DAVE VAN RONK
June 30, 1936 - February 10, 2002


New York City native Dave Van Ronk was considered by many to be music's raconteur, troubadour and provocateur, as well as an acclaimed blues and folk singer, guitarist, songwriter and teacher.

Van Ronk was one of the founding figures of the 1960s folk revival, but he was far more than that.
A pioneer of modern acoustic blues, a fine songwriter and arranger, a powerful singer, and one of the most influential guitarists of the '60s, he was also a marvelous storyteller, a peerless musical historian, and one of the most quotable figures on the Village scene.

Throughout his life, Van Ronk served as a mentor to countless up-and-coming artists that migrated to New York.
He became noted both for his large physical stature and his expansive charisma, which bespoke an intellectual, cultured gentleman of many talents.

Referred to as “the great, grizzled, guitarist” by Peter Fornatale, Van Ronk’s music eluded classification. As a self-described ‘moldy fig’ who eschewed the term “folk artist”, Dave Van Ronk’s eclectic blend of dixieland jazz, ragtime, blues, vaudeville and other styles were often in direct conflict with the format-conscious world of the commercial music business. Reminding listeners his only constant was,
"I've always been inconsistent”, his recordings followed one rule, “anything that I like and that I think I can find a handle to, I'll take a whack at. And as it has been, so shall it be."

In addition to being nicknamed the "Mayor of MacDougal Street", a section of Sheridan Square
(where Barrow Street meets Washington Place) has been renamed "Dave Van Ronk Street".

In December 1997, Van Ronk was awarded ASCAP’s Lifetime Achievement Award;
in 2004, he was posthumously awarded World Folk Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.


Tributes will be performed by:

Part 2:
Willie Nininger
Eve Silber
Chris Lowe


Part 1:
Tom Russell
Jeff Gold
Rolly Brown