Stompin’ Tom Connors 1936-2013 Canadian country-folk singer Stompin’ Tom Connors passed away at the age of 77 on Wednesday, March 6th. Best known for his emblematic black cowboy hat and the rhythmic foot stompin’ that earned him his nickname, Tom … Continue reading →
Tam Kearney: March 17th 1940 – March 6th 2013 Tam Kearney, co-founder of Toronto’s influential and lamented folk club Fiddler’s Green, irreverent on-stage mouthpiece of The Friends of Fiddler’s Green and the man directly or indirectly responsible for so much … Continue reading →
Wilmoth Houdini As a rough estimate, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan’s performance of “Stone Cold Dead in the Market,” which we introduced in the previous post, appeared at the half-way point in the song’s career thus far. The song originated … Continue reading →
I don’t know, is it that after a week of a song that’s dark, haunted, and tragic that I’m up for some lighter fare? Is it that we’ve reached March, and winter in the Midwest has me longing for something … Continue reading →
“Murder in the Red Barn” by Jaya King “…I think the world is going to be here a whole lot longer after we’re gone. I’m just waiting for the whole world to open up and swallow us all in, scrape … Continue reading →
This is the second post on “Maria Marten” and other songs inspired by the Red Barn Murder in Polstead, England in 1827. The first is here. The third is here. It is time for my confession. Don’t worry. It’s nowhere near as … Continue reading →
This is the first of three posts about songs more or less related to the infamous Red Barn Murder in Polstead, England in 1827. This post introduces the song and the background story. The next post explores the song’s “career.” … Continue reading →
Today the music world mourns the loss of Magic Slim, a famed Chicago bluesman who held true to his rough and ready Mississippi roots. After a 58-year long career, Mr. Slim died February 21, 2013 following surgery concerning a bleeding … Continue reading →
The role Dave Van Ronk played in influencing and benefiting the folk music boom of the 1960s cannot be overstated. Slightly more than a decade after his passing, well-regarded directors, Joel and Ethan Coen, have announced they will be releasing … Continue reading →
This is the second post concerning the ballad Child 4. See also Part 1. Introduction In my first post this week, I looked briefly at the history of the ballad Francis Child cataloged as his #4, known by many names; … Continue reading →
