May 5, 2011. Beloved husband of Diane Gall-Meldrum; loving father of Alexander and Julia; dear brother of George (Betty), Ivan, William (Yvonne), Thomas (Sharon), Marjorie Mancinelli and Timothy (Sherry) Meldrum; also survived by nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the KOLANO FUNERAL HOME, 396 Amherst Street,
(near Grant), Monday 4-8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Our Lady of Hope Church, Lafayette near Grant Street, Tuesday at 9:30 AM. Please assemble at church. Interment, Forest Lawn Cemetery. Donations in Michael’s memory to Hospice Buffalo, Inc. are preferred. Online condolences at www.kolanofuneralhome.com



Michael G. Meldrum, the folk singer who hosted Buffalo's longest-running open mic night and fostered singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco during her formative years, died Thursday in the hospice unit of Buffalo General Hospital from liver disease. He was 60.

Mr. Meldrum was a central figure in the city's folk music scene for more than three decades, encouraging young artists in his Monday night sessions in Nietzsche's on Allen Street and bringing notable out-of-towners like Suzanne Vega, Michele Shocked and Townes Van Zandt to local audiences through his Buffalo Song Project.

Mr. Meldrum, who was born Feb. 15, 1951, in Buffalo, was a frequent winner of Buffalo Music Awards and was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

He was DiFranco's guitar teacher and championed her all through her teen years, showcasing her frequently. He brought her to the stage in a benefit show at Buffalo State College on her 10th birthday in 1980 and accompanied her as a visiting artist in local schools when she was still in high school.

"I am only one of the many whose life was touched by Michael," said DiFranco, speaking to The News from her home in New Orleans.

"Any success I've had has been predicated on what he taught me -- that staying in touch with what music is and why it is that we give our lives over to it, is essential. He taught me that music isn't something you make -- it's something you do. It's about making a connection with others, about establishing community, about freeing yourself and urging others to do the same. I learned all of this from him, and it has stayed with me every step of the way."

DiFranco in 2006 released Meldrum's long-awaited debut album, "Open Ended Question," on her Righteous Babe label.

Typically, Mr. Meldrum shared the spotlight on the disc, inviting dozens of local musicians to add their instruments and their voices, among them singer/songwriter Alison Pipitone and multi-instrumentalist Jim Whitford.

A review of that album appearing on About.com praised both Meldrum and Buffalo's music scene, claiming that, though it "may not be as flashy as Nashville or as painfully hip as Austin ... it's nothing if not earnest, purposeful, and hauntingly sincere -- all qualities Meldrum's debut intuitively shares."

Mr. Meldrum said at the time, "My greatest talent, if you can call it that, has been my willingness to explore the secret crevices of the Buffalo music scene. I've never been anything less than amazed at what I've found there."

In addition to his weekly open mic and songwriter showcase engagements, Mr. Meldrum created a series of highly popular tribute nights at Nietzsche's, notably his annual Bob Dylan Imitators Contest, which began in 1988 and has attracted hundreds of performers, and a similar one called "Cold Turkey: A Tribute to John Lennon." The events were consistently well attended, and were treated as "must-have" gigs by local bands and musicians.

"The Lennon gigs in particular were a big deal to be a part of," said local musician Nelson Starr, who performed during the annual tribute concerts on many occasions. "Michael always championed up-and-coming artists around town."

Though Meldrum's deepest affection remained with folk music throughout his life, the Lennon tribute shows always involved musicians from various idioms -- spoken-word to hard rock, and back again -- which was a testament to his belief in the city's pool of musical talent.

"Michael's efforts really are the cornerstone of what Nietzsche's is today," said Joe Rubino, the club's owner. "He ran the open mic for 28 years, and the tribute shows for almost as long."

Musician and artist Rob Lynch played with Meldrum in various configurations over the years. That musical relationship turned into an enduring friendship.

"Playing songs with Michael on his porch during the summer months, or at his dining room table during winter, was a touching experience," Lynch recalled. "It was the sharing of the joys of music among friends and family."

Over the course of the last week of his life, after he'd been moved to Buffalo General's Hospice wing, Meldrum received a steady stream of visitors. Most of them brought along guitars, and spent time at Meldrum's bedside, sharing in the love of music that was such a significant part of his life.

Surviving are his wife, Dianne Gall-Meldrum; a son, Alexander; and a daughter, Julia.

Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday in Kolano Funeral Home, 396 Amherst St.

Services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Our Lady of Hope, 18 Greenwood Place at Lafayette Avenue and Grant Street.

By Dale Anderson and Jeff Miers

NEWS STAFF REPORTERS

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