A Final Alleluia For Those Artists Who Died In 2013

10 p.m. to Midnight Host: Steve Winters

It’s been our practice for one of the first shows of the New Year to return to the previous “old” year and to offer selections from some of the artists who died in the previous 12 months and represent the vast breadth and reach of folk and acoustic music. During the past calendar year, I featured several musical “in memoriam” portions of Profiles in Folk, but it always seems appropriate to offer what Sing Out magazine calls a “Last Chorus” before turning the page completely to a new year.

Among those we lost in 2013 were several “larger than life” performers including Richie Havens and country music’s George Jones. The world of traditional balladry and sea music lost a true treasure with the death of Louisa (nee Louis) Killen. Bluegrass music saw Doug Dillard and Jim Shumate, a Bluegrass Boy, among others, depart. From the world of blues, losses included Sid Selvidge of Memphis and Ann Rabson. Canada mourned several performers’ deaths, especially Rita MacNeil, a singular folk music star in that nation. Likewise, in America the passing in October of Faith Petric at 98 brought the demise of one of folk music’s most intense and lovely advocates.

  • Artist, "Title", Album, Label

  • Peter Ostroushko, “(Laid To Rest) Beneath Oklahoma Soil”, The Mandolin Chronicles, Red House

  • Robin Williamson & His Merry Band, “Port London Early”, American Stonehenge, Flying Fish/Edsel

  • Joe Burke/Andy McGann/Felix Dolan, “Apples In Winter/The Mooncoin”, A Tribute To Michael Coleman, Green Linnet

  • John Whelan, “The Ash Plant/My Love Is In America/McFadden’s Handsome Daughter”, From The Heart, Jar Productions

  • Robin Williamson & His Merry Band, “Her Scattered Gold”, American Stonehenge, Flying Fish/Edsel

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  • Richie Havens, “All Along The Watchtower”, Celebration (40th Philly Folk Festival), Sliced Bread

  • Richie Havens, “Follow”, Troubadours Of The Folk Era/Vol. 2, Rhino

  • Bob Brozman, “Vieux Kanyar Blues”, “It’s Mercy We Need”, Blues Reflex, Ruf Records

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  • George Jones, “The Grand Tour”, Classic Country Music IV, Smithsonian Collection

  • Ray Price, “For The Good Times”, Classic Country Music IV, Smithsonian Collection

  • George Jones, “He Stopped Loving Her Today”, Classic Country Music IV, Smithsonian Collection

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  • Louis Killen, “The Shoals Of Herring”, Sailors Ships & Chanteys, Knock-Out Records

  • Louis Killen, “The Trimdon Grange Explosion”, Along The Coaly Tyne, Topic Records

  • Rita MacNeil, “Black Rock”, Songs Of the Sea, Stephen MacDonald Productions

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  • Flatt & Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”, “Old Salty Dog Blues”, The Complete Mercury Sessions, Mercury

  • Bob Bovee & Gail Heil, “Old Buddies In The Saddle”, Old Time Music On The Air/Vol. 2, Rounder

  • Bob Bovee & Gail Heil, “Handsome Molly”, Rural Route 2, Marimac

  • The Dillards, “Somebody Touched Me”, There Is A Time, Vanguard

  • Doug Dillard, “Train 4500”, The Banjo Album, Sierra

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  • Saffire, “Tom Cat Blues”, Hot Flash, Alligator

  • Sid Selvidge, “Pearlee”, Twice Told Tales, Elektra Nonesuch

  • Childsplay, “The Last Alleluia”, As The Crow Flies, Childsplay Records