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| Jimmy LaFave |
Jimmy was a beloved figure in the folk and roots music community.
Respected by his peers and audiences as a major contemporary songwriter, and as
a song interpreter with a unique gift of communicating all of the meaning and
subtext within a song. Jimmy, perhaps more than anyone I can think of, had a
brilliant understanding of where folk music, rock ‘n’ roll, blues, country, jazz
and popular song all met seamlessly and authentically. He was a leader and
mentor to many in his hometown music community in Austin, Texas and a touring
and recording artist who made many friends wherever he went. I know, I was one
of them.
I started playing Jimmy’s music on the Folk Roots/Folk Branches
radio show in Montreal in 1995 and I’m not sure when I first met him. It was
probably at a Folk Alliance conference or festival around that time or,
perhaps, when he started coming to Montreal to play club concerts produced by
Billy Bob Productions. We bonded quickly over a shared love for the songs of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. Jimmy was one of the greatest interpreters of both
Dylan and Guthrie.
Jimmy’s shows in Montreal in the late-1990s and early-2000s were
great, whether he was fronting a full rock ‘n’ roll band or a smaller acoustic
trio, and I so enjoyed having him as a guest on my radio show in 2000 during one
of his trips to Montreal.
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| Mike Regenstreif, Nora Guthrie, Kris Kristofferson, Jimmy LaFave |
Jimmy was at the forefront of “Ribbon of Highway, Endless Skyway,” a
touring ensemble with a rotating cast of artists who did a very special tribute
to Woody Guthrie. They brought the show to the Ottawa Folk Festival in 2007 and
it was a great honor for me to moderate a panel discussion at the festival on
the enduring legacy and influence of Woody Guthrie with Jimmy, fellow artist Kris Kristofferson, and Nora Guthrie, Woody’s daughter and the
force of nature behind so many incredible Woody Guthrie projects. It was one of
my favorite things I’ve ever done at a folk festival.
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| Finale of the Woody Guthrie tribute at the Kansas City Folk Festival |
I saw Jimmy perform twice in Kansas City. The first was an official showcase of his own music during the conference. Although Jimmy was well into his battle with terminal cancer his performance was fabulous. The next day, at the Kansas City Folk Festival, Jimmy led an absolutely wonderful tribute to Woody Guthrie.
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| Mike Regenstreif and Jimmy LaFave |
Some of Jimmy’s friends, led by Val
Denn, Jimmy’s long-time agent, Eliza
Gilkyson and Christine Albert
organized a concert – “Jimmy LaFave’s Songwriter Rendezvous” – which took place
in Austin last Thursday night. It was Jimmy, himself, who chose the artists and
requested the songs they performed. Eliza arranged for the concert to be streamed
on Facebook and it was one of the most emotional nights of music I’ve ever
witnessed – even though I was watching it from 1900 miles away over the
Internet. The concert was a beautiful testimony to what Jimmy
meant to so many people.
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| Christine Albert helps hold the mic for Jimmy LaFave |
Jimmy came out on stage – in a wheel chair and connected to an
oxygen tank – to lead the final song, “Goodnight Irene,” and address the
audience. It had been just three months since I stood at Jimmy’s side and to
see the difference in him, wrought by the cancer, was heartbreaking. But to
feel the love coming from Jimmy was inspirational. Just three days later he
passed away.
Jimmy LaFave will not be forgotten.
Find me on Twitter. twitter.com/@mikeregenstreif
And on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif
And on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif
