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Roy Alan Book Binder

5 October 1943 – 3 March 2026

Roy Bookbinder (as he spelled it in the early days) was

born in Queens, New York City. Upon graduation from
high school, he joined the US Navy and undertook a tour

of duty in Europe. He bought his first guitar at a
military base in Italy.

On returning to New York after his service he met

up and became friends with Dave Van Ronk.
That encouraged him to seek out Rev. Gary

Davis who was by then a resident of New York.
Roy became Davis’ student and later his

chauffeur and tour companion. Much of
Book Binder’s later self written material

resulted from his relationship with Davis.

By the mid- to late 1960s, Book Binder
was recording for both Kicking Mule and

Blue Goose Records and in 1969, he
toured England with Arthur "Big Boy"

Crudup and Homesick James.

Roy met and befriended Pink
Anderson. Anderson

was a medicine
show entertainer

and ‘barker’ and

Roy, who became
his student, was instrumental in taking Pink on tour in the early 1970s, taking him

to Boston and New York City. Roy’s first album “Travelin’ Man” (1971) was named
after one of Anderson’s popular songs.

Roy lived on the road. “The Book” as he called himself, rambled the world for the

past 45 years He gave up his Greenwich Village "pad" in the early 1970's and lived
in his "Tour Bus(es)" —converted motor homes and campers—crisscrossing the US

and appearing at festivals throughout Canada & Europe.

Roy’s website shows eleven upcoming festivals he had been booked for.

Ian K McKenzie