Review: Johnny Silvo

Subject: Johnny Silvo
From: Betsy
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 07:21 PM

Just been out to Redcar Folk Club tonight saw JS.
Incredible - what a performer - if you get a chance please go and enjoy him , and if you do play a bit yourself, think how lucky you would be to be able to play at his fabulous standard - at the age of 72.
He has all the smooth musical talent , vocal strength ,quality and delivery, coupled with a charisma which makes one (in the nicest way) envious.
Do yourself a favour and see him on his English tour if at all possible .
Knockout.

Cheers
Betsy.

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: Hawker
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 08:54 PM

I'll second that, we played as his support last year at a gig near our home and we were knocked out by his stunning voice, A real MUST SEE!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: GUEST,Cliff
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 02:45 AM

Not only a great performer but a very nice man!

Go see.

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 04:55 AM

Johnny is a man I have known and admired for over 40 years. His is a truly remarkable story, and I hope some day that he or someone will write it down.
From a difficult start in life, he has gone on to become a great entertainer, and has played and sung with many well known people. He and Diz Dizley were great together, and in the days of Silvo and Moses with Dave Moses, there wasn't another folk act to touch them. With the late Roger Evans, a fine guitarist, they also played as the Johnny Silvo Trio.
A few examples of his talent can be found here, but go and see him, his smile and charisma alone are worth the trip.

Giok

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: Mr Happy
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 05:06 AM

Will be seeing him this weakend here:

Wirral Folk on the Coast Festival

http://www.wirralfolkonthecoast.com/

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: Mr Happy
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 05:22 AM

More here:http://www.perrottsfolly.com/JohnnySilvo.html

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 09:15 AM

He's travelled a long way since playschool - still the top man on the folk circuit. Seen him approx 30-odd times down the 40 years I've known him, and he's the one performer I never get tired of.

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: Northerner
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 10:38 AM

One helpful piece of advice - leave the bags of crisps at home. I got myself in his black books by producing a bag of crisps. And no, I did not eat them while he was singing. I'd had an early tea because I'd done a university course earlier in the evening before coming along and I was ravenous. However I spoke to him later in the evening (and apologised) and he was such a wonderful person to talk to. So friendly and encouraging.

I have some tracks of him on an old LP with Alex Campbell. I've waited many years to see him. He was fabulous!

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 08:48 PM

Went on a Combined Services Entertainment tour with him to Newfoundland, British West Indies and Belize back in '75.
Had a super time. Johnny is a very nice man.
Roger Knowles

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: danensis
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 06:52 AM

I saw him at Chesterfield Folk Club. He did a wonderfully wide range of songs, interspersed with fascinating anecdotes.

Somebody stood up to take a photograph "I hope you've got colour film in that camera". Brilliant!

John

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 07:55 AM

Joynny is a brilliant entertainer , and , as previously noted , an altogether NICE person !

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: melodeonboy
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 07:57 AM

I saw him 20-odd years ago both compering and performing at The Cambridge Folk Festival in front of thousands of people. A day or two later, I saw him in front of perhaps two dozen people at a village fete. He was just as good and just as involved at the second event as at the first. A real gent and a great performer.

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 08:08 AM

He knocked em dead at cottingham live! Go see him he is a legend!

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: Betsy
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 03:55 PM

Go - Johnny - Go

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: goatfell
Date: 08 Jun 08 - 03:53 PM

he was up here in SCOTLAND and he's coming back for the Marymass folk festival in August in Irvine (Scotland)

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Jun 08 - 04:04 PM

Pooh, I shall be in Whitby.

G

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: Mr Happy
Date: 09 Jun 08 - 09:07 AM

Shared a jovial chat with Johnny & Les Barker on Sturday afternoon outside in the sun reminiscing old times.

Both very chipper * friendly as ever the heat was sooo scorchio!

Les, me & most others of fair complexion were glowing red in the sun, but as I'd recalled Johnny for 35 or so yrs ago, couldn't help remarking, '.......but you've faded!' & rewarded with a hearty laff & big smile.

Great bloke!!

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Jun 08 - 09:21 AM

I seem to remember him coming back from a visit to the New Stanley Grill { I think}, in Nairobi Kenya, looking distinctly tanned !


G

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: Mr Happy
Date: 09 Jun 08 - 09:35 AM

....well he's based in Norway, which may explain the lack've pigment

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: GUEST,Arnie at work
Date: 09 Jun 08 - 02:30 PM

I've put JS up twice over the past couple of years when he plays our folk club. He generally sits up chatting 'til the wee small hours despite travelling half the day and then performing for a couple of hours. We only turn in once the whisky bottle is at an end! What a wonderful raconteur and such great company.

Subject: RE: Johnny Silvo
From: Fidjit
Date: 10 Jun 08 - 12:59 PM

He keeps promising to play a round of golf with me, but I can't pin him down.

Think he's scared. (No not really)

Chas

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Silvo
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 10:03 AM

He has the biggest & warmest embrace too - nearly squashed me many years back after I MC'd one of his gigs and summed up with the words "Thank God for Satchmo and Silvo" (he does a superb impersonation of the great man of course).

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Silvo
From: sapper82
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 03:29 AM

Seen him twice. Once at Chestfield Attic Folk club and then Burntwood.
Agree with all the above. A fantastic performer and a lovely person.

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Silvo
From: GUEST,Betsy ar Work
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 04:01 AM

What a pleasure reading all your positive comments about a great character.

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Silvo
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 04:38 AM

I told him what little I know about you Giok and sent him your greetings.

He said, Ah! gone home then, has he....?

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Silvo
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 07:36 AM

I have fond memories of driving Diz Disley up to see Johhnny at Hitchin , and sitting listening to JS , Diz and Brimmo talkingabout old scandals !!

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Silvo
From: GUEST,aeola
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 02:00 PM

I'm getting worried, I was sat chatting with Les Barker & JS saturday afternoon in the sun. I must have met Mr Happy!! Trouble is it was a great w/e and everyone was happy!!