Jim Bamford info?

Subject: Jim Bamford info?
From: babypix
Date: 19 Jun 20 - 06:08 PM

Gentle Colleagues:

I am seeking any information about the death date of Jim Bamford of Dr. Humbead's New Tranquility String Band. I know he died some time long ago, but would like to know the year, and whether there are survivors. Thanking you in advance for your assistance!

Cordially,

Deborah

Subject: RE: Jim Bamford info?
From: cnd
Date: 20 Jun 20 - 12:21 AM

I have their song "Dubuque" from the multi-artist Young Fogies (1985) by Dr. Humbead's band; the recording, according to the liner notes, was from 1970, but the group at that point did not include Jim Bamford, who was apparently replaced by Eric Thompson on guitar in that recording.

Apparently, Bamford retired from playing with the NTSB by November 1970 due to ill health (source), though Banjo Newsletter of Feb. 2020 (click) posited that Bamford's leaving had "something to do with the presence of the female member."

Besides that, I haven't found much. I found this page (click) which writes the following: "Mac Benford and his band left and headed east. Jim Bamford, guitar player with Dr. Humbead, died."

Based off what I can find on digitized newspapers, Benford went east around 1974 (though mentions of his name dropped off entirely from 1971-1973), suggesting that some time between 1970 and 1974 Bamford passed away.

But, I can't find anything for sure.

Subject: RE: Jim Bamford info?
From: cnd
Date: 20 Jun 20 - 12:22 AM

PS, Deborah,

Do you post this research anywhere? All of this stuff you've asked about sounds rather interesting, and I'd love to see what it's going in to.

Subject: RE: Jim Bamford info?
From: cnd
Date: 20 Jun 20 - 06:55 PM

I emailed Clarke Buehling from the article above and he gave me the following response:

"Jim passed away around 1972 or 73, I think, of kidney
problems.
I was going to the San Francisco Art Institute at that time,
and would often hitch-hike to Berkeley to socialize with the
Humbead band. You know that Sue Draheim much later moved
to Berea, KY where she passed away a few years ago.

Karen Guth was Jim's common-law wife, you could say, but
I have no idea what became of her."

From that info, I've found an obit for a James W. Bamford (age 34) whose funeral was on Dec. 2 1973 of "nephrosis and a stroke... in Berkeley after a long illness" (source) - no mention of Karen, though.

Subject: RE: Jim Bamford info?
From: cnd
Date: 20 Jun 20 - 06:55 PM

Sorry, passed on Dec. 2nd, funeral was the following Wednesday.