Sometimes called the father of freak-folk, the 83-year-old singer-songwriter lived, worked and died on his own terms.

Michael Hurley, a groundbreaking folk musician, died on April 3, shortly days after he played three concerts over as many days.

A cancer survivor who had turned 83 three months earlier, he was so sick that he told Regina Greene, a longtime confidant who sometimes helped him book shows, that he couldn't perform a full set.

A cancer survivor who had turned 83 three months earlier, he was so sick that he told Regina Greene, a longtime confidant who sometimes helped him book shows, that he couldn't perform a full set ...