Eric Von Schmidt, guitarist, painter, early 60's folk legend, dead at 75

[Ken Burch]

Von Schmidt, whose work appeared on or around(as cover art)many of the seminal albums of the Folk Revival, has died in a convalescent home in Connecticut. His death was several days ago, but has just now been announced.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/05/obit.vonschmidt.ap/index.html

Some of us think HIS life mattered too.

[oasis]

1. Rest in peace, Eric.

[Dr Fate]

2. Baby Let me follow you down.

RIP-Eric.

Yes- there IS a such thing as pop-culture that actually matters. Thanks for pointing that out.

[enigmatic]

3. Oh No

Eric was a brilliant artist and a pretty damn good guitar player, too.

I know this won't get a tenth of the posts Anna Nicole Smith's will, but Eric was one the true good souls in life.

RIP Eric.

[Hand]

4. Joshua gone Barbados...

Joshua Gone Barbados
(Eric Von Schmidt)

Cane standing in the fields getting old and red
Lot of misery in Georgetown, three men lying dead
And Joshua, head of the government, he say strike for better pay
Cane cutters are striking, Joshua gone away.
Joshua gone Barbados, staying in a big hotel
People on St. Vincent they got many sad tales to tell.

Sugar mill owner told the strikers, I don't need you to cut my cane
Bring in another bunch of fellows, strike be all in vain.
Get a bunch of tough fellows, bring 'em from Zion Hill
Bring 'em in a bus to Georgetown, know somebody get killed.

And Sonny Child the overseer, I swear he's an ignorant man
Walking through the canefield, pistol in his hand
But Joshua gone Barbados, just like he don't know
People on the Island, they got no place to go.

Police giving protection, new fellows cutting the cane
Strikers can't do nothing, strike be all in vain
And Sonny Child he curse the striking, wave his pistol 'round
They're beating Sonny with a cutlass, beat him to the ground.
There's a lot of misery in Georgetown, you can hear the women bawl
Joshua gone Barbados, he don't care at all.

Cane standing in the fields getting old and red
Sonny Child in the hospital, pistol on his bed
I wish I could go to England, Trinidad or Curacao
People on the Island they got no place to go.

Safe journey, Eric--and Thank You. :cry: :applause:

[Ken Burch]

5. Thanks for posting that.

This is a huge loss and we should remember the man and his music today.

[otherlander]

6. ...

:cry:

[enigmatic]

7. More about Eric

http://www.wirz.de/music/vonscfrm.htm

[Zensea]

8. Well, actually he died a few days ago

but I do see your point and actually own some vinyl by him and Richard Farina with Blind Boy Grunt (aka Bob Dylan) as guest artist ...

[enigmatic]

9. I love Richard and Mimi Farina's stuff

I grew to love the mountain dulcimer after listening to their records...

[Ken Burch]

10. If you haven't read it, you should check out "Positively 4th Street"

Which is a book that deals with the transition from folk to folk-rock by looking at the Dylan-Joan Baez and Richard and Mimi Farina relationships.

It has some great Von Schmidt stories as well.

[enigmatic]

11. I gotta get that

I have to read Richard's novel again, too; it's been years....

[retread]

14. I had the one with a washtub bass on it. I should see if it's reissued on cd

because the vinyl I have is unplayable.

[enigmatic]

12. kick and some more links

More links about Eric:

http://www.richardandmimi.com/eric.html

http://www.richardandmimi.com/eric-linernotes.html

http://www.bobdylanroots.com/schmidt.html

[GCP]

13. Baby Let Me Follow You Down

Bob Dylan's first album

First heard this from ric von schmidt. he lives in cambridge.
Rics a blues guitar player.
I met him one day on the green pastures of the harvard university.

Baby let me follow you down
Baby let me follow you down
Well Ill do anything in this godalmighty world
If you just let me follow you down.

Can I come home with you
Baby can I come home with you?
Yes Ill do anything in this godalmighty world
If you just let me come home with you.

Baby let me follow you down
Baby let me follow you down
Well Ill do anything in this godalmighty world
If you just let me follow you down.

Yes Ill do anything in this godalmighty world
If you just let me follow you down.

[alfredo]

15. Goodbye old friend. You helped me survive the sixties.

With Maria Muldaur.

[newyawker99]

16. Rest in Peace Eric.

[WinkyDink]

17. never mind.