Dave Van Ronk (1936-2002) was one of the founding figures of the 1960s folk revival, but he was far more than that. A pioneer of modern acoustic blues, a fine songwriter and arranger, a powerful singer, and one of the most influential guitarists of the '60s, he was also a marvelous storyteller, a peerless musical historian, and one of the most quotable figures on the Village scene. 'The Mayor of MacDougal Street' is a first-hand account by a major player in the social and musical history of the '50s and '60s. It features encounters with young stars-to-be like Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, and Joni Mitchell, as well as older luminaries like Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, and Odetta. Colorful, hilarious, and engaging, 'The Mayor of MacDougal Street' is a feast for anyone interested in the music, politics, and spirit of a revolutionary period in American culture.

Includes index.

Prehistory : youth in the outer boroughs -- Jazz days -- Folk roots and libertarian anarchy -- Washington Square and beyond -- The Guild and Caravan -- Where the real money was -- Friends and recordings -- Lewis and Clark revisited -- California -- The commons and Gary Davis -- The Gaslight -- Changing of the guard -- The blues revival -- The new song revolution -- The waning days of Babylon -- Last call.