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Thread: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

  1. #76
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    It is Bob Weir, thanks for opening my eyes. I was really late coming to the Dead’s music.
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  2. #77

    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    That looks like a scene from the Canadian cross country train tour. The Band was on that tour. I think it's Rick Danko.
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  3. #78
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Quote Originally Posted by Don Grieser View Post
    That looks like a scene from the Canadian cross country train tour. The Band was on that tour. I think it's Rick Danko.
    You’re referring to the guy hunched over in back, right? The photo isn’t very clear. It’s definitely Bob Weir on mandolin, I recognize him now.
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    As for the others in that Festival Express photo, I don't really recognize them but Delaney & Bonnie and friends participated in that tour and it could be some of them in the photo (I was surprised to learn that Jim Gordon, Sam Clayton and Kenny Gradney were part of D&B&F). The guy in the back with the big hair and the mustache could be Richard Manuel to my eye, but that's a SWAG on my part.
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  5. #80

    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Another shot of them from The Band's instagram. Definitely Rick Danko. He was jamming with Janis and Jerry a lot in that film.

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  7. #81
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Wow! I was totally sold on a wrong identity. The first photo I posted looks nothing like Rick to me, and a lot like Bob. Thanks for the correction, Don.
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  8. #82

    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    He does look like Weir in the first photo.
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  9. #83
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    I can see it now though, in his posture … specifically the neck and arms. Rick always seemed to be pushing hard when he performed, in the handful of films I’ve seen him perform in. I’ve never seen the film referenced, this photo interested me because there was a mandolin & Jerry & Janis. The hair just appears to be lighter in the first photo.
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    [QUOTE=tree;1892484]
    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Gunter View Post

    Who's on mandolin? Mark O'Conner? I know Jerry Garcia and Janis Joplin, who else do you recognize here? Kind of looks like Frank Zappa hunched over in the back, who knows?

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    Looks like Bob Weir to me, from the Festival Express escapade across Canada
    I was going to say the same thing (added: but read on). The movie "Festival Express" shows these folks jamming. That's Ian Tyson with the guitar and 'burns, and Sylvia Fricker Tyson with the headband. Zappa's definitely not there. I think Bill Kreutzman is farthest from the camera. I have the DVD but nothing to play it on, or I'd find out who the others are. Oh, one website labels the picture, "Rick Danko, Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia, Ian Tyson and Jonathan Taplin jamming on a train." Looking at other photos from the same trip makes me realize that's Rick Danko on mandolin, not Bob Weir. (Jonathan Taplin is, according to Wikipedia, an "American writer, film producer and scholar," perhaps the fellow drinking in the middle of the photo.)

    By the way, if you like these musicians, be sure and see "Festival Express" which documents working musicians who otherwise rarely found time to make music together.
    Last edited by Ranald; Jan-20-2023 at 4:04pm.
    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    You can watch the whole glorious mess of a film of the whole glorious mess of a rolling event on youtube here. I scanned it and didn't see that particular photographed scene. But I think the jam it's from is shown from ~19:00-21:00 - from a different vantage point and a different time than the still. Maybe some can identify more folks through viewing that. I concur with Ranald's assessment - definitely Danko. I thought that might be Richard Manuel seated behind him, but no - he was wearing a beard at the time. That may be Bob Weir's leg on the right.
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  13. #86
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Quote Originally Posted by journeybear View Post
    You can watch the whole glorious mess of a film of the whole glorious mess of a rolling event on youtube here. I scanned it and didn't see that particular photographed scene. But I think the jam it's from is shown from ~19:00-21:00 - from a different vantage point and a different time than the still. Maybe some can identify more folks through viewing that. I concur with Ranald's assessment - definitely Danko. I thought that might be Richard Manuel seated behind him, but no - he was wearing a beard at the time. That may be Bob Weir's leg on the right.
    Thanks for the link, I’ll check it out when I get back to my room
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    I attempted some detective work by watching "Festival Express" again. I found that many musicians are not named, and others can't be seen even in the footage when they're backing up a singer. For instance, we never see all of Janis Joplin's "Full Tilt Boogie Band" (but then if I were a cameraperson, I'd be loathe to take the focus off Janis). Furthermore, there are numerous roadies, significant others, and festival workers on the train. Even a couple of uniformed CN (Canadian National Railway) employees are hanging out at one jam. So, what I did gather is that the guy with the beer seems to be a keyboard player, though I'm not sure what band he was with. The Zappa-looking lad may be one of Sha Na Na's many singers (what a big group -- how much were they getting paid?). The moustached fella to the right of Rick Danko may be the promoter, Ken Walker. I'm curious about the woman with the dreads. She looks contemporary. It was a rare hairstyle at the time.

    J.B., that's not Bob Weir's leg. Another photo shows that it belongs to a bearded man. Bob was clean-shaven at the time. For those interested in boots, it may belong to John Till, guitarist and leader of the Full Tilt Boogie Band or perhaps that's Jonathan Taplin. Added: Further research makes me think it's Taplin. See this link:
    https://www.facebook.com/JonathanTap...965698/?type=3
    Last edited by Ranald; Jan-20-2023 at 8:15pm.
    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Yes, well, I was being a wee bit facetious. And yes, it's Taplin. He makes that clear on his facebook page. Here's his photo, better definition.

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    Looking at that, I am unable to identify the fellow behind Danko, now smoking a cigarette. And I'm not 100% convinced that's Bill Kreutzmann at the back. But it could be.

    This thread has surely lived up to its billing - a hodgepodge, for sure. A regular, or irregular, miscellaneous mishmash, a goulashy gallimaufry, a patchwork potluck potpourri.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

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  17. #89
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Quote Originally Posted by journeybear View Post
    Looking at that, I am unable to identify the fellow behind Danko, now smoking a cigarette. And I'm not 100% convinced that's Bill Kreutzmann at the back. But it could be.
    I'm not either, though I still think that's Ken Walker with the cigarette.
    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Here are a few from the late 60's, Gramps Big Bill, Great Uncle Dick, Uncle Gene Johnson, Frank Wakefield and others. My old computer got fried and once I retrieve the files I have a load!

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  19. #91
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Great pics, William, especially like the pics of Frank. Your relatives were having a blast making music back in the day. Very cool.
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Quote Originally Posted by journeybear View Post
    This thread has surely lived up to its billing - a hodgepodge, for sure. A regular, or irregular, miscellaneous mishmash, a goulashy gallimaufry, a patchwork potluck potpourri.
    I'm a folkie at my roots JB, with the inclusion of Country, Gospel, Blues and Old World Trad under the big "Folk" umbrella. I started this thread to share photos that come mostly from the archive of Marina Jason. Her photos included many I had never see before like personal photos and backstage photos. Pictures that may otherwise be difficult or impossible to find. She hosted a group called "Folk Music ~ 1960's to the present" where her pics were shared from her personal collections, friends' collections, and ones she simply found online of interest to her.

    Marina was a friend to many of the big names in folk and folk rock. She worked as a manager and publicity agent for many acts in the Chicago folk scene beginning in the 1960s, but her friendships with some of the artists went way beyond the Chicago scene, she was very close to John Hartford, for instance. Really she knew just about everyone in the folk & folk rock music scene.

    I guess I'm writing these paragraphs as my little tribute to Marina. She passed away May 4, 2020.

    I have accumulated many photos from Marina's collection. I kept ones that interest me for one reason or another. Usually because they contain one or more artists I'm interested in, or they include a mandolin or other instrument that interests me. It is indeed quite a hodgepodge.
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    I met Roger Sprung about 15 years ago at the New Jersey Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association monthly show. He had watched my band on stage and asked if we wanted to jam and we did. When we were done I asked him his name, he was kind of laughing and everyone was looking at me like I had three heads. I didn't know who he was. He said "Roger Sprung like spring, sprang, sprung." I figured he'd been asked that question before.
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  24. #94
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Portrait sketch of Marina Jason by John Hartford:

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    A young Marina

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    R.I.P.
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Gunter View Post
    Portrait sketch of Marina Jason by John Hartford:
    A young Marina
    R.I.P.
    Thanks for sharing these, Mark. Marina was clearly a fine photographer.
    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Thanks for starting this thread and keeping it going. It's been a fun ride.

    I also have a couple of friends whose careers in the behind-the-scenes parts of the music business led them to meet all kinds of musicians. They've been doing much the same as you - going through their shoeboxes (figuratively and literally) and posting photos on facebook. That has also engendered many reminiscences from many people. Fascinating stuff.

    And I have my own memory of Roger Sprung. He would show up occasionally at a periodically-occurring hootenanny at a house in the country outside of New Haven. No idea why; he may have lived not far from there. My impression of him was that he was a genial fellow and a solid if unsurprising picker. And a relentless self-promoter, passing out notices of upcoming gigs. And yes, that "spring, sprang, sprung" routine. I think it wasn't until he'd been there a few times that someone tipped me off about his career and with whom he had played.
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Quote Originally Posted by journeybear View Post
    ...And I have my own memory of Roger Sprung. He would show up occasionally at a periodically-occurring hootenanny at a house in the country outside of New Haven. No idea why; he may have lived not far from there. My impression of him was that he was a genial fellow and a solid if unsurprising picker. And a relentless self-promoter, passing out notices of upcoming gigs. And yes, that "spring, sprang, sprung" routine. I think it wasn't until he'd been there a few times that someone tipped me off about his career and with whom he had played.
    I actually bought one of his learn to play banjo records off eBay a few years ago just to own it. There is another 70's banjo guy from this part of NJ that we see often named Dave Griffiths (D.W. Griffiths). I found his album "Workingman's Banjo" on Youtube recently that he recorded back when that meant something. The mandolin player on the LP was a guy named Andy Statman.
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  30. #98
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    I found his album "Workingman's Banjo" on Youtube recently that he recorded back when that meant something. The mandolin player on the LP was a guy named Andy Statman.
    How cool is that?
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  32. #99
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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    A few more folkie pics to top off my west coast morning

    The Seeger family in Beacon, New York in August of 1958. Left to right ~ Mika, Toshi, Tinya, Daniel and Pete Seeger

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    Pete Seeger and Libby Cotten

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    Leonard Cohen and Judy Collins

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    John Prine with journalist Mike Leonard

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    Default Re: Old photos - a hodgepodge of musicians - folkies +

    OK, serious hodgypodgy stuff here, centered on Eric Von Schmidt, my good friend, mentor, and bandmate - well, he was more of a guest musician in our jug band, but we did more 15-20 shows together.

    There's a long story behind the first two photos, which I've told around here a few times, so I'll spare you this time. (It's worth seeking out, if you like, just trying to maintain focus here.) Essentially, after several - or many - tries, I finally got Eric to a show by Lucinda. His 1964 album, "The Blues Project" (well before the band by that name), had been instrumental in introducing her to the blues while she was a teenager. He was a mythic figure to her. It turned out her bass player (and then-boyfriend) had known Eric while he was living in Sarasota, and had mentored him, steering from a path toward delinquency to music instead. So long story short, we conspired to get them to meet, and this was the night, at the Tarrytown Music Hall, in the Hudson Valley, 10/24/1998. In the second picture that's yours truly in my Righteous Babe Records hat (pre-Café), Eric, Richard Price (bass player), and Thom Wolke, show promoter. He's one of the people I mentioned who's been posting his shoebox contents. In fact, it was through that process that this picture got posted years ago, saying he didn't know who the guy on the left was. A mutual friend did, and said so, and tagged me. Quite a pleasant surprise. So, yes, random connections are one of the key elements of this world.

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    Photo #3 is from a gig in England, I think 1965, with Eric on mandolin, Bob Dylan, and maybe Mark Spoelstra on harmonica, right to left. Picture #4 is from the Club 47 Reunion concert at Boston Symphony Hall, 12/28-29/1984. I think that's Jim Rooney on guitar, Eric on harmonica, Maria Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur on mandolin, and Richard Greene on fiddle. That's probably Eric's mandolin. As far as I know, Geoff didn't own one, or at least didn't travel with one, as he'd typically play just a song or two on it, and borrow someone's for a gig. (That's a leap of faith; in my experience, if I go to a jam and don't bring mine, there won't be one.) He borrowed my banjolin once, at a workshop we did together at Winnipeg Folk Festival 1991, and put it in some odd open tuning - including the A strings in a third interval. Eric Weissberg was The Jug Band's utility guy, and when he saw my consternation, he said, "That's his 'Minglewood' tuning. Here, let me fix it for you." He tuned it perfectly in maybe 30 seconds. My running joke for years afterward was that I never had to tune it again, he did such a good job.

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    This picture board is from a presentation organized by his stepdaughter, who still lives in Sarasota. She hosts a picking party every month or so, and I finally managed to get there a few months ago, on my way back from my summer vacation. She gifted me this and a couple other items - a magnificent gift to me, but she was just cleaning house. Notice on the bottom left and center - Joan Baez, from a visit in 1965. Yes, Joan in a bikini. People used to visit him there, as well as at his apartment in Cambridge MA. His hospitality provided to travelling troubadours was instrumental in the successful operation of Club 47 there, the big folk music venue in town from the 1960s on. You name it, they crashed there. Including Dylan. Dylan visited him in Sarasota too, and there is a tape of them jamming and carrying on, in the middle of which is a rough draft version of "Mr. Tambourine Man," its first recording.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by journeybear; Jan-21-2023 at 1:53pm. Reason: just one more thing ...
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

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