Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan

Subject: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 07:30 AM

I've just finished reading " Positively 4th Street - The lives and times of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mimi Farina and Richard Farina ", and a good read it is too. I would have liked it if the author would have included Carolyn Hester's name in the title, as she is a major player in the book. For those unaware of Carolyn's pedigree, she was a friend of Buddy Holly, is usually cited as Nancy Griffith's major influence, gave Bob Dylan is first major recording date, married Richard Farina - and then unmarried him, very quickly, and was a major influence on the early/mid-60s British folk scene. In the book, Dave Van Ronk describes Carolyn thus:" Carolyn was elecrifying - set of pipes,very, very expressive" and continues to add that she had " beauty, talent, charm.." She was THE female American folk singer until Joan Baez grabbed the title. And I would contend that that happened because of sets of circumstances, and is not connected to Carolyn's talents which are far greater than Joan's.

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 07:42 AM

Not a bad pedigree when Buddy Holly plays acoustic guitar on your first recording and Bob Dylan plays harmonica on your first album. Incidentally the BH recording are amongst many BH rarities that have never been issued (not in the UK anyway).

I'm sure I can remember seeing Carolyn Hester on black and white UK TV in the early sixties.

Roger

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 07:42 AM

Yep.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Big Tim
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 08:21 AM

She wasn't forgotten by Dylan, appearing on his 30th Anniversary Celebration Concert in '92.

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: GUEST,Joe Moran
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 01:08 PM

I remember seeing Carolyn on "Hullabaloo" a UK folk/blues tv show back in 1963(?). I also recall her doing Dylan's " Playboys and Playgirls" on a David Frost Show ( I think ) around that time. At my local folk club in the mid/late sixties most of the songs from her CBS( Columbia ) album were part of the standard repetoire e.g. "I'll Fly Away", "come Back Baby", "Once I had a Sweetheart" and Galway Shawl". I'm pretty sure that she was a big influence on Jaqui McShee from Pentangle - also, I don't think it's a coincedence that two of the above mentioned songs were recorded by Pentangle.

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Franz S.
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 01:23 PM

She's still around, you know. She spent a couple of days at a music camp overlooking Monterey Bay (CA) last summer, and may be there again this summer. Still has the pipes and the charm.

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Dita
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 01:37 PM

Great book, one of the most interesting about that era. I was pleased that Alex Campbell made an appearance as well.

For many years Carolyn Hester's second Columbia album was all I could get a hold off, but thanks to CD reissues I managed to rectify that, the Columbia, Tradition and Dot recordings, all coming out.

Glad to see she's recording again, I see she's got a Tom Paxton tribute CD out.

cheers, John

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Willie-O
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 01:40 PM

Met her in the late eighties when I sold her an ice cream bar at the Kerrville Folk Festival. I had a hard time squaring the very gracious and friendly gray-braided earth mama I met with the Carolyn Hester who (as reported in the very good Fourth Street book) pulled a gun on Farina after he was rude to her in a restaurant. Course he was asking for it... I guess that's just the way the girls are from Texas...

W-O
with a healthy respect

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 01:55 PM

Yup. Girls from Texas have grit.

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 07:16 PM

I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing her a while back. Also was invited to be her guest at a concert at the legendary Bottom Line in NYC when she appeared with Tom Paxton a while back.

She is, as was said, a truly gracious person and a wonderful artist.

As to some of the other things mentioned in this thread--to fill you in. She owns a dance club in the LA area---folk dancing. Has done so for years.

On her album--on which Dylan played harmonica--the bass player was the father of Spike Lee. Bill Lee, I believe.

As to her appearance with Dylan on the 30th Anniv., it was not the happy and honored thing one would suppose.

Her marriage to Richard Farina she mentioned---and she was quite gracious about it.   But, she also --if you listen between the lines--realize that she had some problems with that. She had done a lot of literary work for Richard prior to that--re: his writings.   Yet, she kept up a good and friendly relationship with all the parties.

Finally---she is a wonderful and warm person. And, given the years, she still looks as young as ever---white hair not withstanding. To be honest---even when you stand 2 inches away from her=-=and I have the photo to prove it. Her husband of many years---also a musician--is a charming and devoted person.

Admittedly I have not read Mr. Hajdu's works. Other than his NY Times article (Magazine Section)some time ago. Those innacuracies were enough for me.   As they were to Christine Lavin with whom I have contact.


Bill Hahn

WFDU/Traditions


Bill Hahn
WFDU/Traditions

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 11:31 PM

I sang with Carolyn for a week in 1961 at the old Gate of Horn in Chicago. We were booked for a month, but she left after the first week. She was a lovely singer, and a beautiful woman. Her performance was primarily of traditional material, sung with minimal instrumentation from a dainty perch on a high stool. Sort of a pink pinafore presentation. All this, of course, before she became the polished professional and gun-totin' Texas mama. The manager (nameless) of the Gate told her she sang like a goddam virgin, and he would be happy to help her overcome the handicap. Smart gal, she didn't accept his generous offer. Charlotte Daniels came in to replace her for the remainder of the month. Anyone remember Char Daniels? Last time I saw Char was in Indianapolis, about fifteen years ago, still smoking a couple of packs a day and coughing her lungs out between drags. There, but for the grace of whomever....
    I also sang at the Gate with Odetta for a month. Bill Lee (Spike's father) was Odetta's regular bass player. Darn nice fellow! My third Gate of Horn gig was a month with Marta Schlamme. Marta brought in a lovely, quiet audience, but they didn't drink, just nursed one cocktail all evening long, so the Gate didn't make much profit from her appearances there.
    Ah, the memories of the bar scene which I gladly left behind in 1961 and gladly chose never to rejoin. Better the small coffeehouse where people actually listen!
      Sandy (folk fogey, for sure!)

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Art Thieme
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 11:45 PM

And Carolyn Hester will be doing a concert in the near future at the Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago. I'd love to get to that. I do believe I learned the fine old ballad of the lumber woods, "PETER EMBERLY", from an early recording of Ms Hester. It took me 20 more years to realize that the tune she used was "Come All You Tramps And Hawkers".

SOME THREAD CREEP---Tomorrow, Saturday, April 3rd, 2004 some friends are coming out here to haul me into my old home town of Chicago for the Memorial gathering for the late Fred Holstein at the O.T.S.F.M. This will be a real celebration of the man and his music. I hope to see some of you there.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 11:49 PM

I think that was Bonnie Dobson, Art. I recall that she recorded it with the "Tramps and Hawkers" tune on one of her LPs.
    Say "hello" to the folks at Holstein's for Caroline and me! Wish we could be there.
    Sandy

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Big Tim
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 03:12 AM

Bill Hahn: intriguing re the 30 Anniv. Any clues?

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: BK Lick
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 03:18 AM

Yep -- according to Hajdu's book, Dylan's "Ballad of Donald white" uses the melody of Bonnie Dobson's arrangement of "Ballad of Peter Amberly."

The upcoming Carolyn Hester concert ain't at the Old Town School -- it's this evening, April 3rd, at the Lake Street Church in Evanston, part of the Hogeye Folk Arts concert series.

Here's a blicky to the Texas Songbird's website.

What a quinkydink -- I just heard Joan Baez last night (on the Northwestern campus in Evanston). Her voice is still thrilling (to me anyway) when she sings solo, but for most of the program she could barely be heard over a stunningly heavy-handed drum kit and electric bass accompaniment.. I think tonight will be much more enjoyable.

          —BK

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Art Thieme
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 11:37 AM

Wow !! I'm getting everything WRONG today.

When your memory goes, forget it !!

Art

Subject: RE: Carolyn Hester/Richard Farina/Bob Dylan
From: Amos
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 12:10 PM

Art:

Please send my fondest vibes to the Chicago gang at Fred's memorial--one of the gangs I never met but would have thrown myself into if I had...maybe going overseas was good for me..they always sounded to me like the best sort of kindred souls.

And have ahelluva good time your own self.

A