"Spider" John Koerner, 85

[Jack Hanson]

Longtime Twin Cities bluesman, folkie, Renaissance man, mentor to Dylan, Raitt, etc. passed away this morning at home in Minneapolis, surrounded by his family. My dad had the original Blues, Rags and Hollers album, so I had been aware of the Koerner, Ray, & Glover trio. When I read in the newspaper I used to throw behind screen doors in my suburban neighborhood that John would be playing a solo show in the basement of Coffman Union at the University of Minnesota, I recruited a friend, and we hopped a bus downtown, and caught a transfer over to the University. A true original and a huge influence on me (among others), John was very gracious and fielded every question this junior-high school kid peppered him with, exhibiting not one ounce of condescension. I still especially love and cherish the 1969 Running, Jumping, Standing Still Elektra album he made with fellow Twin Citian Willie Murphy, and the RJSS album cover he autographed for me back in the 1980s. Regrettably, although I had plenty of opportunities, I never got Willie to sign it, too. Dang...

RIP, John. Another American treasure gone down.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK8Xry9I-1k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdP-XukQo3M

[Joachim Kettner]

A friend of mine had that album back then, but i never paid attention. I remember the Bonnie Raitt album (her first) which had this song written by him on it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjQU8JdL5VA

[Bill McCloskey]

oh, so sad to read this. I saw him in boston playing solo with "Mr Bones" a bones player backing him up. Thought it was one of the best solo acoustic sets I've ever heard. I did a number of his arrangements over the years. Truly gifted but underrated performer.

[K Maul]

I saw him play one time in Minneapolis in the 90s and he was fantastic. He was originally from Rochester New York and was childhood friends with the older brother of a couple of guys I used to play music with there. I love that album Running, Jumping Standing Still, and also, the ones he did with Tony Glover and Dave Ray.

[Jack Hanson]

A friend of mine had that album back then, but i never paid attention.

I would wholeheartedly recommend that you check it out, Joachim. One of the most loosey-goosey records recorded in that era, I was not impressed at first. But it grew on me. I wore out several vinyl copies, and almost did cartwheels when Red House Records re-released it on CD in 1994.

Bonnie was very close to Koerner, Ray & Glover, and Dave Ray produced her self-titled debut album at his home studio in Minnesota, which contained John's I Ain't Blue. Check out this pioneering music video of Red Palace, which is one of the joyous tunes from the Running, Jumping, Standing Still album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Neh3pON8HrU

When in danger when in doubt run in circles scream and shout a-hey!

[Jon Light (deceased)]

I learned his name around 1969 via this single from Running Jumping that was getting airplay on WBAI. I wouldn't learn of his historic involvement in the folk & blues scene until some years later.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gDFpalti1Y

[Jack Hanson]

Magazine Lady is another 1969 classic.

If you and I were to go on a moonlight swim
Would you look the same when you left the water
Than before you went in...