whenever I heard some great guitar music. The man touched my heart and its a damned shame we lost him so soon.

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: Paul Mills
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 10:25 AM

When I was a young wet-behind-the ears guitar picker and still in high school I remember being gob-smacked by the gorgeous sound of two acoustic guitars being played together and backing up Ian and Sylvia. The guitar doing the rythm part was, of course, Ian Tyson. The lead guitar that was weaving all those intricate and sparkling lines, fills and countermelodies was Monte Dunn.

My current guitar style owes a lot to Monte Dunn, one of my earliest and strongest influences. I am saddened by his passing. His family should know that here's one picker who is hugely grateful that Monte shared his gift and left his indelible mark on the way I play.

Paul Mills

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: Mark Ross
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 10:02 AM

Passed the word to David Rea yesterday. He was wondering, how did Monte die?

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: balladeer
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 08:34 AM

My memory isn't what it once was, and details come and go, and though I have no memory of how we got there or how we got back to Toronto, I DO remember being with Monte on a farm outside Peterborough Ontario very late one night. We were hanging out, listening to Ian swap songs with Jack Elliot, when at some point it seemed like a good idea to go out to the paddock and attempt to mount this horse, who was just minding his/her own business. (Maybe by then it was daybreak.) I climbed on the horse, but was not welcome there. The animal bucked me off, but somehow someone intervened before I hit the dirt. I always remembered it as Ian, and after that I thought of him as a real cowboy. And he sure is. Monte and I laughed about that night later (but we both saw Ian as a hero).

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: balladeer
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 11:36 PM

Monte's step-daughter, Jacquie, on whose behalf I began this thresd, has been reading it with interest. She plans to present it to Monte's other children as a window into this part of his life.

Please add whatever you remember.

Your personal reminiscences mean a lot.

Joanne

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: Duke
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 09:55 AM

Thanks, but the web site is a private one that I run for Village Corner and Black Swan folkies and old friends in general and the group did not want it to be public. If you tell me where I can send them, I know I can download them to my computer.

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 03:13 PM

Duke,

If you want to gimme the website, I'll link to them on this thread, OK?

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: Duke
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 03:04 PM

It was a lot of fun, but oh so long ago. I sent word out to David Rae about this and I know he'll feel the loss as well. I did find some photo's, but my computer skills are kind of at a loss as to how to get them from one web site to another.

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: balladeer
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 12:32 AM

Wow, Duke, jamming with those two together, what a kick. I was friends with them both, but I don't remember ever being in the same room with both of them at the same time. Joanne

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: Duke
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 09:39 AM

I'm sorry to hear this news. I met Monty at the Black Swan in Hamilton before he came to Toronto and we became good friends. Monty, David Rae and myself used to jam together at the Village Corner Club in Toronto. I remember once I took some photo's of him at my old house, way back when. Hmmmmmmmmmmm Wonder where they are? He was one hell of a guitar picker and his loss will be felt. Damned shame we lost contact over the years.

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn - April 25, 2007
From: balladeer
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 10:44 PM

I can't remember where Monte and I met exactly, but probably at the Bohemian Embassy. I was there 24 hours a day for a couple of years, leaving only for gigs elsewhere, and the occasional cup of someone else's coffee. It was definitely where the hard-core folkies liked to hang out, and Monte was one of those. That boy loved to play.

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn
From: Peace
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 06:16 PM

The word will be passed along to Ian T. Just so's you know.

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn
From: balladeer
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 06:17 PM

Here's what Mitch Podolak (who invented the Winnipeg Folk Festival) said about Monte on the Maplepost list serve a few minutes ago:

For those who didn't know Monte Dunn, we have just lost a great person and a
not insignicant part of the history of the folk revival in Toronto. I don't
know where Ian and Sylvia found him, New York I suspect but Monte became a
real part of the community. He sure hung around the Bohemian Embassy for a
couple of years. Monte was part of the first year line-up of the Winnipeg
Folk Festival which was 34 years ago for those of you counting. I always
liked him, I'm really sorry to hear this news.
mitch

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn
From: Peace
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 05:14 PM

I recall that there were really two names that always came up when folks talked about back-up musicians. The wish list of "If I ever land a contract to cut a record and I could get anyone in the whole world to lay down some stuff who would it be" kinda wish list: The people who were ALWAYS mentioned were Bruce Langhorne and Monte Dunn.

Subject: RE: The passing of Monte Dunn
From: balladeer
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 05:03 PM

There must be someone here that remembers Monte, or knows a story from a friend. Please don't let the thread sink with no feedback. J

Subject: The passing of Monte Dunn
From: balladeer
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 02:57 PM

It is with a heavy heart that I write this. Monte Dunn was a friend
of mine at a time when we were both young and impressionable.

In the past few days, I've been speaking with Monte's stepdaughter.

On a thread called "Little known folksingers of the sixties"she posted the following to the Mudcat. I'm posting it to every musical list or forum I know:

" Monte was a big part of the Folk Music scene and he passed
away this April 25, 2007. His discography is rather extensive to
include Ian & Sylvia, David Blue, Music director for Chad Mitchell,
Sonny and Cher, Richie Havens, Peter, Paul and Mary as well as
a guitarist with Jack Eliot for the 1976 Phil Ochs Memorial
Concert at the Felt Forum. He left his wife Liane Dunn and also
three daughters on the West coast, Cleo, Jesse and Pam. I am
his step-daughter, Jacquie."

If anyone out there is in direct contact with Ian Tyson,
could you please pass this along to him?
Jacquie has been trying to reach him.

Thank you,
Joanne Crabtree