In his last years, when we asked David to tell us what he thought the high points of his life were, one of them was “Creatively—writing a good song.” And he wrote many. Several became “golden oldies” for us, catchy, fun, sometimes profound, sometimes surreal.

Writing popular songs was in vogue in the 1960’s, as was the singer/songwriter, musicians writing their own songs, personal, heartfelt, unique. As a poet and linguist, David could draw on those skills as well as his knowledge and love of Mexican music, Fado, Blues, Calypso, American and Hebrew folk songs…. He also played the chalil and a rudimentary guitar.

David had a beautiful voice and sang a lot from the time we met. When my grandfather met him, he told me, “Don’t marry that boy. He doesn’t have a care in the world. He sings too much.” (Well, Dear Reader, I married him.)

Over the years he worked with several fine musicians and singers and even had the opportunity to meet John Hammond, though that audition didn’t lead to a great commercial breakthrough (!). The imperative to keep his day job as a professor/scholar also put limits on becoming a traveling troubadour.

David sang for awhile even after he had vocal cord surgery. He was persuaded to sing a couple songs on the children’s CD we produced. He wasn’t the singer he’d been, but he continued to come up with musical ideas, putting music to words, words to music. When we worked on other projects for children together, it always amazed me how he came up with such perfect melodies/tunes/ rhythms. He was gifted--a natural.

Phillis Gershator
2/2022