There was a good article on him in Sing Out! a few years ago--when he was in his early 50's, but in very poor health due to the life-long complications from the fire that injured him at an early age. Sorry to hear he's died, but it's not surprising. Compared to the fate of 18 of his classmates, who died in a school boiler explosion, he was lucky to have the life he did. I think. Maybe.
All folksingers like to go on about their blues and hard times, but he was a guy with the right to sing the blues!
w-o