RIP Michael Hurley (1941 - 2025)
A 2+ hour introduction to the eccentric master of American folk song.
Michael Hurley: old, weird America at its finest.
Just last month I was speaking about Michael Hurley — among the most delightfully eccentric, wise and naughty voices in modern American folk music — who passed this week at the age of 83. His name came up in the course of my conversation with Liz Mitchell and Dan Littleton of Ida, kindred musicians who knew him well and recorded a wonderful LP with him in 2009, Ida Con Snock.
What Greil Marcus refers to as “the old, weird America,” Michael Hurley channeled, like a championship spirit medium, for 60+ years, as both a recording artist and performer.
A preternaturally talented kid from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who wound up in New York City during the ‘60s folk revival, he fit the part but flipped the script, connecting with some of the scene’s latter-day oddballs — most prominently the Holy Modal Rounders, who in his company became the Unholy Modal Rounders — but ultimately following his own muse. He released dozens of records on labels large and small (including his own Bellemeade Phonics), selling a few along the way, admired by generations of songwriters. He also worked a lot of day jobs.
When the revival-and-reinvention-minded musical movement christened “freak folk” began bubbling up in the mid-’00s, Hurley was among the elder statesmen implicated.
And here we are.
You can purchase his recordings on his Bandcamp page, which includes vinyl pressings of the recent victory lap Sweetkorn, among other lovelies.
I’ve also put together a two-hour primer playlist, below (on multiple platforms), which includes covers of his work by admirers (Cat Power, Calexico, Cass McCombs, Yo La Tengo, Hiss Golden Messenger) and his own songs, dating back to his 1964 Folkways debut — the sound of a very old soul in a 20-something-year-old body. It served him well, and us, too. Safe journey, friend.
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YouTube Music users click here.
PS — If you want to go deeper:
Thanks for sharing this. Saw him a few years ago at Brooklyn Folk Fest, and just missed him at Big Ears.
I had the Pleasure to see him in Zürich in the 90ties. Great Night!