Smithsonian Folkways Releases an All-Star Jack Hardy Tribute Album
By Greg Cahill
In honor of the fifth anniversary of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jack Hardy‘s death, Smithsonian Folkways has released A Tribute to Jack Hardy, featuring 26 previously unreleased recordings of Hardy’s songs covered by an all-star lineup, all of whom cited him as a key influence and a personal friend.
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Hardy was a fixture on the Greenwich Village folk scene and a tireless troubadour.
He died in 2011, at age 63, of lung cancer.
Performers on the tribute album include album producers Mark Dann and David Massengill, as well as Nanci Griffith, Suzanne Vega, Jonathan Byrd, Red Molly, John Gorka, Terre Roche, Lucy Kaplansky, Brian Rose and many others. Hardy himself, known as a welcoming host for weekly songwriting workshops who also founded the Fast Folk magazine/label, is also included via two unreleased tracks recorded shortly before he died.
The 105- page liner notes include Hardy’s “Songwriter’s Manifesto,” complete lyrics, photos, and personal tributes, anecdotes, and essays from the participating singer-songwriters.
The album is available via on-demand double CD and digital downloads via folkways.si.edu as well as all major digital outlets.
