IN MEMORIAM
Winthrop H.K. Dahl
John Hartford
Davy Steele
Sandy Bull
Boozoo Chavis
IN MEMORIAM
Winthrop H.K. Dahl
John Hartford
Davy Steele
Sandy Bull
Boozoo Chavis
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Winthrop H.K. Dahl
Dirty Linen has lost a friend. Following a three-year illness, Winthrop H.K. Dahl passed on April 1, at the age of 38. Dahl was a longtime contributor to Dirty Linen's pages. For more than a decade, he wrote countless music reviews on a wide range of genres. Dahl's knowledge of music, cultural music in particular, was near encyclopedic. Greek pop music, Algerian raï, reggae, 70s disco, The Clash, Dick Gaughan, Thomas Mapfumo, Richard Thompson, Juluka, Ferron, and a host of others — all were among his favorites. He was a brilliant writer and always presented informed and honest reviews of music, taking extra time to research topics or artists he was unfamiliar with. Each piece of music was greeted with the same fair approach and open mind.
Aside from his work for Dirty Linen, Dahl taught Latin and French at Nashoba Regional High School near his Clinton, Massachusetts, home. There, he brought his passion for music to the classroom. I can remember him telling of his students' excited reaction when he played the music of French-speaking African reggae artist Alpha Blondy for his French students. Dahl was a popular teacher as well as an organizer for the students' Amnesty International group. He loved to travel and often chaperoned for student trips abroad, most recently visiting Egypt with a group of teenage students. Dahl gave of himself freely and without hesitation. His time, his money, and his talents, all were things he felt compelled to share with others. As a longtime friend, I can attest to his kindness and generosity. Perhaps the greatest legacy Winthrop left behind were his examples of living: thoughtfulness, tolerance, compassion for others, a seemingly unquenchable thirst for learning, and desire to share his knowledge. Winthrop taught by word and by deed, and I hope to humbly follow his example. All of us at Dirty Linen will miss him... — Annette C. Eshleman
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The great Creole accordionist Danny Poullard passed away in April of a massive heart attack. He was 63 years old. Poullard spent the last 20 years playing in the California Cajun Orchestra. His life and music were celebrated by his friends on May 5 at the Ashkenaz in Berkeley, California.
Sandy Bull, one of the first musicians to mix various world-music influences together, died last April in Nashville. He was 60. Bull pioneered "world music" before the term was invented. He played electric and acoustic guitar and the 11-string oud and blended classical, jazz, folk, Indian, and Middle Eastern influences. His first two recordings, Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo (released in 1963) and its followup, Inventions were considered his best work. He also released two others on the Vanguard label. Though his career was sidetracked by his struggle with drugs, he returned to performing after he recovered, but never met with the same success. Bull battled health problems in recent years, including lung cancer in 1996. A website at www.sandybull.com contains old articles and interviews and sells his older recordings, as well as his most current works, Steel Tears, Vehicles, and the Vanguard retrospective, Re-Inventions: Best of the Vanguard Years.
The respected and influential kora player Amadou Bansang Jobarteh died in Gambia in April. He was in his mid-80s. Jobarteh was the uncle of Mali's Sidiki Diabate (the father of Toumani Diabate), and one of the last notable figures of the Jali generation. His most recent recording is Tabara on the Music of the World label.
Boozoo Chavis 1930-2001
One of zydeco's final first-generation ties was severed on Saturday, May 5 with the passing of legend Wilson Anthony "Boozoo" Chavis. The 70-year-old accordionist, singer, bandleader, and patriarch of Louisiana zydeco died in Austin, Texas, a week after suffering a heart attack and a stroke. Chavis had just played the Louisiana Swamp Romp in Austin, when he later suffered a mild heart attack. After being admitted to a local hospital, he suffered a major stroke.
Chavis first came into prominence in 1954 with one of zydeco's earliest hits, "Paper in My Shoe," recorded at Eddie Shuler's Goldband Studios in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Disenchanted with the lack of financial success, Chavis quit the music business in 1960 and opted for a career as a racehorse trainer. It wouldn't be until 25 years later that he resumed playing, this time with sons Charles and Rellis, as Boozoo Chavis and the Magic Sounds.
His raw, bluesy, jangly, loose sound laid the foundation of the 90s zydeco groove that emphasized simple accordion riffs and a pumped-up low end. Countless bands — including Zydeco Force, Beau Jocque, Keith Frank, Step Rideau, and Chris Ardoin — all hailed Chavis as zydeco's patron saint and remained staunch disciples in Boozoo-ism as they drew younger crowds to packed dancehalls.
A little sparkplug of a man, Chavis was known for his feisty, cantankerous exterior, while inside, there was nobody with a softer heart. "He treats me like a son every time I go see him," recalled the late Beau Jocque, who on several occasions staged "wrestling match" publicity stunts with Chavis.
In 1993, Chavis was anointed King of Zydeco according to the wishes of Rockin' Dopsie, who died that same year. (Dopsie was the self-proclaimed heir to the throne of founding father Clifton Chenier.) Chavis' contributions to the repertoire are many, as he often wrote about common, everyday topics from where he lived ("Dog Hill") to stories about family members ("Lula Lula Don't You Go to Bingo").
As per their father's wishes and in the tradition of many family zydeco bands, the Magic Sounds will continue under the direction of son Poncho on accordion.
Sadly, zydeco has no more kings.
— Dan Willging
A three-time Grammy award winner, he certainly made enough royalties from "Gentle on My Mind" to seek whatever path he wanted to musically. He concentrated on the things he loved—playing traditional music, collecting original fiddle tune manuscripts, and being a licensed riverboat pilot.
Born John Cowan Harford in New York City, he was raised in St. Louis, along the Mississippi River. He began playing banjo and fiddle in his teens and later picked up the guitar as well. As he completed high school, Hartford wanted to pursue a career as a boat pilot or a musician.
He moved to Nashville in 1965, and his first album, John Hartford Looks at Life, was released the following year. "Gentle on My Mind" was from Earthwords & Music, released in 1967. The song was a multimillion-dollar smash for Glen Campbell and was covered by hundreds of other musicians. In 1971, Hartford released the landmark acoustic album Aereo-Plain, with dobro player Tut Taylor, fiddler Vassar Clements, and guitarist Norman Blake, setting the stage for progressive bluegrass. Most recently, Hartford was one of the performers on the hit soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Last summer, at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Hartford clearly was wracked by cancer. But his musical spirit propelled him. He played, taking breaks during his sets to sit at the rear of the stage as band members played solos. When he sang, he popped throat lozenges to soothe the effects of his therapy. He assured the audience that he was going to be OK and going to be around for a while.
