Mark Spoelstra, a singer, songwriter and guitarist who performed with Bob Dylan during the folk music renaissance of the 1960s, has died. He was 66.

Spoelstra passed away last Saturday of pancreatic cancer at his home in Pioneer, Calif., a small town in the Sierra Nevada foothills. He died surrounded by family, his son said in a statement on Spoelstra's website.

A native of Kansas City, Mo., Spoelstra grew up in El Monte, Calif., where he first picked up a guitar at age 11.

After a stint in Berkeley as a young man, he migrated to New York City and performed with Bob Dylan, who would later reminisce about their friendship in his 2004 memoir Chronicles, Vol. 1.

Spoelstra also appeared in the 2005 Dylan documentary No Direction Home, directed by Martin Scorsese.

Toured Canada

Spoelstra began his recording career in New York, landing his first contract with Moses Asch and Folkways Records before being signed by Elektra Records, Columbia Records, and Fantasy Records.

His debut album, Five and Twenty Questions, was released in 1964 and featured 12 original songs played on six- and 12-string guitar. His next album, State of Mind, reflected his anti-war views.

Spoelstra toured the U.S., Europe and Canada before he quit travelling in the 1970s to raise a family and work odd jobs. He retired in 2005.

Spoelstra's last album was 2002's Out of My Hands. His earlier work has been reissued on CD and his songs have been included in a Smithsonian Folkways reissue of classic folk music.

Spoelstra is survived by his wife, Sherry, three children and seven grandchildren.

With files from the Associated Press