Obit: David Grover (1952-2021)

Subject: @keberoxu RE: Obit: David Grover (1952-2021)
From: Tiger
Date: 12 Jul 22 - 10:19 AM

I don't know if my father-in-law ever met or knew Hank (David's father), though they would have been contemporaries. He most likely wasn't a buddy of David's either, it's just that he'd met him and heard him play on several occasions. Great props, though.

For historical reference, the Berkshire Mountaineers were a group of young men from Adams, North Adams and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. They were active for a couple of years in the early 1930s. They did shows and fairs, and would often appear at movie theaters, e.g., between films at double features. Also did a few radio spots. Their billing cited old-time music, black face skits and tap dancing. Several also appeared as the Berkshire Trio. Personnel included:
Bernard LaRoche - manager, banjo
Charles Brown - violin
Jacob Ralnick - accordion
William Garno - guitar
William Blair - banjo
William Hussy - guitar
Norman Pratt - violin
Paul Murray
Arthur Daignault
Hector Lemieux

Bill Garno was my father-in-law. I learned a lot of songs from him. I was also able to meet Bernie LaRoche (Bill's cousin) and Bill Hussy (a good friend).

Subject: RE: Obit: David Grover (1952-2021)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jul 22 - 07:20 PM

Hi All, I worked closely with David for many years. His death is truly an enormous loss to many people, and to the music world. The memorial concert in Pittsfield last month was very moving.

One minor correction to the above info: the Sesame Street Muppet Grover was not based on David, but when Arlo appeared on The Muppet Show, they made muppets based on all the members of Shenandoah, including David (recognizable by his glasses).

He did indeed play on the White House lawn several times with the kids' band, as well as many times at the Jewish Museum in New York, The Museum of Natural History, The Jacksonville Theatre, and many other venerable venues, but maybe more importantly in hundreds if not thousands of elementary school "cafetoriums," classrooms, and gymnasiums around the country, teaching songs and life lessons to kids.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Grover (1952-2021)
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 09 Jul 22 - 11:38 AM

Tiger, did your father-in-law know David Grover's father,
who apparently was very active in folk/traditional music
in the same region of Massachusetts? This is interesting!

Subject: RE: Obit: David Grover (1952-2021)
From: Tiger
Date: 09 Jul 22 - 08:23 AM

My late father-in-law (from Pittsfield) knew him and mentioned his playing many times, though I don't know if he ever played WITH him.

He himself once played (in the 1930s) with a group called "The Greylock Mountaineers"

Subject: RE: Obit: David Grover (1952-2021)
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 08 Jul 22 - 10:11 AM

Great Barrington, Massachusetts, now officially has a
Grover's Corner.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Grover (1952 ? - 2021)
From: keberoxu
Date: 12 Jun 22 - 09:16 PM

My apologies to the members of Arlo Guthrie's band Shenandoah,
as I am not acquainted to the membership,
I just had to look it up.
The members have their individual names in the preceding list.

Arlo Guthrie's Shenandoah, besides Guthrie himself
and the late lamented David Grover, included the following:

Robert Putnam
Carol and Steve Ide
Terry Hall

Subject: RE: Obit: David Grover (1952 ? - 2021)
From: keberoxu
Date: 12 Jun 22 - 07:15 PM

In Pittsfield, Mass., a Celebration of Life for David Grover was held
Sunday, 12 June, 2022.
The venue was Pittsfield's Colonial Theatre, with food and refreshments served in something called
the Colonial Theatre Garage.
Kathy Jo Grover, his widow, was in the Garage during the hour preceding the performance onstage.

The Berkshire Edge published a list of all the performers who had agreed to participate, pay tribute, perform songs written about, or by, Grover. It's a long list. I'll take a deep breath and reproduce it here.

Danny Allen
Puggy Demary
Michael Fabrizio
Ben Fusco
Annie Guthrie, Arlo's daughter and the executive director of the Guthrie Center in Housatonic/Great Barrington, Mass.
Terry Hall
John Harding
Carol Ide
Steve Ide
Judi Jaeger
Andy Kelly
Isabella Kent
John Miller
Warren Odze
Jared Polens
Tom Powers
Rob Putnam
Bob Reid
Paul Rice
Mike Sacco
Alice and Larry Spatz
Bobby Sweet
Gordon Titcomb
Joe Torra
Phebe Lace Wood
John Zarvis

Subject: RE: Obit: David Grover (1952 - 2021)
From: keberoxu
Date: 06 Nov 21 - 09:20 PM

Fifteen photographs of David Grover performing live, are displayed
in an editorial published in the Berkshire Eagle.

A few of the photographs show Arlo Guthrie and Shenandoah, of which Grover was the guitarist.
Most of the photographs feature the people of Berkshire County, especially the young children.
It's a treasure, this display.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Grover (1952 ? - 2021)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 21 - 11:43 PM

Here's his Bandcamp page: https://davidgrover.bandcamp.com/

I believe he was lead guitarist for Arlo Guthrie.


Here's an obit from WAMC Public Radio:

Berkshire County musician David Grover, known for his work with folk rocker Arlo Guthrie and his dedication to making music for children, has died at 69.
Born in Pittsfield, Grover was a staple of the county’s music scene, from his 40 years of performing weekly summer concerts for young people in Great Barrington to countless events around the community. His career highlights include producing critically lauded children’s programming for PBS, including “Chanukah At Grover’s Corner.”

Terrence Hall – better known as Terry a la Berry – played with Grover for years in various permutations after they first met at 13 years old, performing at the Berkshire Playhouse for “Threepenny Opera.”

“[He was] very funny at times, and really serious about the music that he wanted to create," a la Berry told WAMC. "That was the work side, but then we traveled the country, all over the place, went everywhere, and got to see and share so many incredible places from the Grand Canyon to the White House. He was literally my best friend for a very, very long time.”

Grover was a member of Berkshire rock group Shenandoah in the 1970s, which backed artists like Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Bo Diddley and more as the house band for the Music Inn in Lenox.

---

From https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/23039110/david-a-grover:

David A. Grover (January 8, 1952 - November 3, 2021

David A. Grover, age 69 of Lee MA, passed away on November 3, 2021 of complications following a car accident, at St. Elizabeth’s hospital in Utica, New York. David was a devoted father and grandfather. He was a musician and songwriter whose career spanned 5 decades and included touring with Arlo Guthrie and then his own Big Bear Band, as well as numerous recordings, television shows and awards. Music was indeed his passion. His greatest expression of this was writing and performing for children which he did from coast to coast for 40 years. He loved fishing and was an avid reader. He particularly loved reading history and philosophy.

David leaves his wife of 17 years Kathy Jo Grover, his a step-son Michael Wartella, and 3 Grandchildren, Althea Grover of Lee, Isabella Kent of West Stockbridge and Hunter Wartella of Stockbridge. Additionally he leaves his stepmother Marilyn Gerhard and her husband Michael of Pittsfield, and his siblings, Philip Grover of Adams, Michael Grover and his wife Elizabeth McNitt of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Donna Grover and her husband Jim of Lee, Adrianne and Heather Grover both of Pittsfield, as well as thirteen nieces and nephews.

David was predeceased by both of his parents Pauline Herrmann and Henry Grover of Pittsfield. He also lost his brother Paul Grover, his niece Justina Coe, and his beloved daughter Jessica Lee Grover.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Grover (1952 ? - 2021)
From: keberoxu
Date: 05 Nov 21 - 11:17 PM

What is more, about this musician's background:

David Grover's father, Hank Grover, was the leader of the
Berkshire Folk Music Society, and as such a contributor/publisher of
the Berkshire Broadside, the paper for the BFMS.
This newsletter was being published around 1965.


David Grover had a daughter named Jessica
from his first marriage (mother's name not known)
and sadly, Jessica pre-deceased her father.
She died of carbon monoxide poisoning as a young adult.
Seems it was a household tragedy, pet animals dying with her --
NOT intentional.
One interview has stated that this accidental death
was devastating to David Grover. Don't know the date.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Grover (1952 ? - 2021)
From: keberoxu
Date: 05 Nov 21 - 10:35 PM

There is a GoFundMe site for the family that David Grover left behind.

He was a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

His widow, Kathy Jo, reports that his car was rear-ended near Utica, New York, where he went straight to hospital.
In fact, there was an interval of about twelve days between his admission to hospital and his death the first week of November 2021.
Kathy Jo Grover explains that he had underlying health issues to begin with.
To end up in hospital with injuries, plus the existing health problems, went over the limit.
As Mrs. Grover says,
"between the two things, they were just unable to bring him back."

As a musician playing for audiences of children, he fronted something called
David Grover and the Big Bear Band.
If I read right, he played the White House during the Clinton Administration.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Grover (1952 ? - 2021)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Nov 21 - 09:52 PM

Plenty of parents will know of Super Grover. Sad news.

Subject: Obit: David Grover (1952 ? - 2021)
From: keberoxu
Date: 05 Nov 21 - 06:37 PM

David Grover was the inspiration for
Grover on the Muppet Show, and he played in the band Shenandoah
with Arlo Guthrie. Sang, too.

The Berkshire Eagle reports that David Grover died
"Wednesday evening [3 November 2021] from complications after
a car accident in upstate New York. He was 69."

Any Mudcatters knew / know of David Grover?