Richard Fariņa sailed for England with his dulcimer early in 1962 to transform himself into a folksinger. Carolyn followed a few weeks later, and Richard booked them as a duo at various folk clubs in London, including The Troubadour. David Hajdu describes The Troubadour thus: "A dark, woody, late-Victorian place in Earls Court, an after-work stop for tea or even coffee, the Troubadour had a room in the basement--a low, windowless space with warm acoustics." (p. 109) The manager, Anthea Joseph, remembered Richard Fariņa as "a delightful character."

Standing behind Richard are folksingers Jim Connor and Richard Lockmiller, from Gadsden, Alabama, whom Fariņa met through their manager, Tom Costner. Fariņa wrote the liner notes to Richard & Jim's first album. This was apparently Fariņa's first dulcimer, the one he shoveled snow with in Idaho. Note the unusual width! This model was much cruder than the Hennessey dulcimer that Richard used on the Vanguard albums.

The tabla player is as yet unidentified. Early experiments with dulcimer and percussion! The stars and stripes draped behind suggest that this was an evening of American performers.

This photo appears in a cropped version in Positively 4th Street, where it is simply credited "courtesy of Eric von Schmidt." In the fuller view we find Fariņa surrounded by Bob Davenport (standing) and Martin Carthy (sitting, wearing a watch). Bob Davenport was an important figure in the London folk scene; it was from him that Bob Dylan learned "Nottamun Town" and "Poor Miner's Lament," which he adapted for his own songs "Masters of War" and "Only a Hobo." The decor in the background of the photo suggests it was taken around Christmas time.

Fariņa, Dylan, and von Schmidt living it up. Off to the side are Ethan Signer (back turned) and Martin Carthy. This photo also appeared in Positively 4th Street, but again, was not credited to Alison Chapman McLean, and Martin Carthy was not identified. Click to enlarge.

A slightly different shot.

Eric von Schmidt on mandolin, Fariņa on harmonica, Ethan Signer on guitar.

Fariņa (bottom right) singing with Martin Carthy, Nigel Denver, and Bob Davenport. This photo was recently published in Folk Roots magazine in a career retrospective of Davenport.

Part Two: Other Folkies at The Troubadour

Many, many thanks to Alison Chapman McLean for her historic photos. Thanks also to her husband, Jim McLean, and Norman Druker, and Ian A. Anderson of Folk Roots magazine.

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