Description: (Former folk singer who who was an important figure during the acoustic folk revival of the 1960s)
David Kenneth Ritz Van Ronk was a highly influential American folk singer celebrated for his wide-ranging musical repertoire that included old English ballads, blues, gospel, rock, jazz, and swing. He played a significant role in the American folk music revival and the Greenwich Village scene during the 1960s, earning the moniker "Mayor of MacDougal Street." Van Ronk was a revered mentor and champion of up-and-coming folk artists, such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Phil Ochs. His unique arrangements and performances had a lasting impact on the folk music genre.