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Page Three -
Upon returning from Montreal yesterday, there was a message from Maria on my machine with the heartbreaking news that our dear brother is no longer with us. I had known of his illness for a while, but believed that he would, in some miraculous way, find a way to stay with us. I just received email from him a few weeks ago. We had been talking for the past several months about those days in the village, about how he, Maria and I, as the Poolenoode family, had sung at Gerde's on a Monday night. We did a lot of reminiscing in the recent months as he gathered info for his book and mining those memories was funny and joyful and wonderful. I met Artie when he was nineteen and fell in love with him immediately. Those hours sitting in Maria's loft on Spring Street, singing "will you miss me" and "tell it to me", and, yes, "money honey", are truly among my best and truest memories. My heart is broken and I am hugging you, dear friend. Beverly, I send you my love and deep, hearfelt condolences. I will be thinking of you and Happy and Jane tomorrow and of my dear brother's sweet spirit.
Marlena
7/23/08
just heard about Artie's passing, and I want to share my deepest sympathies with everyone who had the privilege of being touched by his life. Although we only crossed paths a few times, I was always struck not just by his talent and knowledge (which were enormous), but even more by his kindness and generosity of spirit. And the couple of times I had the honor to do a little picking with Artie are memories I will always treasure. Rest well, friend!
Rick Ilowite
Nyack, NY - July 23, 2008
From Washington Square to house concerts on 103rd, to CCNY, Izzy’s, Marcs, our place – Artie was always there. Never without compassion and always gracious. I guess he won’t be calling to say he’s coming right over………we’ll miss you.
Me aloha pumehana,
Susan Ruskin (umanov)
7/23/08
I never knew Artie personally, but I knew some of his music and spent time with him on two separate occasions. I was in his DADGAD class he did as a guest instructor at Summersongs 2001. Afterwards, Artie was kind enough to listen to one of my songs. He did so with an attentive ear and really made time for me as we talked about the song and then songwriting in general. I never felt rushed or that he had someplace to go. It's a great memory. About 3 or 4 years later I went to a guitar clinic outside of Philadelphia where he was the guest speaker and performer. We met up afterwards and he remembered me from that day in 2001. When I got married a couple of years ago, I made sure that "She's Riding Again" and "Blood Oranges" (from 'Letters from Joubee') were in rotation during the reception. Thank you for your ear and your music.
Arlon Bennett -
Summersongs, 2001
7/23/08
Dear Bev, Happy, Jane and all of the Traum family,
I am so deeply & profoundly saddened to learn of Artie's passing.
The World is now a lesser place indeed. I cherish so many memories that Artie continues to live in
Please feel my thoughts of love and prayers for comfort for all of you.
With sincere love to you all,
Gordon Titcomb
7/23/08
We will miss Artie for all the good reasons known to all, but the few lucky ones who bumped into him in town will miss his clever, sometimes silly humor.
Artie would be, we think, amused to know that the tune going through our heads is "Is There Life On Earth?"
With love to all who love him,
David & Nikki Goldbeck
7/23/08
I am one of the B-Flat Stompers described by Rory Block in a July 23 entry.
Larry Sandberg, then a clarinetist before becoming an outstandingly creative
guitarist, and I had been to Lincoln Farm Work Camp in the summer of 1958 where
Happy Traum had been the folk music counselor. That fall we met Artie and
started playing blues together – [“A” capoed up one fret on the guitar --- banjo
up three frets in open “G” because the clarinet is a B-Flat instrument (hence the
name of our group).] The first blues we played together was “2:19 blues!”
Our junior and senior years in high school were a magical musical tour –
particularly for me as I watched both of them become incredibly accomplished
guitarists. (I learned a little mandolin and a fiddle player joined us briefly
the next summer!). It was climaxed by a full scale concert at the Actor’s Mobile
Theater in June of 1960 – attended by all our friends and even some parents! A
friend from my high school Josh White was the producer – with a full sound system
(that is, a microphone to pick up all the solos!). (We opened with a kazoo
version of the "William Tell" overture!)
Larry and Artie went on to perform a lot together during the early 1960s while in
college and it was always a joy to listen to them – and to play with them in
various living rooms and at the Swarthmore Folk Festival.
Since then I have seen Artie much too infrequently. A benefit concert here,
discussions about this or that political issue there. What stays with me is not
just his incredible musicianship and creativity but his warm humanity. He was
just such a wonderful human being. Four years ago we got back in touch and
visited several times. My wife Annie and I got to meet Bev and we had a
wonderfully memorable dinner at one of their favorite restaurants near their
home. I am so grateful for those few recent times.
Artie’s creative efforts were breathtaking. Along with so much musical talent,
he also had a keen sense of the political issues behind some of his creative
work. Read the liner notes that he wrote for his and Happy’s first album –
particularly his explanation of his inspiration for his outstanding song, “The
Hungry Dogs of New Mexico.” I still get the picture of the poor old guy who
changed his last hundred dollars and headed back to the one-armed bandit (his
face, in Artie’s words, full of the worst kind of pain! ) whenever I hear that verse.
In my last phone conversation with Artie, I told him how much I appreciated
“Halifax.” It captured the loss felt by the dispossessed Acadians so
beautifully. In fact, the energy in the song reminds us that those dispossessed
Acadians made new lives for themselves in Louisiana even as they mourned the loss
of Halifax.
To Beverly, Happy, Jane and his nieces and nephew (who he loved dearly!) we send
our deepest condolences. We have all lost Artie but those closest to him have
lost the most.
Here’s hoping that his wonderfully productive life will give comfort and pleasure
to all of you and to the rest of us forever.
With loving memory of a dear, dear human being,
Mike and Annie Meeropol
7/23/08
I only had the pleasure of meeting Artie a couple of times, and the time spent was short - but memorable. The first time was doing an interview with the Woodstock Mountains Revue at what was supposed to be a press conference for a Town Hall appearance for the New York Folk Festival around 1980 or so. Surprisingly, the other reporters did not show up and I had the group to myself! I can still remember Artie's warm small and welcoming words - which helped steady my nerves!
I can remember the first time I heard Artie & Happy. It was a few years earlier and I just started working at the radio station. There was another DJ who just loved the song "Earls Crab Shack". He played it every show and it stuck with me. I soon began searching out more music from Happy & Artie, which led me to the acoustic music scene that was taking place. We still have that LP, and even though it it filled with scratches and pops from years of turntable mishaps, it is still is a shiny jewel for me.
My condolences to the Traum family. I hope there is some comfort in the fact that Artie touched so many lives and the memories are fond. He will always be with us in spirit.
Ron Olesko -
WFDU-FM
7/23/08
I met Artie and Happy at Lincoln Farm, like several others here. During the following forty plus years, I've listened to their music. I am deeply sad that Artie has died and add my condolences to the many thoughtful tributes here.
Leda Schubert
Plainfield, VT - 7/23/08
Actually I never met Artie, but my mom (Lila Miller) and his mom (Ruth Traum) were friends. I am fond memories of growing up and seeing Ruth from time to time, in fact she is in one of our home movies. When I briefly moved to Kingston NY one of Ruth's granddaughters showed me around town.
Luckily my mom and dad are still healthy - mom told me about this and is saddened by the loss. I believe she will be emailing soon as well.
Seems like Artie touched a lot of people which makes sense because his mom did as well.
Fondly,
Howard
7/23/08
Dear Friends
I should like to send my deepest sympathy at this very sad time.
I am now aged 63 and from the time during the early sixties that I first became interested in acoustic music Mr Traum's, alongside that of his brother, music was part of my education and enjoyment. Mr Traum's music gave me great inspiration and tremendous pleasure - and it will continue to do so through his many wonderful recordings.
With Best Regards
Rob x
7/23/08
Our sincerest condolences to Beverly and the entire Traum family. An immense loss indeed.
We only met Artie a few times over the years, but they were memorable occasions, marked by his musical virtuosity and his warm and friendly manner. Thankfully he leaves a great legacy as a musician and as a human being. A consummate performer, we have always thought of him as a "guitarist's guitarist," accomplished and comfortable in so many styles.
Thanks, Artie, for all the great music throughout the years.
Greg Artzner & Terry Leonino -
"Magpie"
7/23/08
I was so sad to hear of Artie's death on WFUV this morning, and then Happy's letter forwarded from Marc Silber. We were all scratching a living around the Village in the old days, sharing music, money, food, whatever...happy days at Fretted Instruments and wherever the jobs took people. Artie was always the best of fellows - kind, generous, good company, and of course, his music..all the music...was the best, too. Happy memories, sadly remembered today. All the best to you all, with much love,
Sally Campbell Palmer
7/23/08
hello-my sypathies to the traum family. artie and i were friends at city college for 4 years and we spent alot of time together going to hootenannies,travelling to fiddlers' conventions and listening to blues and old time music.i last saw artie by accident at woodstock we made plane but nothing happened i am very sad
artie was a wonderful,quixotic human being without malice or indecency he was all that is good and wonderful in people and i shall always treasure the times we spent together digging bobby dylan and john coltrane i remain ronnie roberts. ps. need i add what a tremendous musican and writer he was,
7/23/08
We send our love and deepest condolences to Beverly, Happy, Jane and the
Traum family.
Artie was a beautiful guy and an outstanding musician with the gift of
making everyone around him relax and have fun.
It's a very rare person who can bring that kind of light to a room just by
walking in.
We loved every moment we spent with this dear man and we will miss him.
Love
Tod and Jeannie Levine
7/28/08
All the great memories... all the great music... all of that will live on. Thanks, Artie, for sharing your heart and soul with us. Peace.
Jon Gershen
7/23/08
Dear Friends, especially Bev, and Happy and Jane,
Not to have Artie Traum in our midst is a loss too enormous to express in a
few words. My thoughts, emotions, and memories are traveling through a very
wide field these past few days, perhaps trying to reach Artie again.
Somehow reaching for the acceptance and peace that I imagine Artie gained in
order to be able to move on so elegantly and smoothly. The way he lived his
life, with brilliance. I will always remember him with great love and
treasure the short times I was able to have with him.
I would give anything to be able to attend the gathering in his honor
tomorrow, but alas, I'm too far away to arrive on time. If I could, I would
play a beautiful fiddle tune for him, but I know that someone will do that
in the most exquisite way. All my love will be with you all tomorrow and
I'll play for Artie tonight in my kitchen. I'll be holding you in my heart
as we go on, inspired by Artie's kindness and love of life.
Susan Swift
Santa Fe, NM - 7/23/08
Life is a journey. What you do with life is reflected in the love you bring,and the lasting memories you leave. Clearly, Artie brought that to all he touched with his words ,his music, and his spirit.I never met Artie Traum. In fact, i had only heard of him through the letters written. Reading them gave me some idea of a what great individual he truly was,and the impact he had on those who knew him. I wish i could have met the man.
My grandad was a pastor, for some reason i felt compelled to write these words. I hope they help ease the pain.
Arties` spirit is a celebration of life. His love lives in all of the people who had the honor of knowing such a man. Death is not the end, yet a new beginning. May the footprint he left blossom into a celebration of the life that is. His spirit lives forever through the people he touched,and will continue to touch, with the stories of a life worthy of speaking. My deepest sympathy for his family ,and all that are feeling the pain of loss right now. You are in my prayers. God bless.
Sincerely,
Christopher S. Pauley
7/23/08
All of us were touched by Artie..A genuine person that makes the world worth living in.., A great musician.
We will always miss him and not a day will go by without remembering him..
Our hearts go out to Bev, Happy & Jane and all of the family as Artie made us feel part of The Traum family too...
Professor Louie & The Crowmatix - Aaron "Prof. Louie", Miss Marie, Gary Burke, Frank Campbell, Josh Colow,
Eugene Hoffman, Danny Sheehan
7/23/08
As old friends depart who were with us from the beginning, we ask: who will I call to share the “had-to-be-there-to-see-it-remember-when” recollections? Who will I call who understands every old memory- for insider jokes? Ah, Beloved Artie, how can this be? Dear friend, please don’t leave! I’m not at all ready to see you go!
Sitting in our school assembly at the age of 9, having been raised by an odd ball bohemian family with an eccentric, sandal making, fiddle playing father, the last thing I expected to see that day was a band of young teenagers, fronted by a handsome, blush cheeked young man with a mysterious smile, playing outstanding, lightning fast Bluegrass banjo. My jaw dropped. I didn’t know that anyone but our stranger-than-strange beatnick family and a handful of outcasts from society (or so it seemed to a 9 year old), knew about this wonderful music from the Appalachian mountains and an earlier time. This band called themselves the B Flat Stompers, and featured 15 year old Artie Traum, who played the meanest, fastest licks I had ever heard. I must have gone up to him immediately afterwards... I knew he had to be family. I don’t remember how it came about but soon Artie was at the sandal shop and part of our inner circle of friends.
In 1964 Artie, Stefan Grossman, and my sister and I, with my father at the wheel, drove down south into a lush rural world to find The Union Grove North Carolina Fiddler’s convention where we sat with Doc and his young son Merle Watson, Fred Price, Clint Howard, and Clarence Ashley, and an array of local old timey musicians of the most soulful and astounding kind. We were happy, filled with the joy of life- we had music, friendship and unadulterated optimism.
I’m only just beginning to relive the memories, far too numerous to fit into a single day of recollections. They will spill out one or several at a time- things I hadn’t thought of in years. Artie’s old faxes, fading away on thermal paper, drawings, jokes, letters, promo, project contracts. And now, as I dust them off, they have an even sweeter tinge, they are colored with a more precious hue- like an album of old, brownish photos with curling edges- Mom, dad, Uncle Dan... and Artie. Yes, he was family.
And now, as we stop for a moment to discuss the unbelievable, that we won’t be able to see or even call Artie anymore for a chuckle, for a wiser than wise perspective, or some hysterically well placed witticisms- why don’t we now celebrate each and every one of us- every minute of the day? Why not look around and see the faces who we might later miss- “For we know not the day nor the hour”. Artie is telling us this. Let not our impersonal hi-tech swirling madness kind of world pull us away from the intimacy we need to survive. We are a tribe, a family- we are friends. Artie has left this in my heart along with an unfolding and rich supply of musical inspiration.
Rory Block
7/23/08
With extraordinary wit, grace, taste, talent, dignity and sensitivity, Artie happily gave of these qualities to all the lives he touched.
The communities of which he was a part have all gained something by his example. We were lucky, and are grateful to have had him among us.
May we share these gifts in his memory.
Doug James
7/23/08
I encountered Artie Traum only twice in my life. The first time, I happened into the Joyous Lake one night 25 years ago or so, when the Woodstock Mountain Revue was playing. There was Artie and Happy, Eric Anderson, Bill Keith, and the rest. All of a sudden, in the middle of it all, there was Artie lying flat on his back, playing his guitar while wiggling like a worm. He had the audience and the band in stitches. A couple of songs later, he was doing the best Bob Dylan and Rick Danko imitations I ever heard. His joy was infectious.
Many years later, he was producing a recording session in a studio in New York where I worked. I'd met a lot of big stars there, but I sure knew who Artie was. He had the same child-like joy and excitement I remembered from that night years before. Not tired or jaded, no "been there, done that". Brief as my meeting him was, it was a precious and lasting gift. I'm sure that was true wherever he went.
Thanks Artie. Rest in peace.
Gary Solomon
7/23/08
I did not know Artie twenty or thirty or forty years ago, like so many of you. I only had the privilege of knowing him the last twelve years. It now seems like an eyeblink. Always, I knew Artie in the "now"..... the golden moment, which sparkled and leaped with energy, powered by this never-failing dynamo, this gentle and generous soul. It was a joy to be with Artie, or just to speak casually on the phone, which we often did. I now treasure those moments more than I ever thought I could.
He was a generator of ideas, and the ideas always included others. He wanted everyone in "the circle" (which I now realize is immense) to rise together. We schemed and planned musical projects, many of which, without Artie around, won't happen now, but all of which were reasonably sure to work, because Artie was a "rational dreamer". He knew what would fly, and what would not, drawing on his keen database of people, places, and the music biz. I couldn't believe he could write such wonderful songs, and arrange all that music, and produce, and play the guitar so well, and still have space in his brain for the endless stream of ideas. Did you know, "traum" means "dream", in German? Artie Dream. We talked about that after I saw a shop in Koln Germany called "Traum Station". He said that would be a pretty good name for an album. (and now I find I am running in the stream-of-consciousness mode that Artie often provoked)
Again and again, he skillfully arranged opportunities for me and my music, as he did for others too. Sometimes, I only learned after the fact that it had been Artie who made something happen. Not only did he not seem to care about getting credit or quid pro quo, he seemed excited and pleased to help someone from behind the curtain, just for the satisfaction of seeing a project shine. If you were the one to make it shine like he envisioned, you were the one he'd tap. If he liked your music or ideas, he would lift you up and give you wings. He could do that. As a producer, as a creator, he would spare no effort to preen and polish a project. You always knew, you just knew --- Artie was aware of so much more than he would ever have time to express. And he wisely understood that music is the only vehicle through which we might have a chance at expressing the unexpressible.
His wit and droll humor popped up, even in difficult times, usually when you least expected. He would say things like: "Things are tight here financially but I see better times ahead. I'm hoping Obama will pick me as Secretary of Acoustic Music for the next administration." Funny too, because he seemed half serious about stuff like that. Nobody could make me stop and think "what if?" like Artie could.
We who remain behind, we can best honor Artie by passing him, through his music, on to others. We can watch the look on the face of a person hearing Artie's "The Cuckoo" or "Poor Boy Blues" or "Bonnie Jean", or any number of his other masterpieces, for the first time, seeing the little smile people get when they hear something which is really that good.
When my friend and fellow musician Roby Duke passed away last December, suddenly at age 51, I shared some of his music, and some of my sorrow with Artie, who kindly consoled me. I sent him some of Roby's music and he wrote back: "What an amazing groove he has. That makes his passing all the more sad. You're lucky to have known him. The good ones come and go fast sometimes: it's that direct connection to the source." And all I could say back was, "Artie, you are one of the ones with that direct connection to the source".
My heart goes out to Bev, Happy, Jane, and family. Please accept my deepest condolences. Our loss, the ones out here in Artie's "circle", is great, but yours is greater. There was so much he wanted to do, and feeling that, on his behalf, brings the most sadness right now.
Artie always ended a letter, or conversation, with a smile, and with something from his quirky wit, like: "Stay strong and always wear your galoshes", the words with which he once ended a letter. I didn't get the galoshes part, but now I do. You'll need them when you cross the roaring stream.
Pat Kirtley
Bardstown KY -
7/23/08
I merely rubbed elbows with Artie, and that was due to a handful of my own remarkable (and our mutual) friends. My history with Artie adds up to a whole few minutes of time, but he certainly left a warm footprint everywhere he went. On the couple of occasions that I bumped into him unexpectedly, he greeted me with my name. That alone made me feel so good that the rest of the conversations were a heavenly bonus. I can't claim to have "known" Artie, but I will miss his presence here on this side of our universe.
Kevin Crossett
Montpelier, VT - 7/23/08
You don't need to spend a lot of time in the music business to discover that it's full of rotten people. But it only takes a minute glancing at what's been written here to know that our friend Artie Traum wasn't one of them.
I first met Artie in Jim Weider's basement studio. Jimmy and I were trying to write some songs for a record The Band was working on, and Artie dropped by and said he thought it would be fun to write them a song about Niagara Falls. We threw a bunch of ideas around and then all had to go our separate ways. I took the ideas home and finished it up. We never got back together, the record was made without the song, and I'd been singing it and having fun with it, so I recorded it myself. I sent a copy to Jimmy (I didn't know Artie's number or address) who played it for Artie. It didn't make Artie too happy that I'd finished his song without his okay, but once he listened to it, he liked it, and the next thing I knew Artie was contacting me wondering when we could do some more writing. He found his own great groove for "Niagara", recorded it, and made it a mainstay of his live shows.
Distance and busy schedules kept a lot of our communication to the telephone and email, but we were always in touch about what the other was doing and talking about writing even when we weren't actually doing it. Whenever Artie invited me on the gig, I was always honored to be in the company of the finest musicians and treated as an equal. I was also reminded that the guy on the other end of the wire who haggled with me over a couple of words was a great guitarist and superb performer. The last time I spoke with Artie he was excited about the new songs we were going to write and the recording we might do together. My sadness now about the songs that won't be written, the gigs that won't be played, the records that won't be made, is just selfishness because Artie certainly gave the world plenty, and he gave our family sweet memories.
My wife Liz and I will never forget Artie's commenting on the miniature paintings in the gallery where we were playing--"If you take them home and put them in water, they turn into regular sized paintings." Our son will always remember that Artie was the only adult who agreed with him that it would be a good idea for him to get a pet pig. Our daughter always liked the idea that he had a brother named Happy. But I will always remember that whenever I asked if it was cool to bring Liz and the kids to the gig, the answer was always of course. The mention of Artie's name has always brought a smile. We send our deepest sympathy to Bev and to Happy and family from our own family's palpable sense of loss and sadness.
Joe Flood, Liz Grace, and Liam and Nora Grace-Flood
7/23/08
Dear Happy and Traum Family
I am so sad to hear that Artie had passed away.
He was very kind to everyone and performed wonderful music for us.
I never forget him and his music definitely.
Akira Katayama
Nishinomiya, Japan - 7/23/08
I took lesson from Artie at Noah Wolfe's Music Store in Manhattan for five dollars an hour in the early sixties. A few years later I also saw him play with his band The Children of God at some kind of benefit in Manhattan..Learning fingerstyle guitar permanently altered my life for the better..Artie was my hero as a teenager..he wore black jeans, had a pretty girlfriend, and had found a D-28 for a hundred dollars..I still play the songs he taught me when I perform today..As so many others have said..his spirit will always be with me...
Peace,
Cooker John Sagner
7/23/08
I met and heard Artie in Paris with Priscilla Herdman at a concert at the American Cathedral. It was a wonderful concert in a superb setting. I totally enjoyed hearing his playing and even more getting to chat with him afterwards. My family and I are very sad to hear of his passing. We send our sympathies to his family.
BCBogart
7/23/08
My condolences go out to the Traum Clan. Artie was/is a beautiful soul. Rest in peace sweet Artie Traum.
Gabrielle
7/23/08
Just a snot nosed kid of 19 working at the local record shop, living at the Last Chance Saloon in Poughkeepsie, discovering new sounds (for me anyway) circa 1977. The owners of the Last Chance, Mike & Larry allowed me to bring records from the store down to the bar to sell during performances of whatever artist I was there to see on any given night. On one particular hot July evening, Artie Traum & Pat Alger were playing & I was selling their Lp's out of the coat check area. I'd never been lucky enough to meet any of the performers until that night. Artie came right over & checked me out & said what a great idea. Plus he was the first star to autograph an album for me.
Fast forward to July 2007. Cindy Cashdollar at the Woodstock Playhouse I'm seeing Artie perform again almost 30 years to the day. Then a Rory Block show in December 2007, Rory calls out her good friend Artie Traum to play some guitar with her. I was lucky enough to shake the man's hand & enjoy some great music. You will be missed.
Wilbur
7/23/08
Happy, Jane, Adam, April, Merry-- Our hearts are with you. We loved him, and you.
Dale and Volker
7/23/08
Dear Bev, Happy and Jane,
I am so sorry to hear of Artie's passing. I'll never forget how kind that he always was to me. He's greatly missed.
Dan Uttendorfer
7/23/08
My earliest memory of Artie was playing basketball with him in the Bronx on Mt. Hope Place. He was a few years older than me but was part of a group of kids who hung out in the schoolyard of PS 28. His father was my dentist who had an office in my building. He looked just like Artie or vice versa. They had lived on the floor below me then moved across the street. His dad died much too early and his mom Ruth, who was a joy, went on to live a long and joyful life. I always loved her and her mom as well who still around when I was a kid. . Ruth was a very positive warm person who always wanted to know what I was doing and with whom I always felt a warm closeness. When I was about 12 I started studying guitar with Happy and going to folk concerts with my mom and Ruth. He turned me on to the folk scene of which he was a major participant in. I was into rock and roll and jazz and was writing my own songs as well. He really blew me away with the range of artists that were springing up in a new movement that would rock the world.
Cut to the summer of '68 when I came to Woodstock with a theater company from Boston doing a show I co-wrote and performed at Tinker St. Hall. I reconnected with Artie and Happy and in the spring of 69 my wife and I migrated up to Woodstock and settled in. I played often with Artie and he backed me on many demos. When he house sat for Dylan one time he invited me up there to skinny dip with a bunch of friends including Bob Fass and Paul Krassner in Dylan's pool. (Don't tell Bob!) One time when I visited Happy up on Bearsville Rd. Artie and Happy were still buzzing from a visit and a jam session moments before I got there with Dylan and George Harrison who had walked down from Bob's house to play a little with the brothers Traum. Artie and I went down to New York and did a demo that eventually led to me recording an album for Polydor records. It was at some midtown publishing company that he and I first learned about some huge festival that was going to happen somewhere in the Catskills. It was called the Woodstock festival that was supposed to be in Woodstock but became too big. Don't know what ever happened to that thing. Anway, I remember Artie and Happy opening for the Band in Central Park. I was so proud of them. Their songs were fantastic and they really held their own opening with one of the greatest groups in music.
A few years ago I asked Artie to help me produce an album of animal rights related songs. I wanted to include The Hungry Dogs Of New Mexico. Still one of my favorite tunes. The project never materialized but he was very supportive as always and that was the last time we spoke. I miss him and realize how much more I could have reached out to him and regret that I didn't send him the letter I wanted to write when I heard last week how ill he was. I wanted to tell him how much he meant to me in my life and that I wanted him to know how much I appreciated his warmth, humor and encouragement. I'm sorry I didn't nurture our friendship and see him more often. I wanted to share my stories of playing piano with Chuck Berry all around the world and the musicals I was working on. I wanted to share my songs with him as I had before. I wanted his input and I wanted to hear his latest works. But such is life. One is swept up in the busy stream of survival and living out one's own little time on this amazing planet. I'll miss you Artie. I guess that was all I really wanted to say.
Gary Kupper
NYC - 7/23/08
I was very saddened to hear of Artie Traum's passing. My prayers are with you - his friends and family.
He brought a lot of good music into the world - and helped many others learn to do so as well - and in doing so, made this world a better place.
I'm thankful he was here and sad that he is gone.
Blessings,
David DeLoach
7/23/08
Thank you for your big beautiful heart, Artie.
Thank you for reminding us that the level of kindness that came from you, so naturally, was even possible.
Thank you for being such a rock, yet have such a soft heart, all at the same time.
Thank you for your beautiful music that lives on,.... a token of your beautiful spirit that will always live on.
Thank you for inviting me to come play guitar with you.... many times. That is an honor I will always cherish and remember with great pride and joy in my heart. You stood as tall as any man I have ever seen or had the pleasure to call my friend.
We will so miss and love you, our dear brother.
Jeff P
7/23/08
I am out in California. Today I was in a great little vintage guitar shop in Tiburon (outside of San Francisco) Schoenberg Guitars. I was trying out a few guitars and talking to the owner. I told him I lived near Woodstock, NY, and he immediately asked me if I knew Artie Traum. He said Artie played there recently and was raving about him. I told him that yes, I was a friend of Artie, and we talked about what a great musician he is. I told him that when I was in college I went to see Happy & Artie play at NYU and also on the bill was Maria Muldaur and David Bromberg. At the end of the show was a jam by all, on a blues tune. Bromberg was hot shit at the time and he played an absolutely amazing solo on the song. Artie played one next, and to this day in my memory it was one of the most incredible displays of soulful brilliance I have ever heard. Everyone's jaw dropped! Including Bromberg. It was just incredible. It was a blues solo embodied in Artie's unique style of rapid fire hammer ons & pull offs that no one else could have played, and no other guitarist on the planet could have played anything else that would have topped it that evening. It was like someone hit a home run (Bromberg) and then the next player up hit 5 grand slams in a row! I left the guitar shop replaying the moment from 30 years ago in my head.
Later on today I called my friend, Rob Sabino, another fellow Bronx musician, who now lives in Winters, California. Rob is a session keyboard player who has recorded with David Bowie, Madonna, Chic, Mick Jagger, Dianna Ross, Paul Simon, etc. He and Arlen Roth (Happy & Artie's electric guitarist from back in the day) toured with Simon & Garfunkel together. Rob nowadays teaches a course in Rock & Roll history at Davis University. When I called him, his son answered the phone, and in the background I heard a familiar song being played on acoustic guitar. Rob put the guitar down as he came to the phone and I asked him what song was that? He said, "Handful Of Love." (An Artie Traum song). Rob said it was one of his favorite songs of all time - and being a keyboard player by trade, and a frustrated guitarist, was one of the few songs he always played when he picked up an acoustic guitar. I told him it was one of my favorite songs too, and that the solo Artie played on it was one of the best flatpickin' bluesy solos I have ever heard.
I came back to the apartment I am staying at in San Francisco this evening, and finally looked at today's NY Times that i had been carrying around all day. I saw Artie's photo and a little article and immediately thought - that's cool, an article about Artie in the Times! Then I realized it was in the obituary section and the wind was knocked out of me. After just out of the blue today, his presence coming up in conversation with two musicians out here on the West Coast - I read that he died two days ago.
I knew Artie was very ill and had been emailing him recently. It was just last year around this time that he and I spoke in length about another fellow Woodstock musician, Johnny Average, at Johnny's memorial. I told Artie at that time that I would do all I could to help keep Johnny's music alive, and that his songs were a gift to the world. I hope we all do the same with all the wonderful songs that Artie has left us. Learn them, play them, pass them on, record them, cherish them. A songwriter puts their heart and soul into each and every song they write. They are like children that can live forever.
I miss you Artie - you were a great one. A musician's musician, a wonderful man, and a friend to all of us who were lucky enough to cross your path in life. Your music is in our hearts.
Ralph Legnini
California - 7/23/08
I first met Artie as a 13 old camper at Lincoln Farm Camp in Roscoe,NY in the early 60's. He tried valiantly to teach me banjo..and was my counselor...I loved him dearly throughout that time...Many,many years later I found myself in the music business and ran into him...it was a treat that he remembered me...such a warm,caring and talented man... a great loss....he is one of those people that made a difference in the world and I know he touched me..even though it was a minuscule period of his life... I sense a little space in the universe left open today....
My condolences to Happy and his family......
Peter Wassyng
7/23/08
I only got to run into Artie occasionally over the years I have known (and known about) him. I am pleased that I was able to attend and sit in at Happy & Artie's Trenton NJ concert in April, and to be reminded of what a lovely guy and great musician Artie was.
I am greatly saddened, and my condolences go out to all the Traum Family members.
Saul Broudy
Philadelphia, PA - 7/23/08
My wife and I will miss him. He always made us smile, and he always will. Rest in peace, Artie.
Andy Robinson
7/23/08
To the Traum Family:
A friend sent me Artie's obituary this morning. We went to Taft together,
and he taught me to play guitar. At CCNY we performed together for
political groups, clubs and just for fun.We lost touch many years ago. I
lost my husband of 38 years due to a rare cancer 2 years ago, so I can
fully commiserate. Please accept my condolences. I remember him as a man
(actually a kid, since that is what we were then) of music and fun, and the
picture brought back so many lovely memories. That's what we all have now
lovely, lovely memories.
Yours truly,
Marian Goodich
7/23/08
I will miss your extraordinary musicianship, your quit wit, and your loving soul.
I will miss “Artie and Bev” and, of course” “Happy and Artie”.
I will miss your dry replies to my ranting emails.
I will miss the great chats we had at family gatherings.
I will miss the visits to Woodstock for family and fishing.
I will miss the tunes you never had the chance to write.
RIP,
cuz
7/23/08
I met Artie in the summer of 1964. I had been hired to be the guitar counselor at what was then called Lincoln Farm Work Camp, a progressive, pricey teen camp where upper Westside Marxists who’d gotten rich under capitalism could assuage their guilt by paying a fortune to send their kid to shovel manure and work on construction projects. In fact it was a splendid, wonderful camp run by the heroic Arlens: Harold and Bea.
Suddenly Artie was available, a musical legend even at 21, and I was relegated to be the auto mechanics counselor, a field I knew even less about than guitar. I had learned the standard three chords out of the Mel Bay book. Artie could really play.
We became fast friends that summer and he got me a job in the fall teaching guitar at Noah Wulf’s Music School, a couple of shabby rooms above the music shop on West 48th Street, where from time to time I saw Pete Seeger stroll in and purchase a banjo or two. Noah would scold me every time I let a lesson go on longer than the allotted thirty minutes.
We hung out in the Village in the ‘60s folk scene, eating chow fun at nameless restaurants along Mott Street in Chinatown at 2AM, where on any night they were jammed with the likes of Jon Herald of the Greenbrier Boys and others. Sixty-five cents for a heaping, steaming platter of steamed flat noodles and veggies--enough to choke a horse--with your choice: beef, chicken, shrimp. That and a Nedicks orange soda, a tip, and you still got change back from a buck. For the most part these eateries were known only by their addresses. “Let’s go down to number seventeen.” One that had a name, Lin, was memorialized in a Paul Simon tune where he refers to Lin’s chow fun.
I remember visiting Artie and Happy and Jane and April and Merry--there was no Adam at that time--singing in Happy’s under-construction house in Woodstock with Eric Kaz and Maria Muldaur when she was still Maria D’Amato. I emceed an early Vietnam War protest concert at Columbia with Happy and Artie performing, plus a thirteen year old Janis Ian when she was still Janice Fink, Julius Lester, Len Chandler, Phil Ochs, Reverend Gary Davis, Eric Anderson, and others. Heady days!
I drove out to Hollywood for a week or two and, God forgive me, never looked back. Artie visited with me there from time to time when he and Happy came out on Capitol Records’ dime for negotiations on their contract, and for other music biz as well. In ’71 they invited me to join them at the Troubadour for a special Tuesday night industry evening: Sea Train and the Charlie Daniels Band. Decades later the clear harmonies and hard-ass rockin’ blues still resonate in these here ears.
We lost touch sometime thereafter but I followed the brothers’ progress by reading Acoustic Guitar and listening to and watching Happy’s Homespun tutorial tapes, many of which featured Artie.
We caught up again only last year when Artie sent an email after seeing me run my mouth on some political talk show--perhaps The O’Reilly Factor. In my late-life incarnation as a media pundit it’s been my joy and privilege to set Bill right from time to time, and also guests the likes of the late Jerry Falwell and others as bad as they. I only wonder: What in the world was Artie doing watching O’Reilly?
We had plans to catch up in the city or upstate at Bearsville one of these days soon, on one of my frequent visits to Gotham.
The lesson: enjoy it while you can.
To Beverly and Happy, Jane, April, Merry, Adam, and all worthy souls who love good people and good music: heartfelt condolences.
Rest in peace, Artie, my dear brother.
Prof. Richard Walter
7/23/08
I've been a fan of traditional and roots music all my life, starting with my
parents' Almanac Singers' Talking Union album of 78's. Like almost everyone I
knew, I played guitar by ear and had a repertoire heavily indebted to Woody
Guthrie during the '50's and early '60's. Unlike many other folkies, however, I
got into the blues of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf,et al as well as the music of
Ray Charles, Big Maybelle and others when this music was still being played
on black radio stations and the artists were still on the "chittlin' circuit".
Therefore, while many of my contemporaries were listening to Reverend Gary
Davis, Sonny and Brownie, Leadbelly, etc., I was ineptly banging out "Got My Mojo
Workin'", " You Don't Have To Go" "Eyesight to the Blind" and others with
interminable E7ths and zero idea of how blues guitar was played.
What does this have to do with Artie Traum? In the spring of 1960 , I was at
Izzy Young's Folklore Center when a young man I'd seen around the Square took
a 0017 Martin from the wall and proceeded to play the standard Lightnin'
Hopkins accompaniment riff in E. How I knew this was Artie Traum I don't recall.
The following fall we were both at Hunter College in the Bronx (later Lehman
College). Lightnin' had been recently "rediscovered" and had albums available. I
locked that lick in my memory and it proved to be the gateway to the world of
solo acoustic blues guitar. Later, I got to jam with Lightnin' himself and my
playing was so derivative of his , I tried to disguise it.
I've kept a keen interest in blues guitar as well as other styles of music.
I went on to record and tour with Sonny Terry, but I've never strayed too far
from what I learned that day from Artie. I've never properly acknowledged my
debt , so I take this opportunity to do so belatedly.
We'll all miss Artie Traum
With Respect,
Bob Malenky
7/23/08
I lived in Bearsville from 1975-1985 and have such happy memories of listening to Artie sing and play, by himself, with Happy, and especially with the Woodstock Mountain Review. Artie always had a big smile for those he knew, and was simply a dear person. My condolences to the family and I hope you all find comfort in knowing what a deep impression he made in his time on earth. I’m going to dig out my Woodstock Mountain Review album and play it tonight.
Namaste,
Pamela Tudor
Philadelphia, PA - 7/22/08
I am very sorry about your loss. My thoughts are with you and I'm remembering the years I lived in Woodstock and played with April and Suzi Ronson. Best wishes,
Virginia
7/22/08
Though Artie was a small fella, he was a giant of a human being and one of
the cleverest guitar players I have ever met.
I just learned his finger stretcher of a tune Fish Scale. What a monster!
Artie lives on through his music.
Craig Vance
7/22/08
Artie was a wonderful friend and teacher. The song writing workshop that I took with him (that included Pat Alger!) in the 70's was an important moment in my creative life; through Artie I learned to trust myself, my words, my music. Thank you, Artie. You are forever in my heart.
Colleen Ballerino Cohen
7/22/08
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