Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Big Jim from Jackson Date: 11 Feb 05 - 11:23 AM There seems to be a lot of confusion in this thread between folk singers and singer/songwriters. I'm not knocking the later group. Some of my favorite people are in this catagory: Bill Staines, Chuck Brodsky, et al. I like Arkie's list, especially the Para's, Michael Cooney, and Gordon Bok. Also, this list reflects most those artists who have lables. There are a host of other performers who are not well known because they don't have a contract with a company that can distribute their material. I would add Judy Domeny Bowen to the list of singers of old folk songs. It is interesting to see some of the names on these lists. There are a number of them that I am not familiar with. Others that I would disagree with, and many I think are fantastic. As some above have said, "...in the eye of the beholder." |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser) Date: 11 Feb 05 - 05:40 AM Can I put in a word for Happy Traum? Great singer, brilliant guitarist, lovely bloke. His Kicking Mule records always had terrific tab booklets for the songs. Very generous musician. Also Steve Goodman. If you need to ask I can't explain. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: GUEST,Obie Date: 11 Feb 05 - 05:37 AM At one time country music was folk but both have evolved in different directions. Dylan was folk in his early days but has also evolved to something else. (not always an improvement IMHO! ) :-} Many years ago Canada and USA were America before our good friends to the south dumped all that good tea in Boston Hbr. The music of Canada and the USA is often shared as a common pool and can not easily be defined as changing at the border. However, we sing Woody's This Land a bit different. :-} Obie |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Teresa Date: 11 Feb 05 - 02:45 AM Some of my favorites: John McCutcheon (especially the album "Fine Times at Our House", which I'm not sure is still available Tim OBrien (one of his I listen to constantly is "Songs from the Mountains" Jean Ritchie Peggy Seeger Mike seeger Pete Seeger Sally Rogers Claudia schmidt (especially earlier stuff) Lou and Peter Berryman (I have a twisted sense of humor.) John Hartford (saw him live, and he fiddled, clogged, and called a dance all at once!) None of these in any particular order, and certainly not an exhaustive list. :) Teresa |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: dianavan Date: 11 Feb 05 - 02:06 AM Bob the Postman - With all due respect to George Bowering, I like the expression 'you-alls' better than USAmericans. in fairness, Canadians should probably be called the 'ehs' and the Mexicans could be the 'olas'. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Bob the Postman Date: 08 Feb 05 - 09:33 PM No one has mentioned my favourite yet in this thread, Spider John Koerner, a guy who takes a traditional song, makes it totally his own, and still leaves it trad. To me, that's a folk-singer! Are Canadians Americans? To make the claim is a typically Canadian passive-aggressive ploy, humbly drawing attention to our adversary's arrogance. George Bowering, recently Canada's poet laureate, deals with the ambiguity by referring to the you-alls as USAmericans. Is Joni Mitchell Canadian? Absolutely. Is she a folksinger? Sure, but if she is a Canadian folksinger then so is her old drinking buddy Neil Young, e. g. Helpless, e. g. Long May You Run. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Arkie Date: 08 Feb 05 - 03:03 PM Cathy & Dave Para Gordon Bok Ed McCurdy Burl Ives (before "Little Bitty Tear") Bob Everhart Pete Seeger Mike Seeger Bob Zentz Michael Cooney |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: GUEST,Allan S Date: 07 Feb 05 - 03:59 PM JohnCohen Tom Paley New Lost City Ramblers |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: dianavan Date: 07 Feb 05 - 02:29 PM Guest - "Canadians would prefer not be classed as Americans." SPEAK FOR YOURSELF! Most Canadians I know think that it is arrogant for citizens of the U.S. to call themselves Americans and thereby excluding citizens of North, Central and South America. We are all Americans! Citizens of the States need a new name. Maybe the U.Sers. or the U of A's or the Uniteds or maybe even Statesians. It is pretty confusing when a country names its citizens after a continent. BTW - My favorite folk singer is Woody Guthrie. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: GUEST,guest bob Date: 07 Feb 05 - 01:58 PM Fred Neil Pete LaFarge Eric VonSchmidt Jesse Winchester |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Dave Hanson Date: 21 Nov 04 - 04:21 AM Homer and Jethro ? [ it's a joke ] I'm surprised no one has mentioned one of my favourites the late Derroll Adams. I can agree with everyones choices except Prince, jOhn is right Prince is shite, I'm a poet, and didn't know it. eric |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: number 6 Date: 20 Nov 04 - 07:27 PM Woody Guthrie Townes Van Zandt Son House John Prine John Hartford Pete Seeger |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Auggie Date: 20 Nov 04 - 08:51 AM If you want a good place to start with "East of the Big Pond" folkies, start with the best (living) songwriter in America, MICHAEL SMITH. A sometimes jazz-tinged folkie with evocative lyrics, superb melodies with chord voicings to die for. A guitarist's guitar player with an expressive (certainly not "traditionally beautiful") voice, whose songs can take you from laughter to sorrow to contentment (but who will drive you to distraction when you're trying to figure out the chords from the CD). There is no one better, and that ain't IMHO, its fact. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Cluin Date: 19 Nov 04 - 10:56 PM Yeah, Richie Havens for sure. Though I'm not sure who you would define as folk (let's not go THERE again), I also like Greg Brown, Jim Henry, Brooks Williams, Tom Russell, Steve Earle, Martin Sexton, Lyle Lovett, Keb Mo... too many more to list. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: chris nightbird childs Date: 19 Nov 04 - 09:10 PM Mr. Havens is a PHENOMENAL performer! He's still got THAT VOICE! You obviously know the one I'm talking about... Also one of the nicest people I've ever met. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: momnopp Date: 19 Nov 04 - 09:04 PM I was looking for an appropriate thread to gush about the Richie Havens concert I enjoyed last night. The man is just the most incredible, warm, genuine, silly, sweet, intense performer, still. I first saw him live last year when he headlined at the Country Roads Festival in WV. I was taken with his warmth then and got to shake his hand and thank him. Last night at the Black Rock Arts Center in Germantown, MD, it was just heavenly. It's a very new venue designed for really enjoying live performances - and I was in the front row ;-) I just had to write this down somewhere because I'm still tingling with the sounds of his performance in my head. Peace, JudyO |
Subject: joe and Eddie From: GUEST,Sandy Lang Date: 07 Apr 04 - 12:51 AM Looking for all joe And eddie music |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Peace Date: 10 Nov 03 - 05:47 PM Yeah, PoppaGator, I should look or sound that good when I'm sixty. It would involve some surgery that I'm not willin' to undergo, if you take my meaning. Never could get used to high heels. But my God, that woman can sing. Oh, yeah, there is a singer from the 60s and 70s who hasn't been mentioned. He was a born-in-the-USA guy named Sean Gagnier (nee John Gonyea) from Poughkeepsie I think. He passed away over a year ago. Wonderful voice and a good songwriter. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: PoppaGator Date: 10 Nov 03 - 05:31 PM Joni Mitchell -- Canadian-born, but has lived in LA for longer than many of your have been alive. (Joni turned 60 last week, by the way.) Canadian or USAian? |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: GUEST,Ely Date: 10 Nov 03 - 05:22 PM Well, these are mostly musicians, not necessarily singers, but: the original Carters Arlo Guthrie Norman Blake David Bromberg . . . a guy named Bob White who put out his own record 25+ years ago Paul Geramia Dwight Lamb Kate Wolf Bob Dylan the Beers Family Sam Hinton Elizabeth Cotten Etta Baker Steve Earle Swallowtail Hazel Dickens Robert Johnson Phyllis Boyens Creedence Clearwater Revival (OK, it's a stretch) D.L. Menard the Lost Bayou Ramblers (don't forget the Cajuns!) Scott Biram Woody Guthrie the Red Clay Ramblers the Freighthoppers Allen Street String Band High Woods String Band . . . all those other great little old-time revival bands Ramblin' Jack Elliott Mance Lipscomb Mississippi John Hurt Brownie McGhee Tom Paxton Townes Van Zandt and a friend of mine named Lane who passed away recently. He wrote his own novelty songs and played on a homemade folding guitar. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: GUEST,Rapaire's Secret Santa Date: 10 Nov 03 - 05:13 PM taking notes here. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Rapparee Date: 10 Nov 03 - 04:54 PM No order that I know of.... Bob Gibson Bob Camp Dave Van Ronk Doc Watson Schooner Fare PP&M Huddie Ledbetter Odetta Joan Baez Tom Paxton Stan Rogers (and don't give me any crap!) Tommy Makem (and his sons) Arlo and Woody Guthrie Kendall Morse Art Thieme Phil Ochs SOME of Bob Dylan Judy Collins Chad Mitchell Trio John Denver Pete Seeger Buffy Ste. Marie Big Mama Thornton Billy Holliday Patsy Cline and a whole lot of other people. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Benjamin Date: 10 Nov 03 - 04:22 PM James, Eric Andersen's Blue River album has been released on CD (by Columbia I believe) and should be relatively cheap. It's been a while since I've bought it though. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Peace Date: 10 Nov 03 - 03:10 PM Contentious. Would Joni Mitchell qualify? |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: GUEST Date: 10 Nov 03 - 02:51 PM I think you know what I mean...Americans are people from..living in..or citizens of the USA. That is what I meant. I think it is clear that us citizens would be americans, no matter where they live..wouldn't you , or are you just being contetious ? |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Peace Date: 10 Nov 03 - 01:44 PM GUEST: Does that mean who live in the US or are US citizens living in the US, and would that exclude US citizens living abroad? |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: GUEST Date: 10 Nov 03 - 12:48 PM Canadians are from Canada, Mexicans are grom Mexico, Brazilians are fromBrazil. If one were to ask for a list of favourite french folksingers, you would not list Italians simple because they are also European. It really does bother some people to be referred to as Americans when they do have very distint nationalities of their own. As a matter of fact and as a matter of courtesy, Canadians are not Americans. I think it is very obvious that by Americans we mean those people who live in the US. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 Nov 03 - 10:27 AM From this comprehensive list jOhn should be able to find a few state-side recordings to purchase and enjoy! SRS |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: cetmst Date: 10 Nov 03 - 08:34 AM Groups: Voices - Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills, Cindy Mangsen The Weavers The Carter Family New Christy Minstrels The Beers Family Mill Run Dulcimer Band Roberts and Barand - imports from England Bok, Muir, Trickett New Lost City Ramblers Baltimore Consort Solstice Assembly Schooner Fare Ceiltori The Revels Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Golden Ring and New Golden Ring Some of The Kingston Trio and The Limeliters |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: GUEST,Chris/Darwin at work Date: 09 Nov 03 - 11:02 PM Wow! If this thread tried to cover any more ground it would land on the moon! The following is a list of some USA folkies who have influenced me enough to want to learn their songs, or at least moved me. Leadbelly, whose rythmic sense will stay with me until the day I die. John Hurt, he of gentle soul and wonderful picking. Doc Watson, another gentle soul with so much to say musically. Pete Seeger, who opened my eyes to a new world of songs that commented on the state of the world. Joan Baez, just because she had a beautiful voice did not mean she wasn't singing in the tradition. Judy Collins, also a beautiful voice but branching into more contemporary material. Dylan of course, you do not have to have a perfect voice to move people, I know the words to dozens of his songs because of the emotional impact they had. Byron Berline, Dan Crary, John Hickman, I do not consider these guys commercial pop, their music seems to me to come straight from the tradition, unlike many modern "bluegrass" groups. Earl Scruggs, who for better or worse got me playing traditional songs on the banjo! Of the more modern performers, I like Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, who appeal to something raw in me. Kate MacLeod and Kat Eggleston are both contemporary musicians who write a range of songs about life and experience. Keb' Mo' is a blues singer in the Delta tradition who is just as much at home singing Robert Johnston or contemporary material. Chris Smither is another blues singer I also like a lot, although I have only heard him singing contemporary material. All this is only scratching the surface. Like others I really like many performers on the fringe of folk, like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Emmy Lou, Dixie Chicks, Nickel Creek, etc., although it is hard for me to classify them as folk. I play them on my radio folk show, and I usually get a good response. Without starting a war, I would express the humble opinion that composing a song with the sole purpose of making money automatically rules it out of the definition, at least for 50 years. Chris (Ducking for cover!!) |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Big Tim Date: 09 Nov 03 - 03:35 PM From between the old and the new: Dave Van Ronk, Bascom Lamar Lunsford, Cisco Houston, |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Peace Date: 09 Nov 03 - 02:59 PM Seeger's "We Shall Overcome" recording (from the concert at Carnegie Hall) is one of my all-time favourite albums. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers From: Little Robyn Date: 09 Nov 03 - 03:11 AM My favourites of all time have to be Pete Seeger and the Weavers - all of them, ever since I heard them on NZ radio about 1952! Robyn |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: jaze Date: 08 Nov 03 - 08:40 PM Thanks for clearing that up, Little Hawk. The habit of pidgeon-holing artists is what makes some people think of them in one light. Emmylou and Dolly, while generally regarded as "country" ,both frequently do tradiional and folk music as well. And they do it as well as anyone else. IMHO. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 07 Nov 03 - 11:24 PM Beat me to it, Candyman... I have both of the Cat Mother albums... Jay Unger played fiddle on the Albion Doowop album.. I don't recall the ZigZag coffee house or the two other people/groups you mentioned. No surprise as the Pass The Hat Coffee Houses came and went. I heard Reverend Gary Davis and Peter Stampfell, among many others, at Pass The Hat places. Jerry |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Candyman(inactive) Date: 07 Nov 03 - 10:02 PM Hey Brucie, I knew Charlie Chin. He played in Cat Mother and The All Night News Boys with Larry Packer, my old fiddle player. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Peace Date: 07 Nov 03 - 09:26 PM Jerry, do you recall the ZigZag Cafe or The Four Winds? Some real talent went through those basket houses. There was a banjo player named Chin (Charlie?). Recall him at all? That's the last of the catch up, but I had to ask. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 07 Nov 03 - 07:28 PM Sorry, Brucie... don't remember the name Bert Mason. But I remember Cousin Brucie.. Jerry |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Little Hawk Date: 07 Nov 03 - 06:05 PM Dachshunds don't get erections...they're like horses, they get extensions. The reason that Emmy Lou Harris can be classified as a folksinger is because of the particular lyrical quality of a great many of the songs she does...which totally transcends the average country genre, in my opinion, and the musical quality as well. Hank Williams also rates as a seminal early folksinger, and was in fact CALLED a "folksinger" at the time in many publications. His reach was so broad that again, it surpassed merely a "country" designation. Same goes for Willie Nelson. Folk music is a genre in which the lyrics tend to be far more serious, far more poetic, and far more imaginative than the standard formulas usually heard in most country music or most rock n' roll or rock music ( I said MOST...okay?). It's also a genre where the audience tends to listen closely to the words...and you can't say that about most musical genres, can you? Basically, if you take almost any musical style and wed it to truly good lyrics you may very well have as a result...folk music. That's why I love it. Gershwin's "Summertime" is a good example of a very well written song that is much favoured by folksingers, and at this point IS a folksong, as far as I'm concerned. - LH |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Peace Date: 07 Nov 03 - 04:18 PM Jerry, Do you recall Bert Mason? He was darn good, too. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: GUEST,Brien Date: 07 Nov 03 - 04:05 PM Well, as far as writing some of those definitive songs about "folk" and their lives Stan Rogers (and his brother Garnet as well) has to be one of the best of the 20th century. Stan wrote with feeling and truth about fishermen, farmers ("Field Behind the Plow"), farmer's wives ("Lies"), the life of the singer (folk music groupies: "You Can't Stay Here"), love ("45 Years"), ballads ("Harris and the Mare", "Witch of the Westmoreland"- via Archie Fisher (Scotland).) Stan's sudden and tragic death in an airplane fire (age 33) more than a decade ago was so terrible I still cannot listen to more than a song or two before I become so saddened at the loss of all the things he could have yet seen and sung about. Thankfully Garnet Rogers has soldiered on afterward on the same path. His many miles driven in his Volvo (no airplanes for him!) going about the nomadic music life has presented most of North America to him and he continues to sing about the land and the people, as Stan did. Brien Toronto |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: mg Date: 07 Nov 03 - 03:30 PM about dolly and emmy lou.. 1. If you know what the clear cut distinctions are between folk and country, by all means please illuminate us 2. You can sing both, even if they are separated distinctly 3. If anyone has roots in the Appalachina type of FOLK music, I would guess it would be Dolly Parton. 4. I like them lots.. mg |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 07 Nov 03 - 03:05 PM Len Chandler! Wow! I haven't heard that name in a long time. Len used to sing regularly at the Gaslight Cafe in the early 60's, in Greenwich Village. The thing I remember most about him was his guerilla-warfare approach to sing alongs. When he'd do a song with a chorus, and he'd notice that someone wasn't singing along, he'd leave the stage and walk over to the table and make the person sing. And, he didn't look like someone you'd want to mess with, in those days. A "Sing, Dammit" approach to group participation. I split an evening at the Fat Black Pussycat in the Village one night, alternating sets with Richie Havens, mostly accompanying himself on bongo drums (you've never heard The House Carpenter, until you've heard it on bongo drums) and Tiny Tim. Meanwhile, I was doing my best to sound like an old-worn out 78 of some old toothless geezer recorded on the front porch of his ramsackle shack in Caroline. Len moved out to the West Coast, I know, and I haven't heard him since then... he sure was (and maybe still is, as far as I know) a fine singer.. And I ALWAYS sang along on the choruses. Not taking any chances.. Jerry |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Peace Date: 07 Nov 03 - 12:03 PM Len Chandler, Dick Glass, Richie Havens--some others to mention. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie Date: 06 Nov 03 - 05:48 PM our very own Kendall our very own Jed Marum John Prine Guy Clark Tom Russell John Hiatt Jean Ritchie And my pard Howard, who has never recorded anything, but he's a damn fine singer and picker. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Noreen Date: 06 Nov 03 - 03:53 PM Oh, OK then.... The more people who know and love Mr Barker's work the better! I like Spot the Zebra :0) |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Midchuck Date: 06 Nov 03 - 03:36 PM Hey Midchuck, how did Les Barker creep into your list? He's from this side of the pond :0) You're right, I had a brain fart and forgot the topic was limited to Americans. I hope it's all right if I like his stuff anyway. Dachshunds With Erections....Ow! Ow! Ow! Peter. |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Noreen Date: 06 Nov 03 - 03:14 PM Hey Midchuck, how did Les Barker creep into your list? He's from this side of the pond :0) Interesting to hear all these opinions, I'm sure jOhn will have his work cut out listening to them all! |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Melani Date: 06 Nov 03 - 12:47 PM Bok, Muir and Trickett--finest musical and vocal combination ever recorded! |
Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers From: Midchuck Date: 06 Nov 03 - 09:22 AM First place, singer-songwriter: Tom Russell First place, guitarist/singer/multi-instrumentalist: Norman Blake Tied for second overall (alphabetical listing): the very young Joan Baez Guy Clark Dylan, as a songwriter only, provided that someone (anyone!) else sings his stuff Utah Phillips Jim Ringer (RIP) Stan Rogers (RIP) the Seldom Scene, until Duffey died Ian Tyson Doc Watson First place, funny stuff: Tom Lehrer Tied for second, funny stuff (alpha listing): Austin Lounge Lizards Les Barker Lou & Peter Berryman Kendall Morse You can decide which of these are "folk," which "country," and which "popular." I abstain. P. |
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