Erik Darling Papers, 1950s-2008

Collection Number: 20434

Collection Title: Erik Darling Papers, 1950s-2008

This collection has use restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.

Expand/collapse Collection Overview

Size	4.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 500 items)
Abstract	Erik Darling (1933-2008) was a white American songwriter and folk music artist, born in Baltimore, Md., and raised in Canandaigua, N.Y. In the 1950s, he formed with Bob Carey and Alan Arkin what became the Tarriers. In 1956, the Tarriers' "Banana Boat Song" sparked a craze for calypso music. In 1958, Pete Seeger left the Weavers singing group, and Darling was asked to take his place; he stayed with that group until 1962. Darling then formed the Rooftop Singers, which popularized the 12-string guitar in its recording of "Walk Right In." Darling subsequently released several solo albums, wrote many instrument instruction books, and compiled his 2008 autobiography. The collection contains correspondence, scores, sheet music, song lyrics, photographs, moving image materials, audio recordings, and other items related to Erik Darling and his musical career. Correspondence discusses song writing and other activities. Correspondents include Fred Hellerman, Don McLean, Al Perrin, Pete Seeger, and other folk artists and friends. Also included are handwritten and photocopied scores with annotations by Darling; song lyrics by Darling and various collaborators; and printed and photocopied versions of sheet music. There are also clippings relating to the 2004 reunion performance of the Weavers; photographs of both the Tarriers and the Weavers; negatives from the 1954 Musical Americana Tour; several DVDs and videotapes that relate to various groups; recordings of phone interviews conducted by Darling with friends and associates, including Billy Faier, Guy Carawan, and Pete Seeger, while in the process of writing his autobiography I'd Give My Life: A Journey by Folk Music (2008) and compact discs containing notes for and chapters from the autobiography; and recordings of music by Darling and others, including commercially released audiodiscs, demos, dubs, mixes, and masters of commercial and non-commercial recordings. The Additions consist of artwork by Erik Darling.
Creator	Darling, Erik.
Curatorial Unit	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
Language	English

Expand/collapse Information For Users

Restrictions to Access: No restrictions. Open for research.

Restrictions to Use: Use of audio or visual materials may require production of listening or viewing copies.

Copyright Notice: Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], in the Erik Darling Papers #20434, Southern Folklife Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information: Received from Joan Darling and Bill Svanoe in October 2008 (Acc. 101047); from Meghan O'Connell in April 2015 (102205) and December 2019 (Acc. 103746) .

Sensitive Materials Statement: Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

Expand/collapse Processing Information

Processed by: Jennifer Thompson, October 2009

Encoded by: Jennifer Thompson, October 2009

Revisions by: Jodi Berkowitz, October 2015; Nancy Kaiser, January 2020; Dawne Howard Lucas, May 2021

Since August 2017, we have added ethnic and racial identities for individuals and families represented in collections. To determine identity, we rely on self-identification; other information supplied to the repository by collection creators or sources; public records, press accounts, and secondary sources; and contextual information in the collection materials. Omissions of ethnic and racial identities in finding aids created or updated after August 2017 are an indication of insufficient information to make an educated guess or an individual's preference for identity information to be excluded from description. When we have misidentified, please let us know at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu.

Expand/collapse Subject Headings

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

Expand/collapse Biographical Information

Erik Darling was a white American songwriter and folk music artist. He was born 25 September 1933 in Baltimore, Md., and grew up in Canandaigua, N.Y. During his teenage and early adult years, Darling became a talented guitar and banjo player. In the 1950s, he formed the Tunetellers with Bob Carey, but soon changed the group's name to the Tarriers. Darling and Carey were seeking a stable third member when a young actor, Alan Arkin, left Los Angeles, Calif., to join their group. In 1956, the Tarriers "Banana Boat Song" sparked a craze for calypso music. The popularily of this song led to the Tarriers being featured in the film Calypso Heat Wave. In 1958, Pete Seeger left the Weavers singing group, and Darling was asked to take his place; he stayed with the group from 1958 to 1962. Darling then formed the Rooftop Singers in 1962 specifically to update "Walk Right In," originally recorded by Cannon's Jug Stompers in the 1920s. Darling arranged the song for twin 12-string guitars. "Walk Right In" became a number one hit, and Darling was credited with sparking the popularity of 12-string guitars. Darling subsequently released several solo albums and wrote many instrument instruction books. Before his death on 3 August 2008, he completed his autobiography, I'd Give My Life: A Journey by Folk Music.

Expand/collapse Scope and Content

The collection contains correspondence, scores, sheet music, song lyrics, photographs, moving image materials, audio recordings, and other items related to Erik Darling and his musical career. Correspondence discusses song writing and other activities. Correspondents include Fred Hellerman, Don McLean, Al Perrin, Pete Seeger, and other folk artists and friends of Darling. There are handwritten and photocopied scores with annotations by Darling; song lyrics by Darling and various collaborators; and printed and photocopied versions of sheet music. There are clippings relating to the 2004 reunion performance of the Weavers and photographs of the Tarriers and the Weavers. There are also negatives from the Musical Americana Tour, presumably held in 1954. Moving image materials include Isn't This A Time! Press screener , It's Weavermania! In Concert, El Perrate de Utrera, La Carboneria , and Flamenco: an interview with Chris Carnes. There are also recordings of phone interviews conducted by Darling with various friends and associates, including Billy Faier, Guy Carawan, and Pete Seeger, while in the process of writing his autobiography I'd Give My Life: A Journey by Folk Music (2008), as well as compact discs containing notes for and chapters from the autobiography. Finally, there are recordings of music by Darling and his collaborators, including commercially released audiodiscs, demos, dubs, mixes, and masters of commercial and non-commercial recordings. The Additions consist of artwork by Erik Darling.

Contents list

Expand/collapse Series Quick Links

1. Correspondence, 1976-2007.
2. Scores, Sheet Music, and Song Lyrics.
3. Other Papers.
4. Photographs.
5. Moving Image Materials.
6. Autobiography Project Recordings and Related Materials.
7. Recorded Music.
8A. The Ballad of Vilma (Willie) Kurtzer, undated (Addition of 2015)
9A. Santa Fe, N.M. Poster, 1992 (Addition of December 2019)

Expand/collapse Series 1. Correspondence, 1976-2007.

About 30 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Correspondence discusses song writing and other activities. Correspondents include Fred Hellerman, Don McLean, Al Perrin, Pete Seeger, and other folk artists and friends of Erik Darling.

Folder 1

Correspondence, 1976-2007

Expand/collapse Series 2. Scores, Sheet Music, and Song Lyrics.

About 250 items.

Arrangement: alphabetical by song title.

Scores include handwritten and photocopied compositions with annotations by Erik Darling. Song lyrics are by Darling and various collaborators. Also included are song lyrics written by other artists, printed and photocopied versions of sheet music, and music for the Flamenco guitar.

Folder 2	Scores: "Ain't About To Turn Back Now"
	Scores: "All Kinds Of Love Songs"
	Scores: "A Long Line Of Woman"
	Scores: "Banana Boat Song"
	Scores: "Banjo Tune"
Folder 3	Scores: "The Check Is In The Mail"
	Scores: "Child, Child"
	Scores: "Don't Let Your Cowboys Grow Up To Be Babies"
	Scores: "Far Through The Memory Shines The Happy Hour"
	Scores: "Fields Of Bluegrass"
	Scores: "Fire Prevention Songbook"
Folder 4	Scores: "God Knows She Ain't No Angel"
	Scores: "I Come to Stay Awhile"
	Scores: "I Love Naples (Naples Rotary Song)"
	Scores: "It Doesn't Matter At All If It Rains"
	Scores: "It Only Takes One"
	Scores: "Merry Christmas (The Whole Wide World Around)"
	Scores: "No Time To Talk"
Folder 5	Scores: "Our First Teacher Up In Space (Hang On To Your Dreams)"
	Scores: "Papa Told Me Blues"
	Scores: "The Revenge Of The Christmas Tree"
Folder 6	Scores: "Santa Clause is Comin'"
	Scores: "Solea Per Buleria"
	Scores: "Sunshine Baby"
Folder 7	Scores: "Trade Winds"
	Scores: "Walk Right In"
	Scores: "Walk Right In Blues"
	Scores: "Where You Can Still Hear The Sound Of The Railroad"
	Scores: "Your Own Song (The Dit Dit Song)"
Folder 8	Sheet music Includes "Don't Fence Me In" by Cole Porter, "The Girl That I Marry" by Irving Berlin, "I'm an Old Cowhand" by Johnny Mercer, "150 Folk and Gospel Songs" as sung by Bill Clifton, and "The Rovin' Gambler" arranged by Nick Manoloff.
Folder 9-10 Folder 9 Folder 10	Song lyrics Song lyrics by Erik Darling, various collaborators, and other artists.
Folder 11	"Flamenco Falsettas of Diego del Gastor-Moron de la Frontera," compiled by Evan Harrar Music for the Flamenco guitar.

Expand/collapse Series 3. Other Papers.

200 items.

Includes printed materials, clippings, and posters. Printed materials include copies of Folksinger's Wordbook, compiled by Irwin Silber and "American Folklore and Left-Wing Politics, 1927-1957" by Richard A. Reuss. There are clippings that primarily relate to the 2004 reunion performance of The Weavers, among other items.

Folder 12-15 Folder 12 Folder 13 Folder 14 Folder 15	Printed materials Includes copies of Folksinger's Wordbook compiled by Irwin Silber and "American Folklore and Left-Wing Politics, 1927-1957" by Richard A. Reuss.
Folder 16	Clippings Contains a copy of the press release and clippings for the 2004 reunion performance of the Weavers.
Folder 17-18 Folder 17 Folder 18	Other papers Includes receipts, notes, the schedule for the 1954 Musical Americana tour, the pilot outline for a television series entitled Confessions of a Truant Officer , lists of disc jockeys, and other materials.
Extra Oversize Paper XOP-20434/1	Poster of Tom Riker
Extra Oversize Paper XOP-20434/2	Poster of Lucinda Williams
Extra Oversize Paper XOP-20434/3	Poster for the film Calypso Heat Wave

Expand/collapse Series 4. Photographs.

About 100 items.

Photographs are chiefly of the Tarriers and the Weavers, but there are also photographs of unidentified musicians and negatives from the 1954 Musical Americana tour.

Image Folder PF-20434/1	The Tarriers
Image Folder PF-20434/2	The Weavers
Image Folder PF-20434/3-5 PF-20434/3 PF-20434/4 PF-20434/5	The Weavers in Israel
Image Folder PF-20434/6	Musical Americana Tour negatives, 1954
Image Folder PF-20434/7	Photographs of unidentified musicians

Expand/collapse Series 5. Moving Image Materials.

5 items.

Digital Video Disc DVD-20434/140	Isn't This A Time! press screener
Videotape VT-20434/1	It's Weavermania! In Concert
Videotape VT-20434/2	El Perrate de Utrera; Diego del Gastor; La Fernanda de Utrera; La Bernarda de Utrera
Videotape VT-20434/3	La Carboneria
Videotape VT-20434/4	Flamenco: an interview with Chris Carnes

Expand/collapse Series 6. Autobiography Project Recordings and Related Materials.

25 items.

Recordings of phone interviews conducted by Erik Darling with various friends and associates while in the process of writing his autobiography I'd Give My Life: A Journey by Folk Music (2008). There are also compact discs containing notes for and chapters from the autobiography.

SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10551	Joan Darling, 9 June 1991
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10552	Tommy Geraci, 28 June 1991
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10553	Art D'Lugoff
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10554	Billy Faier, 26 June 1991. Ed McCurdy, 31 July 1991
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10555	Ada Brown, 6 June 1991
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10556	George Sprung, Roger Sprung, Barry Kornfeld, 10 June 1991
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10557	Bob Gibson, 13 June 1991. Frank Hamilton, 14 June 1991
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10558	Dick Rozmini, 26 June 1991
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10559	Guy Carawan, 29 June 1991. Ethel Raim, 30 June 1991
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10560	Ed McCurdy, 9 June 1991
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10561	Danny Kalb, 14 September 1998
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10562	Danny Kalb, 29 September 1998
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10563	Tony Price
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10564	Bess Hawes, January 1993
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10565	Joan Darling, 24 March 1998
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10566	John Cohen, 22 April 1998
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10567	John Cohen, Mary Travers
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10568	Pete Seeger, 25 October 1998
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10569	Eric Weisberg
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10570	Tom Riker, 3 July 1997
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7812	Tracks for autobiography, Erik Darling
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7862	Travel, 12 October 2003 Notes for autobiography project.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7863	Travel, December 2004 Notes for autobiography project.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7864	Travel, April-May 2005 Notes for autobiography project.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7865	Chapters, major backup Notes for autobiography project.

Expand/collapse Series 7. Recorded Music.

73 items.

Recordings are primarily of music by Erik Darling and his collaborators. There are commercially released audiodiscs, demos, dubs, mixes, and masters of commercial and non-commercial recordings.

Note that, for the most part, original label titles have been maintained.

45-rpm Disc 45rpm-20434/8928	Cindy, oh Cindy / Only if you praise the Lord, Vince Martin and the Tarriers Commercially released audiodisc.
45-rpm Disc 45rpm-20434/8929	The banana boat song / No hidin' place, The Tarriers Commercially released audiodisc.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7813	Walk right in, 1 November 2006
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7814	Don't go mad until you got to, Erik Darling
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7815	Don't go mad: CD-R master, 16 December 2003
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7816	Don't go mad: Safety master, 6 May 2004
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7817	Don't go mad: Backup, 30 May 2007
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7818	Don't go mad: Reference, 10 July 2004
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7819	Don't go mad: Song
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7820	Go tell Aunt Rhody
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7821	Aunt Rhody's Christmas
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7822	Christmas, second session, 4 songs
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7823	Christmas, second session, WRI
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7824	Revenge of the Christmas tree, Erik Darling
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7825	Revenge of the Christmas tree: 24/44.1 for mastering, 10 June 2006
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7826	Revenge of the Christmas tree, 26 May 2006
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7827	Christmas bells / Santa Claus is coming: New roughs, 6 September 2006
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7828	Revenge of the Christmas tree
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7829	Revenge of the Christmas tree: With bass
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7830	Revenge of the Christmas tree
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7831	Revenge of the Christmas tree: Mix 2, 26 May 2006
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7832	Revenge of the Christmas tree: Remix, 4 November 2006
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7833	Revenge of the Christmas tree: First program. 2 November 2006
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7834	Santa Clause is comin', 2001
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7835	Silver zephyr overture, Erik Darling
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7836	Woody (Summer is coming), Erik Darling
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7837	Mix choices disc with alternate versions, Erik Darling
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7838	Carnegie Hall
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7839	J. J. Audabon
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7840	J. J. Audabon: Master
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7841	True religion / Train time: Kitchen mastered, 16 November 2006
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7842	True religion / Train time, Erik Darling, 1960
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7843	True religion / Train time, Erik Darling, 1960
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7844	True religion / Train time, Erik Darling
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7845	Dig my grave
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7846	Front row with Arkansas Red
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7847	An old dish rag, Fred Hellerman
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7848	Long long way, Freddie's version
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7849	A. Miller at Rave's
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7850	Possible songs for Carnegie
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7851	The ballad of Rod Skaggs, December 2006
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7852	Darling Corey and Goofing-off suite, Pete Seeger Dub of commercial recordings.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7853	Love calls home, Peggy Seeger Dub of commercial recordings.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7854	Goofing-off suite, Pete Seeger Dub of commercial recordings.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7855	Emmett Miller Dub of commercial recordings.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7856	Jazz corner, Hotlanta Dub of commercial recordings.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7857	Gamble Rogers Dub of commercial recordings.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7858	Unidentified.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7859	Revenge of the Christmas tree: Revision 2, 7 November 2006 HDCD reference master.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7860	Revenge of the Christmas tree: Revision 3, 16 November 2006 HDCD reference master.
Music Compact Disc CD-20434/7861	True religion / Train time: Revision 1, 16 November 2006 HDCD reference master.
Digital Audiotape DAT-20434/556	Border Town at Midnight, Erik Darling and Border Town
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10571	Soca Girl, Bryan Lee Dub.
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10572	Almanac Singers 1941-1942 (dubs) Dubs of Keynote and General Records releases.
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10573	Weavers on WNYC: Charter recordings 1949
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10574	Sunset: Omar, Chris, Erik
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10575	Tarantas
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10576	Songs from Ronnie Music in my mother's house (Stuart Stott); I am willing; I ain't afraid (Holly Near).
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10577	Practice
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10578	Ain't About to Turn Back Now: Long Live Women
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10579	Ain't About to Turn Back Now: Idea, January 27 1996
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10580	1800s words, names, history
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10581	Never, Ever K to Q
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10582	Our First Teacher In Space: Demo
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10583	Our First Teacher In Space: Performance
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10584	Flamenco
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10585	Simple Song, Lyle Lovett
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10586	Tommy Geraci, Rooftop. Ada, Gift Dubs.
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10587	Hurry Worry / Long Long Way
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10588	Never Ever: Erik's Heart Song
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10589	Japan #1
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10590	Japan #2
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10591	Full Stop, Erik Darling Dub.
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20434/10592	Unidentified

Expand/collapse Series 8A. The Ballad of Vilma (Willie) Kurtzer, undated (Addition of 2015)

1 item.

Acquisitions Information: Accession 102205

The Addition of 2015 consists of an illustrated manuscript of "The Ballad of Vilma (Willie) Kurtzer" by Erik Darling.

Folder 19

Illustrated manuscript: "The Ballad of Vilma (Willie) Kurtzer," undated

Expand/collapse Series 9A. Santa Fe, N.M. Poster, 1992 (Addition of December 2019)

1 item.

Acquisitions Information: Accession 103746

Artwork by Erik Darling.

Oversize Paper Folder OPF-20434/1

"Santa Fe, N.M.," 1992

Expand/collapse Items Separated

Audiodiscs (45-20434/8928-8929)
Compact discs (CD-20434/7812-7865)
Digital audio tape (DAT-20434/556)
Digital video disc (DVD-20434/140)
Audiocassettes (FS-20434/10551-10592)
Photograph folders (PF-20434/1-7)
Extra-oversize papers (XOP-20434/1-3)
Videotapes (VT-20434/1-4)

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Collection Number: 20434 Collection Title: Erik Darling Papers, 1950s-2008

Expand/collapse Collection Overview

Expand/collapse Information For Users

Expand/collapse Processing Information

Expand/collapse Subject Headings

Expand/collapse Biographical Information

Expand/collapse Scope and Content

Contents list

Expand/collapse Series Quick Links

Expand/collapse Series 1. Correspondence, 1976-2007.

Expand/collapse Series 2. Scores, Sheet Music, and Song Lyrics.

Folder 9

Folder 10

Expand/collapse Series 3. Other Papers.

Folder 12

Folder 13

Folder 14

Folder 15

Folder 17

Folder 18

Expand/collapse Series 4. Photographs.

PF-20434/3

PF-20434/4

PF-20434/5

Expand/collapse Series 5. Moving Image Materials.

Expand/collapse Series 6. Autobiography Project Recordings and Related Materials.

Expand/collapse Series 7. Recorded Music.

Collection Number: 20434

Collection Title: Erik Darling Papers, 1950s-2008