Who is yer favourite male folk singer?

Subject: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Baz
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 12:27 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping to pick yer collective brain if I may. I'm looking for suggestions for really good male folk singers. I'm not so much interested in such things as 'do they play the guitar really well' or 'do they have good songs' or 'have they done a lot for the tradition' - all I want to know is, in your opinion, who has a really good VOICE - and why?

Cheers all,
Baz.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Snuffy
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 12:34 PM

Phil Tanner

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: The King
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 12:36 PM

Dave Kenningham - he has a certain authenticity when singing. He is true to the traditional style as set out by our medievel minstrels hundreds of years ago. I love him.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 12:51 PM

Three very good ones of recent vintage are Patrick Wictor, Joe Jencks, and Freebo.

if you are talking about oldtimers I would say Gordon Bok, John McCutcheon, and Bill Staines.

                                              SOL

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Murray MacLeod
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 01:06 PM

Paul Brady.

I have never heard a folksinger with a better voice.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 01:17 PM

'good' is such a subjective term. It can mean 'mellow' or 'clear' or 'powerful' or 'resonant'..etc...

but Ed Trickett has a fine voice...as do many of those already noted.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 01:18 PM

I have - John Tams.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Henrik W.
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 01:48 PM

I would have gone for Davy Steele - a fantastic singer, a natural - but sadly he is not with us anymore.

Instead it will be a close call between two other giants - Dick Gaughan and Christy Moore.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 01:50 PM

Martyn Wyndham-Read and Dave Fletcher.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 01:56 PM

Christy Moore.

I always liked the late Peter Bellamy.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 01:56 PM

What Rhiannon said, plus Pete Coe, because they have great voices, deliver traditional and "traditional style" contemporary songs beautifully and with humour, and know where their traditional songs come from (ie the source singers) - without being precious or pompous about it. Pete Coe has been known to do a mean impression of Marlene Dietrich falling in love again, too!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 02:34 PM

I'd go for Vin Garbutt, but because he's such a funny man, the greatness of his singing could be overlooked. Some of my other favourites e.g. Nic Jones and Martin Carthy have a singing style that has been "manufactured", but - to my ears - Vin sings without any such affectations. Wonderful stuff. I,too,love Paul Brady's Irish folk voice, but I'm not happy with his affected "rock" voice.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Shaneo
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 02:41 PM

Mine would be Tommy Byrne of The Wolfe Tones , but his voice has changed so much over the years , have a listen to him sing For Ireland I'd Not Tell Her Name this was recorded in 1972 .
Another would be Brian Roebuck , who is not so well know , but the power of his voice reminds me Of Luke Kelly.
Have a listen to him sing Four Green Fields
. As you see ,I love slow songs sang with a powerful voice.


[it's my own site]

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Alice
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 02:44 PM

My favorites keep changing, but Archie Fisher was the first one that came to my mind.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Leadbelly
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 02:49 PM

The one and only Tom Paxton....

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 02:56 PM

Shaneo, I really enjoyed listening to those links - thanks.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 02:59 PM

Martyn Wyndahm-Read, Dave Fletcher, Pete Coe, John Kirkpatrick, John Thompson and Jim Causley.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: kendall
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 03:02 PM

Depends on my mood.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Santa
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 03:39 PM

Steve Tiltson - this week.

Roy Harris, though he's retired now.

The late and very lamented Big Pete Rodger of the Taverners.

I can't think of any male singers that really stand out on the voice alone - doubtless this is my failing rather than theirs. Dave Burland, perhaps?

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: patriot1314
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 03:40 PM

Stan Rogers....... By a mile

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 03:42 PM

Duncan McFarlane (oops, I'm showing my bias again!).

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: dj bass
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 03:52 PM

Ian Bruce

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 03:58 PM

Tony Rose. No question.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 04:07 PM

Hi Santa,
Thank you for mentioning Big Pete. I knew him well and liked him immensely. He was a great singer and a man full of good humour, sadly missed
Thank you also for naming me. Quite a surprise. Yes, I have retired from full-time touring but still do the occasional gig though there are certain times and distances I can't make. I just played the Court Sessions club in London, a club I recommend highly, and thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so that I'm now ready to do a few more. So, if anyone is interested in an evening with 'a singer of the old school' as I was once described (I took it as a compliment)then do please get in touch. A pm will do fine. Burl/Roy H

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Alice
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 04:21 PM

also Ian Tyson

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Beer
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 04:28 PM

Johnm Prine, Gordon Lightfoot, Ray Materick and David Massengill.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Polly Squeezebox
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 04:31 PM

Mike Nicholson - maybe not the typical 'folk voice', but it does it for me every time.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 04:38 PM

Martin Carthy.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Captain Ginger
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 04:39 PM

Ian Bruce, Lester Simpson, John Tams, Don Shepherd; terrific voices, all of them.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: North/South Annie
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 05:22 PM

Ian Bruce, Jim McAdams, Mike Nicholson - voices that reach the parts other voices cannot reach!

Annie

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: CET
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 05:29 PM

I find John Prine to be an enormously effective singer, and I could listen to him for hours, but I would never accuse him of having a good voice. There are plenty of other performers whom I admire, but I don't consider to have great voices. Really fine voices are not very common in folk music, but there are some. Among them I would list Stan Rogers, of course, Sean Keane, Ian Tyson, the lead singer of Old Blind Dogs (I'm having a brain meltdown and I'm not sure of his name - Jim Malcolm, I think. Please correct me if I'm wrong), Dan McKinnon from Nova Scotia (a fabulous strong baritone voice) and George Papavgeris.

Edmund

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Bert
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 05:37 PM

Lots of good folk singers, but for GOOD VOICE I'd say Oliver McElhone, without question.

Good Poet - Gordon Lightfoot
Good Songwriter - Tom Paxton
Good Entertainer - Seamus Kennedy or MudcatMike
Good Kids entertainer - Linda Hutchings
Good Dolly bird - any of the Mudcat darlings.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Bert
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 05:39 PM

Ooops, sorry it says Male, I forgot.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: oldhippie
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 05:46 PM

Best in concert, Oscar Brand.

To listen to, Tom Paxton.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: jiva
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 05:54 PM

Allan Taylor - wonderfully crafted songs, warm and powerful voice.

jiva
www.jiva.co.uk

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Bert
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 06:08 PM

Oscar Brand is great for old songs and bawdy songs but his voice, while OK., is not great.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Mike Miller
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 06:11 PM

My choice as a great voice would be Glen Yarborough, one of the original Limelighters. For those who don't remember him, it was Glen Yarborough who sang the one line that made him a wealthy man, "Things go better with Coke".
But my favorite folk singer, by far, was Harry Belafonte. I liked his politics, too, but I thought that Burl Ives was a terrific singer, too, except when he sang for the HUAC.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 06:12 PM

Allan Taylor too. Great voice, writes great songs......Really love his "Standing at the Door"

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Folk Form # 1
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 06:22 PM

Bob Davenport. When are Topic gonna release his early albums?

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 06:31 PM

Captain Kendall Morse.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Joe_F
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 08:19 PM

Ewan MacColl. However, sex is irrelevant.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 08:26 PM

Ian Tyson, Gordon Lightfoot, Pat Sky, and our own Jed Marum.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: kendall
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 08:29 PM

I think our own Harvey Andrews is right up there.
I won't mention any of my close friends...they know who they are.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Deckman
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 08:34 PM

ALL OF THE ABOVE ...and many more! Bob

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Alice
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 08:38 PM

Ah, yes, Harry Belafonte, another great voice.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: kendall
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 08:41 PM

In my opinion, the greatest voice of all time was Paul Robeson

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Mike Miller
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 09:11 PM

My God, I find myself agreeing with Kendall. Paul Robeson was, in addition to his scholastic, athletic, political, theatrical and social accomplishments, one of the all-time great bass-baritone voices. (Hammerstein and Kern wrote "Ol' Man River" for Robeson but he was unavailable for the Broadway production of Show Boat. He, always, included it in his concerts). After he, returned from Russia, he lived out his years here, in Philadelphia. He was such a great singer that, when he starred in the motion picture. "King Solomon's Mines", he sang a few numbers.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 10:50 PM

Tom Russell
Dick Gaughan
Harry Manx

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: mrdux
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 01:27 AM

Fred Neill

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,celticblues5
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 02:03 AM

Gordon Bok, Rod Paterson (Jock Tamson's Bairns), Stan Rogers

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 02:39 AM

I find it interesting how people go off at a tangent and ignore the original question, answering instead a more general question in their minds, like "who do you like?". Paul Robeson was the greatest bass/baritone that ever lived, sure - but not a folk singer per se. Neither was Harry Belafonte. And a number of songwriters were mentioned for the strength of their songwriting rather than their voice qualitis, which is what the question was about.

In fact one is more likely to find good voices among non-songwriters; after all, performing alone is their strength.

I forgot earlier to mention one voice who is said to be among the closest to delivering traditional English song in the traditional unadorned way (so I am told, I wouldn't know as I have scant knowledge of traditional methods of delivery). I just love the quality of his voice and his unassuming, unaffected manner: Geoff Wesley.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Sooz
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 02:46 AM

You'd have to go a long way to find finer voices than our very own Goldengob and Strollin' Johnny (and Guest, Tom Bliss - who should join!)
I'm also very fond of many others who could never be accused of having beautiful voices but who are fabulous interpreters of songs.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Baz
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 05:02 AM

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread - your input is useful and I'm going to have a lot of fun tracking down some of the people you have mentioned!

Cheers,
Baz.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Blowzabella
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 05:04 AM

Tim Laycock

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 07:59 AM

It has to be "Derbyshire's Finest" JACK HUDSON for me.
A masterful singer of his own songs (and interpreter of others such as Tom Waits, Guy Clark.....) A truly unique and voice.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: JulieF
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 08:10 AM

aAndy M Stewart and Paul Brady

J

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Mike Miller
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 09:02 AM

I assume that Paul Papavgeris is too young to remember Robeson and Belafonte. They were, each, in their time, the most popular folksingers in the world. Paul Robeson was a concert performer who presented, and recorded, what were known as Negro spirituals and work songs. His 78's could be found in every folk lover's collection. His classical training and world wide fame separated him from folksingers like Almeda Riddle or Doc Boggs but his songs were, well, within the limits of folk.
Harry Belafonte was, simply, the man who moved folk into the younger and most popular market. He was the first folk teen idol and he accomplished this without sacrificing musical integrity. Known, primarily, for his calypso songs, his concerts and recordings were eclectic and wildly successful. Like Robeson, Belafonte was a wonderful actor. It is interesting that so many folksingers have had acting careers (Burl Ives, Will Geer, Theo Bikel, Alan Arkin, Eartha Kitt).
I fear that these informal polls are more a test of generation. Altes, like me, are locked into our heros and young posters are often unaware of the great talents that shone before they existed. Well, perhaps we can all learn to expand our experiences.

                     Mike

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 09:46 AM

I am too young to rememember Paul Robeson, Mike, though I heard several of his recordings of course. It's his classical training that made me de-classify him from "folk singer". But I do - just - remember Harry Belafonte, my elder sister had a thing for him, I believe, as she did for several of the better looking actors of the day. Perhaps being the other side of the water has given me fewer opportunities to appreciate either of them in a folk context, so I stand corrected!

You mentioned Alan Arkin - I always admired him as an actor, but never knew of his folk links. Can you point me to somewhere where I can find out more?

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 09:51 AM

Well, blow me down with a feather! Forget it Mike, I just googled Arkin-folk, and guess what I found: He only went and wrote the very song that I learned to sing from Belafonte's record when I was 3 years old - the Banana Boat Song... That remained a favourite of mine well into my teens, though as I spoke no English at the time and had learned the whole thing phonetically I was singing stuff like ... no, too embarassing. But what a magic few moments right there: from doubting Belafonte and knowing nothing about Arkin's folk roots, to finding that they had quite an impact on me when young.... That'll teach me.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 09:56 AM

Martin Carthy, Stan Rodgers, Ian Tyson, Nick Jones. Lots of other great ones, but these are my favourites.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Martin
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 09:59 AM

Ken Langsbury, Mike Waterson, Phil Tanner, Harry Cox, Gordon Hall.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,chinmusic
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 11:20 AM

When he was still a folksinger, Jerry Jeff Walker. Also, the great John McCutcheon and Chris Smither.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 11:37 AM

Elvis Presley

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Scoville
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 11:42 AM

Steve Earle

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Mrs Scarecrow
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 11:50 AM

Mick Ryan and Bill Caddick both very fine songwriters in addition to having lovely voices. Also Johnny Collins does it for me every time

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,celticblues5
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 12:35 PM

Oops, should have said, in addition to Bok, Rogers, & Paterson, of course, Christy Moore & Nic Jones.


George -

Alan Arkin also recorded, with Ed McCurdy, at least two albums of "naughty" folksongs, the first called, if I recall, "When Dalliance was in Flower & Maidens Lost Their Heads." I believe the second was something like "When Dalliance was in Flower 2" - or something on that order. You might be able to find them (on vinyl) from a vintage outlet. Don't know if they were ever reissued on CD.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 01:24 PM

John Hiatt

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Elettra
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 02:42 PM

Jim Malcolm, hands down. His Old Blind Dogs work was wonderful but have a listen to his solo stuff. Sublime, makes me weak in the knees! :~} Pure butterscotch. And a heck of a nice fellow.
E.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Mike Miller
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 04:54 PM

Alan Arkin was one of those Washington Square folksingers from the late 1950s. He recorded an album of children's songs with The Babysitters, a group that included Lee Hayes and Ronnie Gilbert. His brother, Steve, is a talented bluegrass banjo player who played with Bill Monroe for years. I saw Steve, recently, at a Washington Square reunion.
Quite a few well-known performers were into folk. Eddy Arnold, the Tennessee Plowboy, recorded an album of traditional songs that included the most beautiful version of "Wayfaring Stranger", and what a beautiful voice he had.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Mucky Pup
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 05:00 PM

I think that Graham O'Callaghan is one of the finest voices I've ever heard but also an amazing interpreter of songs.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 06:14 PM

Michael Jackson

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Anamika
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 06:20 PM

Jez Lowe & Chris Wood

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 08:50 PM

Richie Havens ...but also Andy Irvine, Ged Foley, Paul Brady,Dick Gaughan,the late Fred Neil and Shane MacGowan.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: CET
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 07:28 PM

There are definitely some people who haven't read the original question, which was about good "voices". Now, you can have all the respect in the world for Mike Waterson and Phil Tanner, their delivery, and style, and what they have done for folk music, but there's absolutely no way they could be considered to have great voices. Heresy alert: I would classify Martin Carthy and Ewan MacColl in that group too.

Running and hiding now.

Edmund

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Ythanside
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 08:23 PM

Luke Kelly, by light years; then Bill Alldrick, Stan Rogers, Cyril Tawney and Woody Guthrie, but I've only heard two or three thousand singers so far. Ask me again in thirty years. Cheers.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 01:49 AM

How could anybody compare these lightweights with the great Doc Watson?

You must all be mad dogs or Englishmen.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Mark H.
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 05:38 AM

Ronnie Drew. He conveys a ballad like his side of a conversation, you hear the tragedy in his soul and the glint in his eye, he's the man.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: concertina ceol
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 05:45 AM

John Kirkpatrick has a fantastic strong english voice, and doesn't hold back. I admire his talent greatly and can't understand why he doesn't get more recognition for his talent and his devotion to English traditional music. His solo albums are excellent as are the recordings he has done with Brass Monkey.

Barry Coope, Lester Simpson and Jim Boyes collectively make the finest unaccompanied English folk music at present. Their wonderful, surprising and complex harmonies are a joy. Love 'em!

Nic Jones also had a wonderful voice (I know he is still alive) and sang really beautifully. I've only recently bought "Penguin Eggs" and I just can't stop playing it, you hear somehing new each time.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,ME
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 06:01 AM

Reply to CET:
Are you sure you've read the original question correctly?
How do you get from "Who is yer favourite male folk singer?" that we are talking about "great" voices?
You don't have to have a "great" voice to be a good singer. A good folk singer is all about interpretation and communication.
And why should you run and hide after your "heretical" assertion. They may not be classified as having great voices (although this is very subjective) but they are great folk singers - you surely can't deny that.
Martin

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: 3refs
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 08:17 AM

Coming from Orillia, I guess it goes to Gordon Lightfoot(although don McLean's Starry Starry Night is my fav.

But did ya catch Elvis and Celine Dion on American Idol last night? I was stunned! Just imagine, to be on stage and sing with the King!

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 08:32 AM

3refs: you do realise that anyone can sing along to the television, CD, film etc.
I've duetted with Shirley Bassey and those three vultures off "Dumbo" so far this week.
It's not hard.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Rog Peek
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 08:57 AM

Phil Ochs by a country mile

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: 3refs
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 09:45 AM

Sorry I missed you with Shirley and The Vultures guest.

I've seen three such duets. Hank Sr and Hank Jr, Nat and Natalie and this one with Elvis and Celine. I think the standing ovation for the entire song says something about technological shock factor.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 10:24 AM

Robin Laing

sal

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: mrdux
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 01:54 PM

GUEST Martin asked a little bit ago (26 Apr 07 - 06:01 AM): "How do you get from "Who is yer favourite male folk singer?" that we are talking about "great" voices?"

Pretty easily. The original question was:

"all I want to know is, in your opinion, who has a really good VOICE - and why?"

michael

ps -- For what it may be worth, I know this only because just yesterday I was curious about the scope of the topic and went back and reread the original posting.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Will Drover
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 08:45 PM

must be the late great Hamish Imlach.

humorous songs, bawdy songs, traditional Scots ballads, Irish freedom songs, blues, and political songs - as a song interpreter no-one can beat him.   and he was hilarious !

listen to his rendition of Eric Bogle's 'Green Fields of France' on the Sporting Life live album and you will see what I mean.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,richlmo
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 09:19 PM

Might not be my favorite and might not be a great voice, but I love to listen to John Gorka.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: iancarterb
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 10:46 PM

Great voices (of various kinds) Jack Langstaff, Stan Rogers, Frank Warner, Larry Hanks, Louis Killen, Bill Monroe, Jody Stecher

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 11:23 PM

Murray,

I just today discovered Paul Brady on YouTube. How in heavens name did he miss my radar?

Don

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Big Phil
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 06:27 AM

The Late Great Luke Kelly, no competition really.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 05:48 PM

Don, If you invest in a recording by Paul Brady be aware that besides his traditional stuff he does a lot of Rock/Pop (I guess you'd call it). Some of his best traditional singing can be found on
"Welcome Here Kind Stranger", "Paul Brady/ Andy Irvine" (great album) and the more recently released "Liberty Tapes" a live mid- 70's recording which features a lot of his best known arrangements of traditional songs with great playing by a whole bunch of Irish heavyweights. "Nobody Knows" is a collection of his more modern self-penned tunes.vl

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 05:58 PM

Thanks Van,

I found him on YouTube. Lots of 1970's stuff. And a great version of Arthur McBride, maybe the best I have heard. I'll look for those CDs.

Don

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 06:20 PM

Since there are many different styles and cultures of folk singers, it would be difficult to pin point one favorite.

As to singing in the folk style, Burl Ives comes to mind. He could really sing.

Paul Robeson was a great basso but not necessarilly the greatest that ever lived. There was Chaliapin and Cesare Siepi. And I never considered Robeson to be a folk singer per se.

One of the best phrasing singers was Louis Armstrong who sang all wrong but all right.
He is closer to a folk tradition of jazz and blues and New Orleans.

In every aspect of a culture-derived folk music, there is someone who will excel as a singer. For me it would be difficult to single anyone out.

In the Old Time Appalachian style of singing I am partial to Buel Kazee because he had a sweet tenor and accompanied himself so well on the banjo.

In the blues style, Big Bill Broonzy and Josh White. Leadbelly had a unique style as well.

Horton Barker was an amazing singer who didn't sing in the conventional trained-voice style but was hypnotic in his Appalachian style.

In the African-American gospel style, the Golden Gate Quartet is one of the best. Also Lou Rawls with the Pilgrim Travelers.

I love the singing of Hoagy Carmicheal who absorbed much of the blues tradition.

Iron Head Baker was one of the best African-American chain gang singing exponents.

Riley Puckett could really carry the Georgia string-band tradition.

I like Bob Atcher, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry for the cowboy styles. Also Vernon Dalhart,
Bradley Kinkaid and Carson Robison although these guys were probably not real cowboys, with the exception of Robison.

There are undoubtably a great many more. There are those who I admired as good singers although I never particularly cared for their styles of singing. Richard Dyer-
Bennett comes to mind.

Jimmy Rodgers, the "Singing Brakeman" had a unique sound as did A.P. Carter with the Family.

I think as Kendall has stated, it depends upon the environment, time of day or night or how you are feeling at the moment.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 07:51 PM

I could give you a different answer with every round.
Cheers!
Jim

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 08:42 PM

Guy who 'Did' Maidenhead Club last night - Dick Frost - he has been singing for longer than I have been aware of folk music . And has never been a 'PRO' singer and despite his advanced year ( He is older than ME !) he did a wonderful varied evening of unaccompanied Songs .

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,cliff
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 08:57 AM

Fred Holstein
Séan O'Sé

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 11:02 AM

Myself.http://www.dickmiles.com

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Frogette
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 11:29 AM

I go for Jim MacAdam and Bill Long (oh and Les Sullivan of course).

My Bill Long CD was stolen at Barnsley and I dont know how to get another copy. I'll have to Google.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 01:02 PM

Harry Cox.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 02:42 AM

Check out Dave Gravis for a few minutes, when you get the chance. He'd be one more on a very long list for me.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: guitar
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 07:07 AM

Paul Roboson and Harry Belefonte (spelling)

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 08:06 AM

only one man for the job, Jack Huson shame on you all!!!

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Travelling Audience
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 09:16 AM

How about Tanglefoot for lyrics and music (Mostly male) AND of course Alan Taylor AND our locals in Gainsborough.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 12:38 PM

Well said "Guest"
(Jack was mentioned on 23 April posted at 07.59.)

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 03:50 PM

I like an awful of these guys mentioned in all these messages - particularly Jack Hudson.

But the Eric Bibb thread (particularly Art Thieme's comments) has really made me think and turn the clock back to when I first heard folk music.

I was a schoolboy living in Lincolnshire. If I went for a bike ride to Woodhall, or somesuch beauty spot - I'd ride past airforce bases.

Sometimes you would see a Thor rocket pointing directly up at the sky. But you knew the H-bomb it carried was targetted on Moscow. There were red and white Bloodhound Interceptor missiles, which some optimist thought could bring down a Tupolev Bear, which carried the Ruskies' H-Bombs meant for us. And if you were lucky you might see a Vulcan bomber, incredibly beautiful - they gleamed for they had a sheen on the surface which they hoped would deflect the flash when they dropped their atom bomb on a Russian target.

We were kids and I remember several children suggesting when the Cuban missile crisis was at its height - lets not go to work and to school today - lets all just die together.

When I heard Where have All the Flowers Gone and Blowing in the wind, on the radio for the first time. I knew someone was singing a song about the world I lived in.

That was it - that was the vortex - that music that I now know was coming out of Washington Square seemed to me and millions like me - more universal than literature, less willfully obscure that modern art, less superficial than cinema or television. In other words folk music seemed like an important artistic movement.

Of course nothing lasts. Dylan fell off the motorbike. Ewan said that people wearing caps and using harmonica stands weren't necessarily folk music - and who can disagree?

Still for me, that was when folk music spoke to the world. I never wanted to be Sam Larner or Martin Carthy.

My nomination would be Pete Seeger.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Sea Dew
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 05:24 PM

Christy Moore, who else ?

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: 14fret
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 07:17 PM

James Keelaghan.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 08:08 PM

Michael Cooney !!

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,cliff
Date: 30 Apr 07 - 10:22 PM

Oh, and i keep seeing posts from Art Theme-- one of the very best. And from Chicago to boot

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Sandra Biggs neeMunro
Date: 05 Nov 16 - 06:44 PM

BBill Alldrick

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Sandra Biggs neeMunro
Date: 05 Nov 16 - 06:50 PM

Bill Alldrick. Can anyone through any light on the afore mentioned folk singer from my my folk days in Inverness.?

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Nov 16 - 07:35 PM

Was I not here in 2007?

Anyway, Luke.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 05 Nov 16 - 07:55 PM

What about the new batch of youngsters?
The lad in Granny's Attic with a double-barrel name has a great voice.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 05 Nov 16 - 11:38 PM

Donovan - since I was 16 years old, ah so long, long ago. I even remember what I wore the first time I ever saw Donovan in concert in Los Angeles. I wore this cute pink mini dress with kind of puffy sleeves. I have been to see him many time over the years, the last time in Monterey, California about 6 years ago. I have just about all of his albums, vinyl, CD's Box sets and books he wrote and some movies he had a cameo role in like, "If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium" and some other movies too. In the British movie called, "Poor Cow" he sings during the opening, a song called "Be Not Too Hard, For Life Is Short and Nothing is Given to Man." (Donovan is not in the movie but sings in opening scene.)

I was just listening in the car the other day to his album called, Donovan Summer Day Reflection Songs with some great songs like:

Catch the Wind, Josie, To Sing For You, Donna Donna, Ramblin' Boy,
Colours, Universal Soldier, To Try For the Sun, Jersey Thursday,
Belated Forgiveness Plea, Ballad of Geraldine, Turquoise,
Little Tin Soldier and many other songs (2 CD set)

When I saw Donovan in Monterey, California he sang this beautiful sad song called, "The Promise" a song he indicated would not be released on an album but just performed for the concert. On Youtube I have seen him perform this song at other concerts around the world.
A sad and lovely song with these beautiful heartfelt lyrics.

Yes, I am a long time fan!

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Warwick Slade
Date: 06 Nov 16 - 04:17 AM

He may not be the best singer, or best guitarist, or even best song writer but he influenced and inspired me with songs I understood, both musical and vocally. Still going at 79
TOM PAXTON

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,AR
Date: 06 Nov 16 - 05:55 AM

Joe Heaney, Geordie Hanna, Paddy Tunney...

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Nov 16 - 06:42 AM

Anthony John Clarke

Good voice, excellent musician, brilliant songwriter and extremely entertaining live.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: mkebenn
Date: 06 Nov 16 - 11:55 AM

I must have been in one of my "faraway" periods, but did I miss a John Stewart mention? Not the best singer or guitarist (VERY good as both), but my favorite by far. Mike

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Leadbelly
Date: 06 Nov 16 - 01:11 PM

Because nobody mentioned Huddie Ledbetter I do believe its time to remember him. Even Lonnie Donegan should be remembered, although both of them did not have "usual" voices...

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,I Don't Know
Date: 06 Nov 16 - 05:25 PM

The late John Wright had a voice that really reached out & embraced you.
Jackie Leven, Kieran Helpin, Steve Knightly, Stan Rodgers, Richard Shindell & Gerry Colvin, Matt Shank, Dan Razz.
I enjoy almost any singers voice as long as they sing so you can hear & understand them

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 06 Nov 16 - 11:46 PM

I mentioned in a thread yesterday that Donovan was my favorite folk singer but have to also mention Simon & Garfunkel. Loved their early albums and only saw them once at of all places, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in the 1980's. No Dodger baseball game that afternoon, just the concert with Simon & Garfunkel that day. Glad, because I am not a Dodger fan anyway.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Some bloke
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 04:32 AM

I suppose characterful voices that are as much the music as the narrative spring to kind.

Vin Garbutt and Dick Gaughan use their regional voices to musical effect whilst Martin Carthy's clear crisp diction manages to find warmth where many would come over cold in that style. Martin Simpson has perfected being half a beat behind his guitar to great effect. Singers such as him, Steve Tilston etc have always been good to listen to in order to learn words to songs as they play a straight bat too but you can hear the person behind the voice.

Obviously there are many who display such traits, just thought I'd mention the more well known ones to explain what I listen for.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Acorn4
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 04:46 AM

Just a mention for Mick Ryan and Damien Barber.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 07:40 AM

Nobody mentioned Ralph McTell yet? Lovely warm dark chocolate voice, brilliant guitarist in many styles, good songwriter.
Rod Paterson also not been mentioned yet?
And I'd go with some of the others previously mentioned: Tom Paxton, Allan Taylor, Jim Malcolm, Robin Laing, Steve Knightley, Nic Jones, Stan Rogers, Archie Fisher.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 10:26 AM

Voice - Ed McCurdy, hands down.
Lyrics - Tom Paxton or Bob Dylan

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Iains
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 11:58 AM

Patsy Watchorn truly a great singer especially in his prime.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 03:42 PM

Liam Clancy

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 04:32 AM

Tommy Makem

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 08:26 AM

only one way to settle it.....a fight to the death with duelling banjo's!

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 08:30 AM

in fact ....a brace of duelling banjos! gadzooks!

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 09:37 AM

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 09:44 AM

I find it strange that Tim Hart's name hasn't appeared so far.

Or, for that matter, Harry Boardman's name . . .

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 09:46 AM

No, I'm not on an ego-trip.

Tim Hart, and Harry Boardman.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: MikeL2
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 02:51 PM

harvey Andrews

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 09 Nov 16 - 07:15 AM

Townes Van Zandt and Luke kelly always did it for me

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Nov 16 - 08:58 AM

Dave Burland

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Tim
Date: 09 Nov 16 - 04:22 PM

Len Graham
Tommy Makem
Jim MacFarland
Ken Wilson
Mick Ryan
Tony Rose
Martin Wyndem Reed
Martin Carthy

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Nov 16 - 07:33 PM

That's easy, Larry Hanks!

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 10 Nov 16 - 08:40 AM

Jarlath Henderson - his CD released earlier this year, "Hearts Broken, Heads Turned" is one of my favourite recordings of traditional songs ever. "Folk" music for the 21st century.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 10 Nov 16 - 11:50 AM

Hannes Wader from Germany. Good voice and even so on guitar...

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Speedwell
Date: 10 Nov 16 - 12:00 PM

I think he's only been mentioned once and that's Jim Causley - he has one of the finest folk voices I've heard.
Another is the wonderful Royston Wood.
The other is Moose Rosser check out his The Flowers of the Town here:

https://soundcloud.com/moose-rosser

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 10 Nov 16 - 09:02 PM

I never got over the sudden end of Nic Jones' career. I would scan Don Frame's Folk Diary eagerly every week, looking for his appearances. He was developing rapidly and, by great good fortune, his repertoire of new songs had been captured on cassette by his fans.

Jim Croce was a great loss too. He also had a collection of great new songs - and I didn't know if I would ever hear them again. It turned out that he had just completed a new record - though that was little consolation.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Elmore
Date: 10 Nov 16 - 09:33 PM

Leonard Cohen.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 11 Nov 16 - 05:38 AM

How about Dick Gaughan....~??

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 11 Nov 16 - 01:12 PM

When you say "Oleanna," I think of Theodore Bikel, every time. He milked that song for all it was worth...and let Geula Gill sing the melody in the chorus, while he harmonized.

And he wielded that great broad blade of a voice, in how many languages? From the recordings that I know of:

English, Polish, Yiddish, Russian, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Greek (Yerakina!),....

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Gilly
Date: 11 Nov 16 - 05:40 PM

Tony Rose.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,It'sMagic
Date: 11 Nov 16 - 07:09 PM

IF they don't have to be alive: Roy Williamson, Luke Kelly, Ewan MacColl
Those who are alive: Rod Paterson, Martin Carthy, Ian Bruce

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 16 - 05:08 PM

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 15 Nov 16 - 07:58 AM

For me, current favourites are:

Jez Lowe
Bob Fox
Ian Giles

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Nov 16 - 10:04 AM

Reg Meuross (from Somerset)
As good a singer/songwriter as you'll ever find.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 15 Nov 16 - 10:21 AM

It's a bit sad that almost all the posts here are referencing singers who have either died or who were in their prime in the 60s/70s.

There's a whole crop of younger artistes around at the moment, some of them very good, some still developing their styles. It would be nice to see some of them getting the odd mention:

Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere (aka Ninebarrow)
Ninebarrow - The Weeds

Kris Drever (nearly 40 now, but still 25-30 years younger than most mentioned above)
Kris Drever - If Wishes Were Horses

Kirk Bowman (OK, Flats and Sharps is mainly Bluegrass)
Flats and Sharps - Boat

MG (Mat) Boulter
Mat Boulter and Sam Whates - Westcliff

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Nov 16 - 11:33 AM

I didn't name one favorite back when this was a new thread, kind of for the reasons stated by Stringsinger (Frank Hamilton).... but since then I would put one name up as a singer who does such justice to more songs than I can count that I'd consider him to be as close to a 'favorite'

Danny Spooner... it is always clear who it singing, but it is always about the song. He has a huge repertoire of traditional songs, but can make even recent songs sound like..... well.... like 'folk'.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Mooh
Date: 15 Nov 16 - 11:36 AM

Pete Seeger.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Sam
Date: 15 Nov 16 - 02:17 PM

Ken Wilson(of the Wilsons) is a fine singer.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Rich A
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 04:32 AM

No one has mentioned Mike Waterson!!

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Tim
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 09:49 AM

Mike Waterson....

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: gillymor
Date: 18 Nov 16 - 07:13 AM

One of my favorites is Billy Ross formerly of Ossian. I wonder if he's still performing.


The Corncrake (The Echo Mocks the Corncrakes)

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: kendall
Date: 18 Nov 16 - 08:29 PM

GORDON BOK

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Sirlampsalot
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 10:04 AM

I like Woody Gutherie and his son Arlo. and Bob Dylan

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Effsee
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 10:53 AM

Ronnie Drew

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 12:13 PM

I've always loved Bob Gibson's voice. Glenn Yarbrough too. Smooth

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 23 Nov 16 - 03:01 AM

A great list of singers here... some known to me and others not. But I have started checking them out and it is opening my eyes to some fantastic singing and great songs.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST,stephen
Date: 23 Nov 16 - 08:09 AM

Martin Wyndham-Read, Nic Jones, Dick Gaughan, Tony Rose and Greg Butler, (Strawhead) and Stan Rogers.

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 16 - 02:23 PM

Louis Killen

Subject: RE: Who is yer favourite male folk singer?
From: Deckman
Date: 23 Nov 16 - 03:13 PM

Walt Robertson