Furry Lewis' "Stackerlee" performed by Dave Van Ronk in a 1980 concert, prefaced by some remarks about his love for Lewis' music. From the DVD "Dave Van Ronk Memories." More info at www.guitarvide...
In 1992-93 I spotted an ad in the Village Voice.Guitar Lessons - Dave Van Ronk. I thought, could this be the real Dave Van Ronk? I called and when he answered the phone it was obviously him! I turned up at his apartment a week later for our first lesson. The place was tiny. He was a very articulate and gentle man. Often we would would overun our alloted time just talking about music, things in the news. God Bless You Dave.
I miss Dave Van Ronk so very much. I enjoyed so many of his folk performances in the Village and at festivals and he always gave everything he had into each performance. There can never be another Dave Van Ronk.
Discovered this music around a year ago (currently 21). Took me long time to learn this style but after many painful nights i learned my first fingerpicking song stackerlee. My fingers were bleeding and my thumb had a blister on it which popped and was very painful. Still breaking in my thumb to this day. If it wasn't for stagger lee i wouldn't of discovered so many insane guitarists from 1920s-1980s.
through that pain will come great music. Nothing worth having comes easily. You're paying your dues,like countless greats did before you. play on And let it bleed.
I lucked out and got to see him before he died, at Bumbershoot in Seattle, I think 1998. I'd heard that he had done a version of Hesitation Blues, so I wanted to check him out. I was floored. Raw, funny, poignant. The Real Deal. Never will forget the feeling of that performance. Goes beyond the music, the sound, touched something kicking and screaming inside of me. Yes, yes yes! Thank you Dave. R.I.P.
The 1st of my influences back when I was a youngster. Spent endless hours, days, weeks with a beginner guitar hoping to emulate my first "King of Cool". Pretty funny in retrospect to consider I knew nothing about open tunings, sure would have made for better results on my part. But Old Dave set the bar, and like everybody else who thinks he's a guitar player, I finally got this track fairly correct, lol. Thanks for pointing the way, Dave.
I watched Dave Van Ronk perform on stage at Nassau Community College, Long Island where I attended after returning as a Marine in Vietnam. I felt like paying homage to this big, growling bear.
Dave was a huge influence on me when I was discovering music. I heard him up close and live around 1979-80 as the opening act for John Fahey (!) at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA! I've always liked Dave's Stagolee among the many other great versions.
Thanks for posting this! I used to have the whole video of that performance and somehow ignominiously lost it during a move. I remember he was so funny in between songs - wonderful schtick!
I DID get to say thank you to HIM somewhere in Minneapolis at a concert '78?, where I gave him one of my 3 copies of my (Pebbles) LP, I had with me from Germany, never knew if he ever listened to it. It had "guitar shuffle" on it from B.B.Broonzy which I had learned from an old album of Daves. But I got to say thanks- awesome!!! does anyone have the tracks "Guitar Shuffle" ? or any of the other songs?
I nwas a grerat fan of dave. in 1972 saw him in Philladepha AT THE CELLAR DOOR IN South st. First time Isaw Dave Where is he now? Have many recorides of him?
There has to be more footage of Dave. Please post it..I had the opportunity to see him and speak to him on a number of occassions. He was a gentle giant and as of yet, grossly under-recognized and appreciated.
Thanks to a Stefan Grossman column in an old UK magazine called 'Guitarist' something like 23-24 years ago I sat down and learned to play this exact arrangement including the stretch on the guitar break. Then I went on the Cocaine Blues. But I was beat by St James Infirmary.
@steelpikker The best cover ever of He Was a Friend of Mine is definitely Van Ronk's! I have it on an old LP, but I have no idea how to digitalize and upload, sorry! Over the years, it has also been my favorite Van Ronk. I loved that man.
I've been looking for ages, but can't find any tabs of this. This song has been done 306 different ways, and I can't find this version anywhere. Anybody found tabs for it?
There are many variations to this song. Some times it's called Stack-O-Lee or Stagger Lee. Lloyd Price had an R&B hit with it in 1960. It's the same tune the Dead did.
I know. I bought his first album on Prestige in 1965. He mentored many of his younger compatriots in the Village in the early '60s, including Bobby D. 'o)
