Born on June 30, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, Dave Van Ronk, often referred to as the "Mayor of MacDougal Street," was a prominent figure in the folk music scene. He passed away on February 10, 2002, in New York City. A native of the city, Van Ronk was recognized as a storyteller, troubadour, and provocateur within the music community. He arrived at Washington Square Park in the mid-1950s, a time marked by the folk revival, where he lived modestly while teaching himself guitar and engaging with communist political circles.

In 1958, he collaborated with lifelong friend and musicologist John Cohen to release their first album, "Skiffle in Stereo," as part of the band The New Lost City Ramblers. After serving in the Merchant Marine and performing in numerous cabarets throughout New York City, he eventually settled in Greenwich Village.

Described by fellow musician Dave Bromberg as "the great, grizzled guitarist," Van Ronk's musical style defied easy categorization. He identified as a 'moldy fig' and rejected the label of “folk artist,” instead blending elements of Dixieland jazz, ragtime, blues, and vaudeville. He often noted his inconsistency, asserting that his recordings adhered to a simple principle: "anything that I like and that I think I can find a handle to, I'll take a whack at." While more recognized as an arranger than a songwriter, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers in December 1997, acknowledging his contributions to music over his four-decade career.

Van Ronk debuted on the Verve label in the early 1960s before moving to other labels, including Riverside, with Dixieland revivalists. In the late 1960s, he released his sole rock album with the label, and as the folk music boom began to wane, he produced fewer albums, with releases on various labels, including one in 1972 and another the following year. By the early 1980s, he was involved in multiple independent folk projects, including several recordings for the New England-based Rounder imprint. He collaborated with other artists in the 1990s, continuing to explore new musical avenues.

Van Ronk remained an active performer until his death from complications related to colon cancer surgery in early 2002. His autobiography, co-written with Elijah Wald, and the live album "Dave Van Ronk: The Final Concert," recorded toward the end of his life, were released posthumously. In the summer of 2004, New York City honored his legacy by renaming the eastern side of Sheridan Square on Washington Place as Dave Van Ronk Street. Throughout his career, he served as a mentor to many emerging artists in New York. Notably, musician Paul Simon recalled Van Ronk as "Greenwich Village’s king of the street," and several singer-songwriters, including Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and others, have acknowledged his influence and guidance. His contemporary, the west coast musician Peter Paul and Mary, remarked on his significant role in the New York folk scene, stating, "In the engine room of the New York Folk Scene shoveling coal into the furnace, one Big Man rules; Dog-faced roustabout songster, bluesman Dave Van Ronk. Long may he howl."

In the 1960s, he married the artist Terry Van Ronk, later lived with Joanne Grace, and eventually married Andrea Vuocolo, with whom he spent the remainder of his life. His manager was the noted music promoter, Bob Neuwirth.