Via NYU Archives
Opening officially on January 26, 1960, Bob Dylan played his first professional gig here in 1961. He opened for John Lee Hooker. Logan English, a local singer and poet was instrumental in getting Dylan his first appearance. His widow Barbara Shutner said:
“My husband Logan English and I met Bob Dylan at Bob and Sid Gleason’s house… One night we were all sitting around and Woody [Guthrie] said something like, “Play something” to this kid sitting on the couch. The kid was Bob Dylan, and he sang and it was just beautiful. So Logan said, “I’m working at Gerde’s. I’m the MC. We’ll get you to play there.” So that Monday night, Bob came in and did his first set.” (Quoted in John Bauldie, Wanted Man: In Search of Bob Dylan, London, 1990, p. 37.)
Gerde’s became one of the best known music venues of the time, helping to launch the careers of several world-renowned musical acts. It became one of the top music clubs in America before finally losing its lease in 1987. “Rolling Stone Book of Lists” called Folk City one of the three top music venues in the world, along with The Cavern and CBGB.
Other Notable Concerts Played At Gerde’s Folk City:
2/13/1986 – They Might Be Giants
1/29/1986 – The Smithereens
8/17/1984 – T-Bone Burnett
10/7/1983 – Big Mama Thornton
3/11/1983 – Rick Danko
10/23/1975 – Patti Smith Group
2/18/1965 – Simon & Garfunkel
1/29/1964 – John Lee Hooker
4/29/1962 – Bob Dylan
8/18/1961 – Peter Yarrow
8/11/1961 – Judy Collins
Some Of The Artists That Played Here Include:
Joan Baez
Pat Benatar
The Band
Johnny Cash
T-Bone Burnett
Harry Chapin
Elvis Costello
David Crosby
John Denver
The Mamas and The Papas
The Byrds
Arlo Guthrie
Tim Hardin
Richie Havens,
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
Jimi Hendrix
John Lee Hooker
Janis Ian
Janis Joplin
Al Kooper
Melissa Manchester
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Melanie
Bette Midler
Liza Minnelli
the Minutemen
Joni Mitchell
Linda Ronstadt
Carly Simon
Simon and Garfunkel (as Kane & Garr)
Patti Smith
Phoebe Snow
The Smithereens
Steely Dan
10,000 Maniacs
Muddy Waters
The Youngbloods
Gerde’s Folk City
11 W 4th St
New York NY 10012
My brother, Hank Blair, knew Michael Mann and spent a lot of time with him. Hank wrote about Mann in his journal. He mentioned what a great guitar player Michael Mann was. Like Mann, my brother also played the Greenwich Village scene but arrived a little later in 1965 – 66. Hank was a very troubled individual. He drank excessively and wandered the Village… once in central park, screaming songs all night into the morning hours, on guitar and harmonica. Hank wrote songs also. He was a very good artist. He came to his own as a visual artist moreso than with music. He made a record in one of the area indie companies. Judging from Hank’s writings, he and Mann hung out together and jammed a lot. Hank also met Bob Dylan. In Hank’s journal, he wrote about a time when he was having an episode of hearing voices and having paranoid delusions. Bob drove him to the hospital, which was a very kind thing for him to do, especially during his busy career and rise to fame at that time. Anyway, that’s only part of the story. There’s much about Michael Mann and Hank Blair that I’ll never know, because much detail was left out. Hank wrote a lot more in his journal about the many people he met and hung out with. Hank also went by several monikers, such as “Richard Dean”, “Byrdman”, and “Wizard Hank”. My brother ran away and disappeared many times in his life to escape the pressures of his tormented mind. Right now, I’m trying to find out what happened to Hank. The last time he was seen was in Kalamazoo Michigan, 1977. My parents never filed a missing person’s report on Hank. I assumed they did because of all the worry and effort all the adults in my family put into locating him. Last year, (2024 August) I filed a missing person’s report w/ the state police of Michigan and gave them a DNA sample to match for any possible remains that could be found on Hank. I’ve also written a book about my life and times, and it comprises the story of my brother and my time with him.
We were very close, but our time was cut short by the circumstances I describe. I think my father may have murdered Hank. In my father’s mind it was a mercy kill, and indeed Hank suffered tremendously from schizophrenia. My father also had PTSD. It’s a very involved very strange story of abuse and trauma. There’s much more to my story in my personal life as well, with my conversion and life experiences, soon to be published in my book. If anyone ever met my brother, please let me know. My email is blairs67@yahoo.com. Thanks and God bless! – Kevin
Out In this sea of mass robotic ai strangeness, I’m searching to connect with any surviving like-minds and hearts who love the Good Lord! Kevin.
PS. Does anyone know of any recordings or phonograph records of Hank Blair or Mike Mann? Or maybe both in a band?
PSS. Check out this article written about Michael Mann by Galal Chater:
Galal Chater – Medium
Galal Chater – Medium
Read writing from Galal Chater on Medium. Short stories only… but really short