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Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?

17 Jun 06 - 09:37 AM (#1762159)
Subject: al cromwell and doug bush
From: balladeer

Those of you who were hanging around the Toronto folk scene any time after 1960, no doubt remember the late Al Cromwell, a fixture at clubs, then bars, til just a few years before his untimely death from cancer. For a few of the early years, Al had a musical partner name of Doug Bush. Do you remember him? Do you know where he is? Do you know how I can reach him? I'd be grateful for anything you can tell me that might warm up the trail. Thank you. Joanne


17 Jun 06 - 10:46 AM (#1762192)
Subject: RE: al cromwell and doug bush
From: GUEST,jim

I remember All Cromwell well. Did he release a 45 of Don't Think Twice? I remember hearing him sing it on Hamilton radio but can't remember if it was live or a record.
He had an Art School friend named John Layton who played a Goya Goliath sunburst guitar and played in a Hoot in west Hamilton where I was also playing (with Goya Goliath sunburst guitar). I remember that he made a big impression on me. I believe his dad was the wrestler Lord Athol Layton. Is he still playing?


17 Jun 06 - 11:56 AM (#1762238)
Subject: RE: al cromwell and doug bush
From: balladeer

Hi Jim: There were lots of people in Al's life in the early days. I never knew John Layton and have no idea what he's up to today. I'm trying to locate Doug Bush for an old friend of his. I hope you're still playing ....


18 Jun 06 - 12:33 AM (#1762604)
Subject: RE: al cromwell and doug bush
From: balladeer

Does no one remember Doug Bush?


13 Jul 11 - 02:55 PM (#3186899)
Subject: RE: al cromwell and doug bush
From: GUEST,Ruth Jones McVeigh

Five years later! Yes, I most decidedly knew Doug. I've been searching for him ever since Al died. I know he was a regular visitor to the hospital but after Al's death, he vanished. If you've learned anything since this 06 posting, please let me know.
RMmistree@gmail.com


01 Nov 11 - 07:00 PM (#3248812)
Subject: RE: al cromwell and doug bush
From: balladeer

Hi Ruth, sooner or later I guess we all check in with the Mudcat. Still no news of Doug in my corner of the universe. I didn't know he had survived to visit Al in hospital. Thanks for that. ... joanne


15 Nov 11 - 09:55 AM (#3257427)
Subject: RE: al cromwell and doug bush
From: GUEST,kriscraft

I am his Dougs son and last surviving relative ( i think)... last i heard he was living in a town called Meaford around Georgian Bay, but that was several years ago.. any leads or info about Doug at his heyday would be great


18 Nov 11 - 02:05 PM (#3259475)
Subject: RE: al cromwell and doug bush
From: GUEST

Hi all, I am also looking for Doug Bush, as he is my cousin on my Dad's side of the family and his son Kris is my cousin although i haven't seen Kris since he was a baby, also know where his mother is.I haven't seen Doug since his mother passed away in 2000 and I would like to find him. I am also doing a geneolagy on the Bush side and have found a lot of history for him and his Son, Kris. So, Doug and Kris, please get in touch with me @ my email jbkj99@hotmail.com


18 Nov 11 - 02:25 PM (#3259489)
Subject: RE: al cromwell and doug bush
From: GUEST

Kris, you have more family then what you think, please contact me through email@ jbkj99@hotmail.com. We need to find your dad. Many thanks, your Cousin, Jim Bush


25 Nov 11 - 02:38 AM (#3263111)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: Joe Offer

I heard from somebody today who was trying to contact Doug Bush. Has anybody had any luck?

-Joe-


26 Nov 11 - 10:35 AM (#3263749)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: Mary Posey

His cousin Jim Bush is trying to find Doug too. I'd like to contact his son Kris.
Al died two years ago.


01 Dec 11 - 11:26 AM (#3266736)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: GUEST,Jim Bush

If anyone here's from Kris, please tell him to contact me. And also, thanks goes out to Ruth McVeigh for all the memories of Doug, I'm st.ill searching for him and Kris


15 Dec 11 - 09:46 PM (#3274542)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: GUEST

kriscraft@live.com, for jim bush and mary posey, feel free to drop me a line to chat about my dad.... if it took this long for him to leave a footprint on the internet, he must be fairly deep in the woods


31 Dec 11 - 12:55 AM (#3282283)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: balladeer

I'm glad some of Doug's clan are finding each other through this thread. ... Any sightings of the man himself yet? ... Doug was my accompanist circa 1960, before I learned to play Guitar and before he hooked up with Al. ... Happy New Year everyone!


16 Feb 12 - 12:01 PM (#3309552)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: GUEST,Jim Bush

I am still searching for Doug. He is out there somewhere. Last i seen Doug was in 2000 when his mom passed away. He was living with a woman named Heli in the Meaford area, the last i heard, but something tells me in my gut that he is somewhere in a hospital, maybe Meaford. How would i find out if he is in that area, anyone with ideas, please forward them to me at jbkj99@hotmail.com, or at 519-330-3528.
I will find Doug where ever he is and i will let all the people who care about him, especially the ones who love him. Thanks Jim


30 Nov 12 - 02:26 PM (#3444937)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: GUEST,flattop

I haven't been able to sign on or get my password returned to my e-mail for a couple of years. So, whenever I got the urge to write I gave up. I even tried to befriend The Little Hawk on facebook, but The Little Hawk is either too busy, still trying to tip over cows with his tiny wings or he's become too much of a snob to accept the Mi'kmaq name that two Eskasoni Angels gave me, Dabit Jij (en: Turbot.) I have no idea how I'll get my mudcat good-name back. Yes, I'm too sensitive but I'll get over it.

Anyway, this morning, saddened by hearing last night about a woman's death and realizing that the brothers sang so well Wednesday night hurting for her, I played music on line and looked for music from old friends like Al Cromwell and Len Udow.

I only found pictures of Lenny and video of him with Fred Penner and others in the Short Notice Quartet. None showed Len at his best in my estimation, although Deep River Blues is quite good.

On the other hand, U-tube now has a decent 23.5 minute video of Al Cromwell. It doesn't contain my favorite song of his, 'Rainy Night in Georgia,' but it gives a good idea what his performance were like. Rick Fielding fans will see why Rick and Al were fans of each other's music.
Al Cromwell
After quick search, it seems this hasn't been posted to Mudcat.

Searching also turned up this link mentioning Al:
Al @ Mariposa Poster

On Doug Bush, he was using the name, Doug Johnson, playing guitar, drums and flute when I knew him. Perhaps that's why people lost track of him.


10 Jan 13 - 06:41 PM (#3464221)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: GUEST

I have a photo here of Doug Bush from about 1961-62 sitting in front of the Village Corner Club on Avenue Road.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_henwood/3361718872/in/photostream


23 Feb 13 - 03:47 PM (#3482989)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: GUEST,Dave Wilson

Doug and Al were great friends but they would fall out with each other every now and then. At the time of Al's death in '95, Doug used to be fairly regular at the Kim Cafe (now Lola's)in Kensington Market. He was still performing but seemed to prefer sitting in with other musicians rather than having his own gigs. Doug took Al's death very hard and he was really down at the time. He stopped coming into the market and nobody seemed to have word of him. My memory's a bit vague but I seem to remember bumping into him on Bloor Street a few months after Al's passing and I think he said he was living somewhere further out in the west end. This is all a long time ago. I hope you find Doug and I hope he's in good spirits.


17 Apr 14 - 11:04 PM (#3619932)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: GUEST

Memphis Deville
I used to run into Al in the Annex about two decades ago and around that time I ran into and hung out extensively with Doug who had a place just south of Queen and Bathurst. I haven't seen either of them since.
Among other things Al did for me is he introduced me to John Paul Hammond. I remember one night Al was playing The Place a place across the street from the other place, The Purple Onion. The place called The Place was owned by Werner Graeber. I was hanging out with Shawn Phillips later to play sitar on Sunshine Superman who had a contract with the Purple Onion and so he couldn't legally play The Place Al got offstage and came to our table and it was agreed that Shawn would play a set under an assumed name. Al got up to fiddle with the sound and "Joe Schmitt" got up to play a set. I was left at table with one Rick Danko of The Hawks to whom I'd just been introduced and he turns to me and says "There's just one thing I want out of this life" I said "What's that?" He said "I'd like to play just one night with Bob Dylan" Imagine my surprise when he ended up playing with Bob every night for years. Hell, imagine his surprise. Maybe more people should tell me their fondest dreams. I'm truly sorry to hear about Al. I didn't know he was gone.


09 Jan 17 - 08:00 AM (#3831388)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: GUEST, Lesley (Dalrymple) O'Neil

I used to often handle the door at the Bohemian Embassy 1961/62/63, and remember them both, although I knew Al a bit better.

Absolutely loved his voice. If anyone out there has a recording of Al singing 'The First Time Ever' I'd love to have a copy. I was blown away when he brought that song back from a festival in Scotland. Beautiful man, beautiful voice, beautiful song.

So sad that cancer took him so soon.


08 Apr 17 - 11:49 PM (#3849592)
Subject: RE: Remember Al Cromwell and Doug Bush?
From: GUEST,Rencor

And Alfreds nephew as well...passed away at just 70 years of age.