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**Dave Van Ronk** *Born: June 30, 1936, Brooklyn, NY, USA* *Died: February 10, 2002, New York City, NY, USA* Nicknamed the "Mayor of MacDougal Street," Dave Van Ronk was a prominent figure in the New York City folk scene. He arrived at Washington Square Park in the mid-1950s during the folk revival, living hand-to-mouth while teaching himself guitar and engaging in communist political circles. By 1958, he and a lifelong friend released their first album, "Skiffle in Stereo," as members of a group. After a stint in the Merchant Marine and extensive gigging in cabarets, Van Ronk settled in Greenwich Village. Referred to as “the great, grizzled guitarist,” Van Ronk's music defied classification. A self-described ‘moldy fig,’ he blended dixieland jazz, ragtime, blues, and vaudeville, often clashing with the commercial music industry's format. He noted, "I've always been inconsistent," and followed the principle of trying anything he liked. Although more of an arranger than a songwriter, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers in December 1997. Van Ronk debuted on a label in the early 1960s, later collaborating with Dixieland revivalists and releasing his sole rock album at the

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