Monday Music: Remembering David Crosby

When you see the southern cross for the first time, you know you have crossed into another realm. When you hear David Crosby's harmonies, you know he can transport you to another musical realm.  We lost David Crosby last week. He was 81 years old.

Listen to Jason Isbell's introduction to "Ohio", and you'll see why we remember. RIP David Crosby.

 

David Crosby had been one of the founding members of The Byrds. Here they are on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1965 singing their hit, "Turn, Turn, Turn" (written by Pete Seeger).

 

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Monday Music: American Tune (Rhiannon Giddens and Paul Simon)

At the Newport Folk Festival this year, Rhiannon Giddens joins Paul Simon to sing his signature song, "American Tune."  Giddens sings a new version of the last verse about the Mayflower and completely transforms the song into a more deeply American tune.

 

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Monday Music: With God on Our Side (Dylan and Baez)

This month, as we look toward Bob Dylan's 80th birthday, I am looking at some of his duets. This one is from the 1963 Newport Folk Festival with Joan Baez joining Bob singing "With God on Our Side."

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Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival

Bob Dylan's early days at the Newport Folk Festival. One fascinating thing thing about this video is that you can catch a glimpse of the legendary Doc Watson sitting behind Bob (around .53 and again around 2.0 min).

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Monday Music: Mr. Tamburine Man

 I love the informality of this peek at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964. Pete Seeger introduces Bob Dylan using one of the fables Dylan spun about himself back in the early days of his career. Seegar then sits down in a folding chair by the small stage while Dylan performs "Tambourine Man." As I watched this view from the early days, I realized that Dylan was better at the harmonica than I thought he was and he gave quite a dynamic performance.

Countdown to Bob Dylan's Birthday: Dylan at Newport

The New York Post published a brief article by Larry Getlen, "Bob's rock 'n' roll riot," about a film which documents Dylan's break with the acoustic folk music scene:

“By 1964, Bob Dylan was so revered at the Newport Folk Festival that he freely walked the festival grounds with his girlfriend, Joan Baez, while randomly cracking a bullwhip. One year later, the festival whipped him back.”  Read the entire article here.



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