Willy Blizzard front man John Hough worked with David Rea in the nineties, when David played guitar on John’s original song The Dark Side. His versatility and sensitivity were much in demand by the folk artists. David was also scheduled to work on another original song, but was unable to complete the project. Why? It was back in the day of cassette players, and David was also in the midst of raising his three children. One day, David phoned up to B.C. to tell John the bad news: “Sorry John, my daughter just dumped the cassette in the fish tank!” Still laughing.
Rest in peace, David.
TORONTO — David Rea, a versatile folk guitarist who played with such Canadian legends as Gordon Lightfoot, Ian & Sylvia and Joni Mitchell, has died. He was 65.
The news was announced on Rea’s personal website, noting that he died on Oct. 27, one day after his birthday.
Born in Ohio, Rea moved to Toronto at the age of 17 to participate in the city’s burgeoning folk scene.
He played on Lightfoot’s 1966 debut album “Lightfoot!” and performed alongside the iconic Canadian songwriter in his early years, before eventually playing with the diverse likes of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Roosevelt Sykes, Richie Havens, Mississippi John Hurt, Tom Rush and Reverend Gary Davis.
Rea also contributed his distinctive guitar style to several Ian & Sylvia records including “Nashville,” “Lovin’ Sound,” “Full Circle” and “So Much For Dreaming.” The folk duo would go on to record several songs written by Rea, including “Pilgrimage to Paradise,” “The Minstrel” and “Ninety Degrees by Ninety Degrees.”
Rea would continue writing and recording his own material, even co-penning Mountain’s enduring 1970 hit “Mississippi Queen,” which has since been covered by Ozzy Osbourne and featured in a bevy of films.
He continued releasing solo material over the ensuing decades — though he took time off in the ’80s to raise his three children — with his most recent album, “X7,” being issued in 2000.
The cover of that record, a sketch of Rea, was actually created by Mitchell herself, who’s also said to have written “Play Little David” about her longtime friend.