Leon Redbone

R.I.P. Leon Redbone. One of music's truly idiosyncratic and inscrutable performers has died. Nobody's sure what his real name was or when he was born. He'd been ailing for a while and died while in hospice care in Bucks Co., PA, where he lived for many years. I first met him in the late '80s when he came to WNEW-FM for an interview with Pete Fornatale. Contrary to his mysterious image, he was accompanied by his wife and young daughters! I was fortunate to interview him myself at WFUV in 2014, with the estimable Vince Giordano backing him in the studio. He didn't give many straight answers to my questions, but we had a good time!

Listen here: http://www.wfuv.org/content/leon-redbone-sunday-breakfast-2014