This is Democracy Now. Democacy Now.org, the War and Peace Report. I'm Amy Goodman.

The legendary folk singer Michael Hurley has died at the age of 83.

Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1941, he had a remarkable career that began in the 60s in the Greenwich folk music scene.

He continued performing up until his sudden death.

Last week, Michael Hurley traveled from his home in Astoria, Oregon to Knoxville, Tennessee to perform at the celebrated Big Years Festival.

His last New York appearance was in November at the Brooklyn Folk Festival.

Michael Hurley recorded his first album in 1963 for the iconic Folkways label, the home

of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and countless others.

The album was recorded on the same reel-to-reel machine that taped Leadbelly's

last sessions. One song of note was The Werewolf, which would later be covered by Cat Power,

one of many musical acts that found inspiration in Hurley's music. Michael Hurley wouldn't record

again until 1971 when he released his major

label debut, Armchair Boogie. While it's so poorly at the time, the album is seen today as a

classic. The album also featured Hurley's distinct artwork. He was a notable watercolor artist and cartoonist.

Over the last half century, Michael Hurley would go on to release dozens of more albums, many on

small independent labels, some even self-released. While he never became a household name, Michael Hurley's music inspired many

musicians. He became known as the godfather of freak folk. In recent years, his music

popped up in some surprising places from the HBO series and film Deadwood to the film

Leave No Trace, where he performed his song,

Oh, My Stars, at a bonfire.

Ahead of last week's Big Years Festival, the organizers said, quote,

Hurley's music sounds old, like it has always existed, and simultaneously singular,

...