Sept 8, 2010

Irwin Silber, who as founding editor of the small but influential magazine Sing Out became a towering figure in the 1960s American folk music renaissance that brought Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie and numerous others to prominence, has died at age 84.

Read more at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/10/AR2010091006607.html

“He became interested in folk music because of his interest in society and how music and culture worked together.” - Barbara Dane

NYTimes Obit

LATimes Obit

Wikipedia Entry

Mudcat Obit

Another good man is gone.

Just yesterday I received notice of the 60th Anniversary celebration of Sing Out! taking place Oct 3 in Philadelphia.  No doubt Silber’s life will be celebrated there.

Silber founded Sing Out! in 1950 with legendary folk singer Pete Seeger and others. It became an influential publication that covered 1950s stars such as Seeger and Woody Guthrie, then in the ‘60s included such upcoming artists as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and many others. It also provided a political avenue for Silber, a longtime left-wing writer.