Until recently, I had never heard of American singer/songwriter David Ackles. That said, I now find myself often streaming his music.

His self titled debut album was released in 1968. It was followed by Subway to the Country in 1970. In 1972, David Ackles’s third album, American Gothic, received positive reviews from North American and UK critics, some declaring it to be ‘the Sgt. Pepper of folk’ and one of the greatest records ever made. High praise indeed.

But the album, like his previous two releases, was not a commercial success. Ackles released one more album and then stopped recording. He found work, wrote a script for a TV movie, raised a family, and did some charity work. He died in 1999.

His fans include Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Phil Collins and Elvis Costello – all Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.

Mark Brend is a writer and musician who spent a great deal of time diving into the career and mythology of David Ackles. He’s written about the enigmatic singer/songwriter before; his previous works have been published in Mojo Magazine and in his book American Troubadours: Groundbreaking Singer Songwriters of the 1960s.

Brend’s latest work, Down River: In Search of David Ackles will be released on August 15. It’s a detailed examination of the singer/songwriter who simply disappeared. Even if you’re like me and know very little (if anything) about Ackles, it’s a multi layered look at the not only Ackles, but also the music industry, and audience expectations.

I spoke with Mark Brend on Zoom to talk about his latest work and delve into the the mystery that is David Ackles. The interview also aired on Oldies Without Borders.

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Copyright Peter J. Maurin, The Vinyl Professor. Published under Creative Commons License: Attribution/Non-Commercial Use.