Tom Paley Death

**allenhopkins** · Oct-01-2017, 11:48pm

Tom Paley, long-time folk and old-time musician, and founding member of the New Lost City Ramblers in 1958, died Sept. 30 at age 89.

I only saw him perform live once, at a NLCR college concert in 1962, but he was a first-rate picker and singer, and a wickedly humorous MC. After leaving NLCR, he moved first to Sweden, then to England; in both countries he became deeply involved in the folk "scene," learning fiddle to record Swedish fiddle tunes, often appearing at English folk clubs, and recording up until five years ago.

Another important folk revival musician passes away...

**Ivan Kelsall** · Oct-02-2017, 2:05am

Very sad news !. I managed to get to see Tom many times when he lived over here. A consumate ''Old Timey'' musician & an incredibly nice person to talk to,
Ivan

**Dagger Gordon** · Oct-02-2017, 3:53am

He used to come up to the Inverness Folk Festival about 40 years ago.
He really was good, in a very unflashy way.

Still playing and recording pretty much to the end. He released a CD with his son Ben only 2 years ago.
https://tompaley.bandcamp.com/album/paley-son

I hope I'll be a bit like that. Respect.

RIP

**jesserules** · Oct-02-2017, 11:28am

A fine musician.

**Jess L.** · Oct-02-2017, 10:48pm

Originally Posted by allenhopkins

... learning fiddle to record Swedish fiddle tunes, ...

I spent a week playing music with Tom during the very early part of his Swedish-fiddle-learning phase.

The rest of us in our little makeshift practice-band finally got him to set the fiddle down for a minute and break out the banjo instead, woohoo!

Good stuff!

Tom was a great guy to play music with, and he was so incredibly humble - no overinflated ego or anything like that. Just a regular nice person who happened to also be a wonderful and awe-inspiring musician.

RIP Tom.

**Dave Hanson** · Oct-03-2017, 1:43am

RIP Tom, a well loved singer and musician.
He will be much missed especially where he made his home in London.

Dave H

**RustyPickup** · Oct-03-2017, 5:04am

Had the privilege to once play a dance with him ... never met a more humble and gracious gentlemen (and patient, playing with the likes of me!). Indeed, a folk icon who will be truly missed.

**Eric Platt** · Oct-03-2017, 5:25am

A great person. Had a chance years ago to drive him around to a local show. Had fun, but didn't really appreciate the importance of it until later. And I'll always regret not buying the Swedish fiddle tune book he and Ben put out. Still searching for a copy.

Tom and a local (Minnesota) fiddler of Swedish music are (I believe) the only two non Swedes to be given high honors for their contributions to Swedish folk music.