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Dave Van Ronk

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Dave Van Ronk was an American folk singer and guitarist, born in 1936 in Brooklyn, New York. He began as a banjo player in traditional jazz bands, but when he discovered the blues of Reverend Gary Davis, Furry Lewis and Mississippi John Hurt in record shops, he took a different path. Around 1958 he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar and sang blues, folk and jazz. In Greenwich Village he became such a central figure that he was called the Mayor of MacDougal Street.

Music and breakthrough

Van Ronk wrote few songs of his own. His strength lay in arranging old songs, from English ballads to blues, gospel and swing. He played ragtime on solo guitar, such as Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag, and used the guitar like a piano, following the example of Gary Davis. To this he added rich harmonies that he picked up from Jelly Roll Morton and Duke Ellington. His voice could growl and whisper. Albums such as Folksinger (1962) and Just Dave Van Ronk (1964) show that style.

Influence

For young musicians he was a host and teacher. Bob Dylan often slept on his couch and put Van Ronk's arrangement of House of the Rising Sun on his first album. The Animals made a hit of it in 1964, and so a folk guitarist from the Village helped get folk rock going. Van Ronk died in 2002. The Coen brothers' film Inside Llewyn Davis is loosely based on his life.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to House of the Rising Sun and follow the bass line on the guitar, which walks down step by step. Then compare his version with that of The Animals.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsFolk revival