Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – January 7, 2025: Remembering Josh White, Jr. , Alan Senauke and David Mallett


Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif finds connections and develops themes in various genres. The show is broadcast on CKCU, 93.1 FM, in Ottawa on Tuesdays from 3:30 until 5 pm (Eastern time) and is also available 24/7 for on-demand streaming.

This episode of Stranger Songs was recorded and can be streamed on-demand, now or anytime, by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/68479.html

Theme: Remembering Josh White, Jr. (1940-2024), Alan Senauke (1947-2024) and David Mallett (1951-2024).

The theme on this edition of Stranger Songs is Remembering Josh White Jr., Alan Senauke and David Mallett, three old friends who passed away last month. I’d known all three of them since the 1970s and all of them had played at the Golem, the Montreal folk club I ran in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Josh White, Jr. died on December 28 at age 84. Josh – who was affectionately known as Donny off stage – began his career at age 4 when his father, Josh White, the legendary blues and folk singer and guitarist, began bringing the young boy up on stage to perform a song or two with him. Josh White Jr. had a remarkable career that literally spanned 80 years. Josh was a wonderful performer of folk and blues material and a masterful interpreter of his father’s repertoire.


Josh White, Jr.- Say a Prayer for a Stranger
Live at the Raven Gallery (Silverwolf)

Josh White, Jr.- The Dutchman
Live at the Raven Gallery (Silverwolf)
Josh White, Jr.- It’s Chilly Out Tonight
Live at the Raven Gallery (Silverwolf)
Josh White, Jr.- Cortelia Clark
Cortelia Clark (Silverwolf)
Josh White, Jr.- One Meatball
Live at the Raven Gallery (Silverwolf)

Josh White, Jr. & Robin Batteau- St. James Infirmary
Jazz, Ballads & Blues (Ryko)

I first met Alan Senauke – who died on December 22 at age 77 – in the late-1970s when he was the editor of Sing Out, the authoritative folk music magazine, and performing with Howie Tarnower as The Fiction Brothers. He was also a member of several other groups including The Blue Flame Stringband – with Kate Brislin and Suzy & Eric Thompson – and a solo artist.


Country Cooking with The Fiction Brothers
- The Harder They Come
Country Cooking with The Fiction Brothers (Flying Fish)
Country Cooking with The Fiction Brothers- Joe Hill’s Will
Country Cooking with The Fiction Brothers (Flying Fish)
Alan Senauke- Wise County Jail
Wooden Man: Old Songs from the Southern School (Native and Fine)
Alan Senauke- Meeting is Over
Wooden Man: Old Songs from the Southern School (Native and Fine)

Blue Flame String Band- Blues Stay Away from Me
Blue Flame String Band (Flying Fish)

David Mallett was a gifted singer and songwriter from Maine who died on December 17 at age 73. In addition to his own recordings and performances, David’s songs were widely sung and recorded by many other artists.


David Mallett
- Fire
Inches & Miles 1977-1980 (Flying Fish)
Peter, Paul & Mary- Garden Song
Around the Campfire (Warner Bros.)
Miscellaney of Folk- Moon Upon the Left
Atlantic Sounds (Miscellaney of Folk)
Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy- Ballad of St. Anne’s Reel
The Makem & Clancy Collection (Shanachie)
David Mallett- Dulcimer
Inches & Miles 1977-1980 (Flying Fish)

David Mallett- Open Doors & Windows
Open Doors & Windows (Flying Fish)
Kathy Mattea- Summer of My Dreams
Time Passes By (Mercury)
Priscilla Herdman- Thanks to Mother Mercy
Seasons of Change (Flying Fish)

David Mallett- Hope for One and All
…In the Falling Dark (Vanguard)

Next week: Remembering Peter Yarrow.

--Mike Regenstreif