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The Guardian
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Michael Hurley, hero of the US folk underground, dies aged 83
Michael 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.' He shuttled between jobs and locales – 'moccasin maker, carpenter, apple picker, tipi maker' was part of a long list of work he related in 2021 – but continued to put out music, eventually releasing more than 30 albums of material featuring his own cover illustrations (often populated by cartoon wolves). The shaggy, spirited energy of these genial records, backed by small ensembles and spanning straightforward folk as well as bluegrass and folk-rock, inspired numerous artists across US alternative music, from folk-leaning singer-songwriters such as Lucinda Williams and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy to alt-rockers such as Yo La Tengo. His most recent album is 2021's The Time of the Foxgloves, which was a return to original songwriting after 12 years away. He had performed concerts in recent days, in Tennessee and North Carolina. 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.'
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Hurley death: Greenwich Village outsider folk singer dies at 83
Michael Hurley, the singer-songwriter who emerged from the Greenwich Village folk scene in the 1960s and became an influential outsider artist, has died. He was 83. In addition to releasing over 30 albums, Hurley was also a cartoonist and painter. He often referred to himself by the nickname 'Snock.' In a statement to Rolling Stone, his family said: 'It is with a resounding sadness that the Hurley family announces the recent sudden passing of the inimitable Michael Hurley. 'The 'Godfather of freak folk' was for a prolific half-century the purveyor of an eccentric genius and compassionate wit. He alone was Snock. There is no other. Friends, family, and the music community deeply mourn his loss.' Hurley was born on December 20, 1941 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. By his early 20s he had found his way to Greenwich Village in New York City where he became a key figure on the burgeoning folk scene. He recorded his debut album, First Songs, for Folkways Records in 1963 and was championed by his friend and fellow singer-songwriter Jesse Colin Young, who died last month. When Young's band the Youngbloods landed their own label imprint, Racoon, he tracked down Hurley in Boston and encouraged him to record two further albums, 1971's Armchair Boogie and 1972's Hi Fi Snock Uptown. In 1976 he released perhaps his most acclaimed album, Have Moicy!, a collaboration with members of the Holy Modal Rounders. He continued to put out records consistently over the next four decades, releasing his final album The Time of the Foxgloves in 2021. During that time he travelled the United States extensively, living variously in New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, Vermont, Ohio, Florida and Oregon. He self-published several magazines, includingThe Underground Monthly, The Outcry, and The Morning Tea. His usually drew the artwork for his own albums, often featuring the cartoon werewolf characters Jocko and Boone. The pair, who were based on dogs Hurley's family had owned when he was a child, also starred in comic books that he created. He continued touring and performing right until the end of his life, and died shortly after returning home from the avant-garde Big Ears festival in Knoxville, Tennessee. He had three children with his ex wife, Marjorie: two sons, Jordan and Colorado, and a daughter, Daffodil. He had two more children with different mothers: a son, Rollin, with a girlfriend, Kim, and a daughter, Wilder Mountain Honey, with another girlfriend, Bethany.
The Independent
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Michael Hurley death: Greenwich Village outsider folk singer dies at 83
Michael Hurley, the singer-songwriter who emerged from the Greenwich Village folk scene in the 1960s and became an influential outsider artist, has died. He was 83. In addition to releasing over 30 albums, Hurley was also a cartoonist and painter. He often referred to himself by the nickname 'Snock.' In a statement to Rolling Stone, his family said: 'It is with a resounding sadness that the Hurley family announces the recent sudden passing of the inimitable Michael Hurley. 'The 'Godfather of freak folk' was for a prolific half-century the purveyor of an eccentric genius and compassionate wit. He alone was Snock. There is no other. Friends, family, and the music community deeply mourn his loss.' Hurley was born on December 20, 1941 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. By his early 20s he had found his way to Greenwich Village in New York City where he became a key figure on the burgeoning folk scene. He recorded his debut album, First Songs, for Folkways Records in 1963 and was championed by his friend and fellow singer-songwriter Jesse Colin Young, who died last month. When Young's band the Youngbloods landed their own label imprint, Racoon, he tracked down Hurley in Boston and encouraged him to record two further albums, 1971's Armchair Boogie and 1972's Hi Fi Snock Uptown. In 1976 he released perhaps his most acclaimed album, Have Moicy!, a collaboration with members of the Holy Modal Rounders. He continued to put out records consistently over the next four decades, releasing his final album The Time of the Foxgloves in 2021. During that time he travelled the United States extensively, living variously in New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, Vermont, Ohio, Florida and Oregon. He self-published several magazines, including The Underground Monthly, The Outcry, and The Morning Tea. His usually drew the artwork for his own albums, often featuring the cartoon werewolf characters Jocko and Boone. The pair, who were based on dogs Hurley's family had owned when he was a child, also starred in comic books that he created. He continued touring and performing right until the end of his life, and died shortly after returning home from the avant-garde Big Ears festival in Knoxville, Tennessee. He had three children with his ex wife, Marjorie: two sons, Jordan and Colorado, and a daughter, Daffodil. He had two more children with different mothers: a son, Rollin, with a girlfriend, Kim, and a daughter, Wilder Mountain Honey, with another girlfriend, Bethany.
