Ed Askew obit

Ed Askew Has Died

The singer-songwriter and visual artist was 84 

He was not on the list.

Celebrated singer-songwriter and visual artist Ed Askew has died. He was 84.

No cause of death has been reported at this time. Askew's label, Tin Angel Records, confirmed the news on Instagram, revealing that the artist had died on Saturday (January 4).

"It was a privilege to know you and your music and art," Tin Angel wrote. "You touched more hearts than you could ever know."

Born in Stamford, CT, Askew studied painting at the Yale School of Art. After graduating in 1966 and getting a teaching job at a private prep school, he began writing songs and acquired his Martin Tiple.

The following year, he met Bernard Stollman of ESP-Disk, who offered him a recording contract to release his debut LP, 1968's Ask the Unicorn. Between that year and 1986, Askew lived mostly in New Haven, sporadically playing shows with his band (and later, solo) ahead of taking up residence in New York City in 1987.

The singer-songwriter went on to release a string of albums, starting in 1999 with These Nights and Days. His 2012 LP, Imperfiction, was critically lauded — and he made his Tin Angel debut the following year with For the World, which saw him collaborate with Sharon Van Etten. Askew's most recent release was the 2020 Trembling Bells collaboration, London.

Born in Stamford, Connecticut on December 1, 1940, Askew moved to New Haven, Connecticut, to study painting at Yale School of Art in 1963 and took up, more or less, permanent residence there until leaving for New York in 1987.

After graduating from art school in 1966, Askew was called up for the draft. Not feeling particularly enthusiastic about going to war at age 26, he looked for a teaching job and found work at a private prep school in Connecticut. It was while teaching he started making songs; he also acquired his Martin Tiple at this time. The singer-songwriter moved to New York for a few months in 1967 where he met Bernard Stollman of ESP-Disk, who offered him a contract. Between 1968 and 1986, Ed lived, mostly, in New Haven; doing occasional shows with his band, and later doing solo shows there. Around 1987, Ed moved to New York City, where he continued to write and record songs, and occasionally perform.

Pitchfork and many other high-profile music media praised his work, labeling him as a NY legend. He collaborated with Sharon Van Etten on his 2013 album For the World.