Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – July 21, 2026: Dave Van Ronk at 90

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/595/76339.html

Theme: Dave Van Ronk at 90.

Dave Van Ronk – who died in 2002 at age 65 while battling cancer – would have turned 90 three weeks ago on June 30. Dave – who grew up in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens – arrived in Greenwich Village in the 1950s where he began playing in the early folk clubs. He was a great guitarist and influential singer with a wide-ranging repertoire that moved seamlessly between folk, blues, jazz, cabaret and much more. He was a friend and mentor to generations of musicians who followed him in the village – most notably, Bob Dylan. And, not just musicians. I consider the late nights I spent on Dave’s couch in the Village, and the nights I spent with him in my apartment in Montreal in the 1970s and ‘80s, talking about music and arguing about politics to be essential parts of my education.

MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village was the center of the Greenwich Village folk scene and Dave became affectionately known as The Mayor of MacDougal Street – which was also the title of the memoir that Dave was working on with Elijah Wald at the time of his death. Elijah finished the book writing in Dave’s voice and I think it’s one of the best books ever about the ‘60s folk scene.

Dave Van Ronk- Losers

Going Back to Brooklyn (HighTone)

Jim Byrnes- He was a Friend of Mine

Everywhere West (Black Hen Music)

Susan Werner- House of the Rising Sun

NOLA: Susan Werner Goes to New Orleans (Sleeve Dog)

Bill Morrissey & Greg Brown- Hang Me, Oh Hang Me

Inside (Philo)

Dave Van Ronk- The Pearls 

Sunday Street (Philo)

Deborah Robins- Tell Old Bill

Lone Journey (Zippety Whippet Music) 

Dave Van Ronk- Teddy Bears’ Picnic

Songs for Ageing Children (Cadet)

David Massengill- Dave Van Ronk’s Last Cigar

Dave on Dave: A Tribute to Dave Van Ronk (Gadfly)

Dave Van Ronk- Somebody Else, Not Me

Somebody Else, Not Me (Philo)

Elijah Wald- That’ll Never Happen No More

Street Corner Cowboys (Black Rose)

Durham County Poets- St. James Infirmary 

Hand Me Down Blues (Durham County Poets)

Dave Van Ronk & Christine Lavin- I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

Hummin’ to Myself (Gazell)

Bruce Brackney A.K.A. Haywire Brack- Another Time and Place

Case History (Pilgrims Rest)

Dave Van Ronk & The Red Onion Jazz Band- Hesitation Blues

Two Sides of Dave Van Ronk (Fantasy)

Tom Russell- Van Ronk (with Dave Van Ronk singing a fragment of Sportin’ Life Blues)

Hotwalker (HighTone)

Dave Van Ronk- Mack the Knife 

Let No One Deceive You: Songs of Bertolt Brecht (Flying Fish)

Dave Van Ronk- That Song About the Midway 

Sunday Street (Philo)

Peter, Paul & Mary featuring Dave Van Ronk- Wanderin’/Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out

LifeLines (Warner Bros.)

Hans Theessink- Green, Green Rocky Road

Songs from the Southland (Blue Groove)

Dave Van Ronk- Did You Hear John Hurt?

…and the tin pan bended, and the story ended… (Smithsonian Folkways)

Tom Paxton- The Mayor of MacDougal Street 

Redemption Road (Pax)

Dave Van Ronk- Last Call 

Going Back to Brooklyn (HighTone)

Next week: Baseball.

--Mike Regenstreif