My Greenwich Village

Terri Thal was very much a part of the folk music world in 1960s Greenwich Village, New York. Few people know that she was 21-year old Bob Dylan's first manager prior to his contract with Albert Grossman and Columbia Records. She also managed musician Dave Van Ronk (who later became her husband), and others to include the Roche sisters, Paul Geremia and The Holy Modal Rounders. She booked performances at coffee houses, clubs and basket houses. On 6 September 1961, she recorded a set from a young Bob at The Gaslight Café - a celebrated performance as it is one his first known live recordings, and the first known live recording to feature original songs. This concert became known to Dylan fans as the 'First Gaslight Tape'! Terri took this 'audition' tape to clubs and concert producers, trying to get him gigs - and she still owns the original reel-to-reel tape!