Violinist, singer, songwriter, and beloved British folk-rock legend Dave Swarbrick has died at 75. Swarbrick released several solo albums and collaborated with an array of other artists, notably guitarist Martin Carthy.

But "Swarb" was best known for his work with seminal folk-rock band Fairport Convention. The fiddler first played with Fairport on the group's third album, 1969's Unhalfbricking, and became an official member with the same year's Liege & Lief, regarded by many as the best folk-rolk album of all-time. Swarbrick took a lead role in guiding the band away from psychedelic-rock to a more pastoral -- if still musically pungent -- arena and cowrote some of the group's best-loved songs, often with guitarist Richard Thompson. Although Fairport officially disbanded in 1979, Swarbrick regularly returned to the fold for tours or to play at the group's annual reunion "convention" in Cropredy, Oxfordshire.


One of my favorite musicians of all time.
Rest In Peace

RIP.

I wrote elsewhere on Ice Swarb was friends with a late friend of mine named Bear. I hope they meet again.

Liege & Lief is one of my favs
The fiddle playing on that is incredible

RIP mate

There best imo.

That's an excellent album as is the following one, "Full House." After those two records both Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson had left the group and it changed dramatically. (I think it was changing members weekly at one point.)

I'm sad to hear about Swarbrick. That electric fiddle sound he had was unique and was an important part of Fairport's sound. And influential. Steeleye Span (another group whose members changed weekly at times) started using the electric fiddle to great effect a couple of years later. RIP.