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Michael Hurley, hero of the US folk underground, dies aged 83 - lovely read
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/apr/04/michael-hurley-hero-of-the-us-folk-underground-dies-aged-83Michael Hurley, the American singer-songwriter whose unique path through the US folk scene made him an inspiration to generations of alternative musicians, has died aged 83.
A statement from the family announced his “recent sudden passing”, though no cause of death has been given. It added: “The ‘godfather of freak folk’ was for a prolific half-century the purveyor of an eccentric genius and compassionate wit … There is no other. Friends, family and the music community deeply mourn his loss.”
Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1941, Hurley was the son of an operetta director and travelled the country with him as a child. This itinerant nature continued into young adulthood, when he started out as a musician – hitchhiking one day he was picked up by folklorist Fred Ramsey, who ended up producing his debut album First Songs which was released on the storied US label Folkways in 1964. The label, now Smithsonian Folkways, has paid tribute, writing: “His wit and wild imagination, steadfast through the decades, are a beacon for singers and songwriters seeking to express the joys and fantastical idiosyncrasies of the world.”
Hurley spent time in New York’s flourishing folk-revival scene, home to the likes of Bob Dylan, but by his own admission didn’t have the drive to climb the music career ladder. “I didn’t enjoy the process of applying for gigs, that determination to penetrate things, all this trouble you had to go through,” he told the Guardian in 2021. “I preferred playing parties. Little gatherings. Drinking with friends, hopping across the river.”
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Mike Quinn, founder of No Quarter Records, said that Hurley had “just finished a new album. It was mastered the week before he died, and he was very proud of it (as he should be… it’s outstanding). Hopeful it will see the light of day soon.”
https://jamaicans.com/the-honorable-louise-miss-lou-bennett-coverley/
Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley, affectionately known as “Miss Lou,” was born on September 7, 1919, in Kingston, Jamaica. She became a household name and a cultural icon, recognised as a “Living Legend” in her home country. Miss Lou’s education was rooted in Jamaica, where she attended Ebenezer and Calabar Elementary Schools, St. Simon’s College, Excelsior College, and Friends College in Highgate. Her passion for Jamaican culture was evident from a young age, as she began writing dialect poetry at just fourteen years old.
Cultural Contributions and Impact
Miss Lou’s most profound impact was in her use of Jamaican Patois, a language that had often been dismissed as inferior. Through her poetry, she elevated Patois to a form of artistic expression that captured the essence of Jamaican life. She portrayed the joys, sorrows, wit, religion, and philosophy of Jamaicans through her verses, making her works relatable to all.
Described as “Jamaica’s leading comedienne” and “the only poet who has really hit the truth about her society through its own language,” Miss Lou was more than just a poet—she was a social commentator. Her poetry served as valid social documents, reflecting the way Jamaicans think, feel, and live.
International Recognition
In the late 1940s, Miss Lou earned a British Council Scholarship to study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. Her talent was undeniable; she not only received a scholarship but won it through audition. After graduating, she worked with repertory companies across the UK, performing in Coventry, Huddersfield, and Amersham, as well as in intimate revues.
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Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley, affectionately known as “Miss Lou,” was born on September 7, 1919, in Kingston, Jamaica. She became a household name and a cultural icon, recognised as a “Living Legend” in her home country. Miss Lou’s education was rooted in Jamaica, where she attended Ebenezer and Calabar Elementary Schools, St. Simon’s College, Excelsior College, and Friends College in Highgate. Her passion for Jamaican culture was evident from a young age, as she began writing dialect poetry at just fourteen years old.
Cultural Contributions and Impact
Miss Lou’s most profound impact was in her use of Jamaican Patois, a language that had often been dismissed as inferior. Through her poetry, she elevated Patois to a form of artistic expression that captured the essence of Jamaican life. She portrayed the joys, sorrows, wit, religion, and philosophy of Jamaicans through her verses, making her works relatable to all.
Described as “Jamaica’s leading comedienne” and “the only poet who has really hit the truth about her society through its own language,” Miss Lou was more than just a poet—she was a social commentator. Her poetry served as valid social documents, reflecting the way Jamaicans think, feel, and live.
International Recognition
In the late 1940s, Miss Lou earned a British Council Scholarship to study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. Her talent was undeniable; she not only received a scholarship but won it through audition. After graduating, she worked with repertory companies across the UK, performing in Coventry, Huddersfield, and Amersham, as well as in intimate revues.
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