Goodbye to The Face of Folk Music, David Gahr

David Gahr could cuss up a storm. Most of the time he was just fooling...I think. He could also take a picture like no one else. David had a heart of gold too. If you knew him, you loved him, and he was a your faithful friend. The coin of David's realm was his photos -- I've got at least a half dozen. "Send me a Dylan, David" and you'd get something iconic. What about Lennon? Even more iconic. But pity the photo editor who screwed David out of his due. To the other guy, he could be, well tough is one word.

In about 1985, shortly after I met David but before I really knew his accomplishments, I asked him to take shots of my college band. He said yes in a second. I'd be surprised if we paid him anything, even his expenses.

David was a perfectionist to boot. No one else could print his photos. That's why his legendary 1968 photo book 'The Face of Folk Music' remains out of print. David wouldn't let anyone else make prints for a re-printing, and he was too busy to do it (at least that's the story I heard).


David's friends almost literally dragged him out of Brooklyn a few years ago for his 84th birthday party. He was irascible to the end.

David Gahr, we will remember you always.