Michael Hurley, known for his unique folk music style and songs, has passed away at the age of 83 in Astoria, Oregon, as shared by his family.
For six decades, this musician crafted tunes blending bluegrass, blues, and freak-folk with quirky ideas and simple sounds. His album covers were just as playful; one even shows a wolf munching on pies! Yet amidst the fun, he also touched upon life’s serious themes with detailed storytelling that urged listeners to see life’s bigger picture.
Hurley was born just before Christmas in 1941 in Pennsylvania. As a kid, he loved listening to Fats Waller and Jelly Roll Morton during summer road trips with his family. He left high school early to create fanzines and travel around playing music with his guitar. One day while hitchhiking, Fred Ramsey picked him up; Ramsey later helped produce Michael’s first album after Hurley recovered from mononucleosis at 22 years old.
He wasn’t just about singing or strumming a guitar; Hurley also played the fiddle and banjo while creating artwork for his albums. His friend Jesse Colin Young helped spread Michael’s music by releasing some of his albums through Warner Bros., which got people talking about him.
Fans think it’s amazing how someone can be so creative across different arts!
In 1975, after joining Rounder Records, he released Have Moicy!, which became popular underground and won praise from critics. This success led to more albums like Long Journey in 1976 and Snockgrass in 1980. Over time, younger musicians such as Yo La Tengo and Cat Power admired him greatly for his work too!
