Dave Swarbrick, a folk musician best known for his work with legendary group Fairport Convention, has sadly passed away.
The violin player, who joined the group in 1969 and played on their influential Liege & Lief album, died in hospital following ongoing ill health.
Known as Swarb, the musician was considered one of the best to emerge during the sixties folk revival. As well as writing and arranging with Fairport, he became a much in-demand session player, recording with the likes of Bert Jansch, Richard Thompson and Martin Carthy.
Fairport Convention confirmed his passing on their website. In a statement, the group said: ‘We have just had the sad news from Alex Swarbrick that his father, Dave Swarbrick, has passed away.
‘Swarb, as you know, had been seriously ill for some time and, although he had showed recent signs of improvement, died in hospital this morning. Our thoughts right now are with his wife Jill and the Swarbrick family.’
While he was hospitalised in 1999, the Daily Telegraph reportedly prematurely announced his death and published an obituary.
When he next appeared in public, he signed copies of the obit for fans, saying: ‘It’s not the first time I’ve died in Coventry.’
In 2004 he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
At the 2006 Folk Awards he shared with current and past Fairport Convention members an award for their seminal album Liege & Lief after it was voted Most Influential Folk Album of All Time by Radio 2 listeners.
Photo credit - folkicons.co.uk
The violin player, who joined the group in 1969 and played on their influential Liege & Lief album, died in hospital following ongoing ill health.
Known as Swarb, the musician was considered one of the best to emerge during the sixties folk revival. As well as writing and arranging with Fairport, he became a much in-demand session player, recording with the likes of Bert Jansch, Richard Thompson and Martin Carthy.
Fairport Convention confirmed his passing on their website. In a statement, the group said: ‘We have just had the sad news from Alex Swarbrick that his father, Dave Swarbrick, has passed away.
‘Swarb, as you know, had been seriously ill for some time and, although he had showed recent signs of improvement, died in hospital this morning. Our thoughts right now are with his wife Jill and the Swarbrick family.’
While he was hospitalised in 1999, the Daily Telegraph reportedly prematurely announced his death and published an obituary.
When he next appeared in public, he signed copies of the obit for fans, saying: ‘It’s not the first time I’ve died in Coventry.’
In 2004 he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
At the 2006 Folk Awards he shared with current and past Fairport Convention members an award for their seminal album Liege & Lief after it was voted Most Influential Folk Album of All Time by Radio 2 listeners.
Photo credit - folkicons.co.uk
