Eric von Schmidt

This singer/songwriter and guitarist was a key figure in the folk revival of the late '50s. He was greatly influenced by Lead Belly's singing and guitar playing, and became an expert Country Blues fingerstyle guitarist in his own right. Along with Joan Baez, von Schmidt was one of the first folk music "stars" to emerge from the Harvard Square folk scene. Bob Dylan adapted von Schmidt's "Baby Let Me Lay it on You" (calling it "Baby Let Me Follow You Down") for his first album.