More than 40 years since his untimely death, writer and musician Richard Farina's life seems almost like a folk tale itself -- he did some wild roving in his short time on the planet. The story has already been told far better than I could ever summarize it in David Hajdu's excellent book Positively Fourth Street, recounting Farina's travels through the early '60s literary and folk scenes and his intersection with Bob Dylan and the Baez sisters, of whom Mimi became his wife and musical partner.
Dylan, of course, went on to become a pop culture legend and elder statesman. Farina died in a motorcycle accident on his way to a book signing event in 1966, just days after the release of his first novel and only a few months after the release of the couple's second album, Reflections in a Crystal Wind. Judging by the music and writing he left behind, Farina may have ended up just as famous a figure as Dylan had he lived.
While Dylan was transitioning to full-on rock in early 1965, the Farinas were experimenting with fleshing out a more traditional folk sound. A small combo joined Reflections in a Crystal Wind sound fresh, and it's well-worth checking out for anyone interested in delving deeper into the '60s folk scene.
