Richard Farina
b. 1937, Brooklyn, New York, USA, d. 30 April 1966. A songwriter, novelist and political activist, Farina was drawn into folk music following his marriage to singer Carolyn Hester. Their ill-starred relationship ended in 1961 when, following a European tour, Richard decided to remain ‘in exile’ to work on his first novel BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME. It was during this time that Farina's first recordings were made. DICK FARINA & ERIC VON SCHMIDT, the product of a two-day session in the cellar of London's Dobell's Jazz Shop, also featured an impromptu appearance by Bob Dylan, masquerading under his celebrated pseudonym, Blind Boy Grunt. Richard returned to America in 1963 where he married Mimi Baez, the sister of folksinger Joan Baez. The couple began performing together and were latterly signed to the prestigious Vanguard label. Their two superb albums were released in 1965, the first of which, CELEBRATION FOR A GREY DAY, included Richard's classic song, Pack Up Your Sorrows. BEEN DOWN SO LONG was published in 1966, but its author was killed in a motorbike crash during a celebratory party. Farina's death robbed a generation of an excellent writer and gifted musician.