We have some sad news for you today, music fans. Folk singer Randy Burns has passed away. The artist was 78.
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His sister, Sue Burns Baker, confirmed his passing on social media. Burns was a "folk revival icon" who "from an early age, music and performing were part of his world."
"Randy Burns, my big brother, folksinger, songwriter and friend to many from New Haven, Connecticut, born April 14, 1948, passed from this earth into the hands of God today, August 8, 2026," she
wrote.Burns started performing at New Haven's Exit Coffeehouse as a teen. He later formed the band called The Morning and Skydog Band. His career spanned more than five decades.
Folk Singer Dies
"Randy Burns has died," Mike Higgins wrote on Facebook. "He was a tremendous songwriter and singer. He was a major force on the folk scene during the late sixties and seventies. I met him and Cory at a festival that we played. We hit it off, and I ended up covering this song on an album I did called 'Strings attached.' Mauren and I traveled to see him a couple more times in New Haven. She had seen him in the seventies at Charlies Hungry Tiger. He wrote some incredible music and his voice was captivating. I consider him to be one of the best, if not the best of that entire scene. I am thankful for the chance to have spent a bit of time with him. Rest in Peace Randy."
Fans also mourned his loss on social media.
One person wrote, "Randy Burns and the Sky Dog Band's body of music still resides in my head. I can clearly hear his incredible deep voice harmonized by AJ Mulhern despite it being over 50 years. I'm sure that Fiddler's Green is now a place he knows well!"
Another commented, "I remember him from Toads? Jocko's? Can't remember which one. We sat at a table with him and he proceeded to sing If I Loved You to me. Just found out today the soundtrack to Carousel was his favorite."
