The Mayor of MacDougal Street: A Memoir
by Dave Van Ronk, Elijah Wald
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Book Summary Information
Author: Dave Van Ronk, Elijah WaldEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-03-07
ISBN: 030681479x
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Book Reviews of The Mayor of MacDougal Street: A Memoir
Book Review: An unsung superstar
Summary: 5 Stars
There's an old saying, mentioned in this book, that goes: "If you can remember the sixties, you weren't really there!" For those of us who were there and actually can remember, this book is a delightful nostalgic tour.
Dave Van Ronk was a central figure in the huge folk music craze of the early sixties. He was also an important figure in the jazz and blues scene that preceded and, in large part, begat the folk phenomenon. Although he spent a small period of time on the west coast, his primary haunt was the Greenwich Village scene in New York. This book was originally intended to be an insider's account of that scene and the folk music genre that largely originated from there.
Unfortunately, Dave died before the book was finished. His co-author, Elijah Wald, took over, collected and organized Dave's notes and interview recordings, and produced what is as much a biography of Dave Van Ronk as it is about the folk scene. In the process, we are treated to first-hand accounts of some real giants of the movement, like Pete Seeger; Bob Dylan; Tom Paxton; Joni Mitchell; Peter, Paul & Mary; Jose Feliciano, as well as legendary blues artists; Gary Davis, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt, among many others.
Van Ronk himself was a die-hard ethnic purist who sincerely admired those he considered to be the true greats and precursors to the movement. He was not reticent in voicing his criticisms of the more trivial aspects of the folk music movement. There's more than a hint of jealousy in many of his comments about some of the artists who "made it big," e.g., the Kingston Trio, Harry Belafonte, etc. However, if the reader takes what he says with a grain of salt, there's a huge amount of fascinating information in this book about not only an amazing period in the history of American music, but a transcendent period in American culture. There are fascinating anecdotes on virtually every page.
If you're too young to remember the sixties, this book is a great introduction. If you were actually there (but, of course, can't remember), it will jar your memory and stoke your nostalgia. Highly recommended.
Summary of The Mayor of MacDougal Street: A Memoir
Dave Van Ronk (1936-2002) 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. The Mayor of MacDougal Street is a first-hand account by a major player in the social and musical history of the '50s and '60s. It features encounters with young stars-to-be like Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, and Joni Mitchell, as well as older luminaries like Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, and Odetta. Colorful, hilarious, and engaging, The Mayor of MacDougal Street is a feast for anyone interested in the music, politics, and spirit of a revolutionary period in American culture
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