The Weavers - Erik Darling RIP

During the time we lived in California, my friend Glen was diagnosed with liver cancer. Around the time of his diagnosis, he purchased a house to remodel a few blocks from our home. I would go over to that remodel every few days to ask how he was doing. His reply to my question "How are you?" often was, "I got up this morning, read the obituaries, and was not listed, so I must be okay." Having never heard that line before, I always found it humorous and interesting, yet it also struck me as rather upbeat. After moving to Texas, shortly before my friend succumbed to cancer, I used "his phrase" a number of times myself when asked how I was doing. One person looked at me rather oddly and said, "In Texas, we say, 'I am above the grass.'" So, still being "above the grass," I read the obituaries this morning (8-11-08) to see if I were listed. I was not, but the obituary for one Erik Darling caught my eye in scanning one of the obit pages.

The name Erik Darling meant nothing to me, but the headline--"1960s Folk Music Singer-Writer"--lead me to read the obituary. Mr. Darling arranged the hits "Walk Right In" and "Tom Dooley." He also replaced Pete Seeger in The Weavers in 1958/59 after Seeger left to pursue a solo career. The Weavers will not be familiar to most of you, only to those of us as old as Moses.

The Weavers hit the popular music scene in the late 1940s and had their first national hit "Goodnight Irene" in 1950, followed by many other hits. It was "Goodnight Irene" which led me to become a huge fan of The Weavers at the age of 12, and I have remained a fan. I enjoyed their music until they disappeared in 1953. At the age of 15, I did not understand what happened to the group; however, many years later, I learned the group had been blacklisted after being named as members of the Communist Party USA. None of The Weavers ever used their entertainer platform to make political statements as so many artists do today. The accusation came from a dubious source. The best evidence rejects that charge of Communist Party USA membership. The group members may well have had leftist political views, which was their right as Americans. The freedom to hold personal political views, different though they may be from the mainstream, is a part of America's greatness. In the 1950s hysteria* over Communism many artists with leftist views were suspect, and their careers suffered or ended. That most certainly was a disgrace. While I am a political conservative (not a right-wing nut--there are differences), I most certainly would oppose blacklisting any individual or group because of political views, leftist or conservative. However, I respect individuals choosing to avoid entertainers with whom their disagree politically if they wish. There are a few I will not watch or listen to, but there are others, such as Harry Belafonte, Neil Diamond, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep, and Elton John, with whom I disagree politically but still enjoy.

The Weavers staged a comeback concert at Carnegie Hall in 1955, concluded a farewell tour in 1964, and performed together again at a Carnegie Hall reunion in 1981. In some ways, they overcame the stigma of being blacklisted but probably never reached the stardom and popularity they might have enjoyed without that blemish. It was the Kingston Trio, The Brothers Four, and other folk groups who prospered during the era. Recordings of The Weavers' hits have been available on CDs for many years. And yes, I have some of those and still enjoy listening to them. Compared to most of the popular music today, those old stars, groups, and their music still thrill me. Music was music, and artists were artists in those days.

Erik Darling had a successful musical career. In addition to being a member of The Weavers, he at one time was also a member of the Tarriers known for its version of "The Banana Boat Song (Day O)"--the popular Harry Belafonte recording. Darling died of lymphoma at age 74 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

*(Note: Much of the concern about Communism during the 1950s was justified. The opening of the KBG files after the fall of the Soviet Union provides evidence for that, even though that differs sharply with what leftists wish us to believe about the period. There may well have been a "Witch Hunt" as liberals call it, but their were "witches" (communists with ties to the outlawed Communist Party USA) who were threats to our country in sensitive government positions.)

Copyright 2008 by Don Emerson