Dave Van Ronk interviews

Subject: Dave Van Ronk interviews
From: elijahwald
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 05:17 PM

Dear Mudcat folks,
I am compiling Dave Van Ronk's memoir of the folk revival 1955-65, a project we were working on together -- albeit in a rather desultory fashion -- in the years before his death. This leaves me in the difficult position of doing what will have to be largely an "as told to" book without the teller, so I am putting out a call for any interviews people may have done with Dave over the years.

I am looking for Dave's own words, please, not other people's memories of him, wonderful as those may be. The idea was to do his history of the period, rather than a biography of him, and I am trying to keep the focus on that theme.

Many thanks,
Elijah

Subject: RE: Dave Van Ronk interviews
From: dwditty
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 06:46 PM

I presume you have checked this site:


Van Ronk Unauthorized (But Dave told me this guy was a "nice fella"

Subject: RE: Dave Van Ronk interviews
From: Frankham
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 10:07 PM

Elijah,

Dave and I had a conversation in Cambridge. He said that he thought it was important for those who had been part of the revival and overlooked as not being "stars" to continue to perform. He was less than enthusiastic about the "star system" in music and a great supporter and appreciative of those who are not in the "limelight".

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Dave Van Ronk interviews
From: Amos
Date: 16 Feb 03 - 10:46 AM

There are two short discussions with Dave by Garrison Keillor in the archives of the Prairie Home Companion website.

A

Subject: RE: Dave Van Ronk interviews
From: Tiger
Date: 16 Feb 03 - 06:59 PM

I was fortunate to be in a DVR workshop once and, while he didn't wax overly philosophical, he did make a number of observations about his music.

I'll try to recall what I can. Why not PM me in a few days and we'll see what I've come up with.

Subject: RE: Dave Van Ronk interviews
From: simon-pierre
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 04:27 PM

Hi Elijah, you had few answers at you first attempt, I'm not sure if you saw them thread.cfm?threadid=55394#862218

Subject: RE: Dave Van Ronk interviews
From: elijahwald
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 11:55 AM

Thanks to all who responded so far. I was not clear whether some of you had actual tapes, or simply memories of things Dave said. If the former, please let me know. If the latter, I would be very interested if you would send any of them along, or just post them to this thread.
I often thought that what Dave really deserved was not a regular biography, but a sort of "Boswell's Life of Johnson," made up of all his observations on the scene around him. He was pleased to consider himself the Johnsonian presence on the Village scene. So any memories of his pithy comments are welcome......
Thanks,
Elijah ([e-mail])