Oh, hell. Such terrible news to greet me this morning.

Dave Van Ronk is dead. Complications to do with cancer, I presume. I'll post links to more obits as I find them (feel free to email me URLs if you find 'em before I do).

The news and a brief obit are online at Folklore Productions.

Christine Lavin has done a great job of getting the word out about Dave's battle with cancer. News of his death hasn't been posted yet on her website, but there's all sorts of good stuff there. Fans (or those who simply want to know more about Van Ronk) may also want to visit the fansite Dave Van Ronk Unauthorized.

Most of my Van Ronk albums are on vinyl and I don't have them easily accessible now, or I'd be listening to them right now. I've got "Another Time and Place" stuck in my head. One of my favorite songs, ever. It's hard to believe Dave Van Ronk is gone. I don't know what else to say. What do you say when one of your favorite performers and songwriters dies?

When Lowell George died, all music got a little less interesting to me for a while. It was years before another performer's music gave me the same rush, but when it happened, music was interesting again. Unfortunately, that new performer was Stevie Ray Vaughan.

A tear in my eye and a hole in my heart. I will forever miss him. His music and performences have consoled and entertained me most of my life.