Dave Van Ronk

Dave Van Ronk (June 30 1936 – February 10 2002) was a folk singer born in Brooklyn, New York, who settled in Greenwich Village, New York City, and was nicknamed the "Mayor of MacDougal Street."

Cultural impact

He has been described as an irreverent and incomparable guitar artist and intrepreter of black blues and folk, with an uncannily precise ability at improvisation. Joni Mitchell often said that his rendition of her song Both Sides Now (which he called Clouds) was the finest ever.

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Dave Van Ronk is perhaps underestimated as a musician and blues guitarist. His guitar work is noteworthy for both syncopation and precision, showing similarities to Mississippi John Hurt's. He ranks high in bringing blues style to Greenwich Village in during the 1960s. During this crucial period, he performed with the likes of Bob Dylan and spent many years teaching guitar in Greenwich Village.

Related Topics:
Mississippi John Hurt - Bob Dylan

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Van Ronk was among the first to perform traditional jazz and ragtime on the acoustic guitar. His guitar arrangements of such ragtime hits as St. Louis Tickle, The Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag continue to frustrate and challenge aspiring guitar players.

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