I’m happy to learn that Maria Muldaur is alive and well and still kicking and shimmering at 83. The way she sings “rohMAAHNNCE” in “Midnight at the Oasis“, a sex song if there ever was one, makes you wonder if the former Maria D’Amato might be some kind of earthy, twangy hick from Texas or Oklahoma or Arkansas. But she was born in Greenwich Village and attended Hunter College High School on the Upper East Side.
Maria married fellow Jim Kweskin Jug Band performer Geoff Muldaur in 1964. The same year a daughter, Jenni Muldaur, came along. Geoff and Maria’s marriage lasted until ’72.
True Geoff Muldaur story: I saw him perform with his band at the Westport Player’s Tavern in ’76 or ’77. The opening song was “Sloppy Drunk“, and Muldaur, playing acoustic guitar, was pissed at the audience for chatting and yapping so loudly he and his fellows could barely be heard.
Just before or just after the first song Muldaur leaned into the mike and said in a steady, mellow tone of voice, “I really hate you people…I do, I really do.” He was basically scolding them for refusing to look past themselves by showing a little respect and humility. I loved Muldaur for saying this because the folks in the tavern were acting like obnoxious twats…he was right. I clapped and went “go, Geoff!” and “”whoo-hoo!”