Little known '60s Folk Singers

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Mark Ross
Date: 23 Jan 10 - 01:46 PM

Don you're right, it's Joe Frasier, but he is in California. Down by LA I think.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Mishacatty
Date: 25 Jan 10 - 02:22 PM

Anyone remember a duo called Art & Paul? Did the greatest rendition of "All the Pretty Little Horses" I've ever heard.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 10:51 PM

Hi,

I met Seraffyn Mork at Phillips Andover in MA in probably 1961, and was so impressed by him I decided to take up folk music as a result. I was probably one of the few DJs that gave his album serious airplay.

Would **love** to somehow get a copy of his album, and would seriously consider putting up a simple website to share his music, if anyone wishes to do so - I have a small PC based audio studio at home.

Steve Curcuru
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,John Braheny
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 01:21 AM

My name just popped up from this site onto my Google Alert list. Thanks to Ed Hargadine for the mention re Seattle's Pamir House where we'd sit around the pot bellied stove in endless jams. What a cool discovery! Having played throughout the 60s on the Omaha, Minneapolis, Chicago Seattle,Vancouver BC and Boston/Cambridge folk scenes I have a long list of very good but little-known to better-known folksingers that I've had the pleasure of performing with and knowing. I'll list them by scene though most of them played throughout the U.S.as I did. Omaha '62: Mike McCarthy, Ted Anderson, Maxine Sellers, Clark Moffet, Daryl Seagraves, Ray Phoenix, Mike Brewer (before Brewer and Shipley) Bob Grossman, Len Chandler (also prominent in the NY G Village scene. We became biz partners in 71 for 25 years) We played The 3rd Man, The Jolly Coachman, Crooked Ear and several other clubs. Minneapolis 62-63:Jeff Espina, Judy Larson, John Koerner, Dave Ray, Tony Glover, Billy Golfus/John Gravelin, John Kolstad. Played the Scholar in Dinkeytown and the Triangle. Seattle 63: the previously mentioned Pamir House where I met "Barefoot"John Hendricks, John Browne, Davey Coffin (influential player - I still have some early tapes) Robbie Basho (he did pass), Billy Roberts (Wrote "Hey Joe")and Walt Barbee(Is anyone in touch with Walt?) I also met Peter Elbling (later of the Times Square Two), newly arrived from the UK (We're still friends)and Carol Crist. Steve Lalor and Lynne Hughes(later in the 60s). Also played a club called the Queequeg(sp) in the U district. Vancouver BC 63: Played many times at the Bunkhouse and at the Secret in Victoria with Brent Titcomb, David Wiffen, (both later with 3's A Crowd)Jon York, and many others I met there including Bruce Langhorne (we're still friends) The Chicago scene was rich. I played at Mother Blues, The Fickle Pickle (Mike Bloomfield was managing), the Unicorn with Johnny Brown, Bob Gibson, George McKelvey. Boston/Cambridge:65-66 (I think) I played clubs on Charles street - Sword and Stone, Turks Head (Also played their other club in Wellfleet), Mark Spoestra, Peter Childs, Taj Mahal, Chris Smither, Paul Arnoldi and Debbie Green(who I met much later). Never played Club 47 but enjoyed many great performances there. I'm sure I've forgotten as many as I remember. Someone should do a book about all the performers and other equally fascinating characters from that era. For me it was life-changing. Thank you all for jogging my sometimes hazy 60s mmemories. Reach me at [e-mail] or join me on Faceook.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Jef Jaisun
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 08:52 PM

John --

Walt Barbee is still living in NE Seattle, or at least he's listed on the tax rolls, at 5751 29th Avenue NE. I know this 'cause in 1987 I wired his house! And that happened because Bryan Bowers talked me into re-wiring the massive, 100-year-old Bowers Towers a few years earlier. Then all my musician pals started passing me around like a joint with skills. :)

The good news is I used the money to buy more guitars and tour Europe, and so far the houses haven't burned down.

Alex Campbell told me he married Peggy Seeger because her visa had expired and she was facing deportation. After the marriage, he effectively "handed her off" to Ewan McColl. Peggy corroborated this when I talked to her circa 1990.


Jef
www.jaisunphoto.com

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Eric Marchbein
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 08:37 AM

I stumbled upon this thread and really enjoyed reliving the 4 Winds scene. My brother, Ted, invited me to join the Hunker Hill String Band in 1965, so that makes me a little-known folksinger! The band was named for our childhood home in Hunker, PA. Ted died in '02.

I saw Charlie Chin at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN about 5 years ago. He was a featured performer telling stories of the Chinese immigrant days in San Francisco. He was great! Jay Unger is no little-known folksinger. He is, of course, the composer of Ashokan Farewell, the theme song of Ken Burn's Civil War film. He still tours and performs.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,jan jarvis
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 10:55 PM

hi I am seeking anyone who has memories or recordings of Michael Atwood who used to play at the Pamir house in seattle-please respond to jbjmog////2gmail.com

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Suffet
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 10:39 AM

Some sad news!

I just learned that after nearly half a century in business under one name or another, the Bliss Gourmet Cafe in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, finally closed its doors last week. All that is left is an empty corner storefront and FOR RENT signs.

Under previous owners, the cafe had once been called the Interlude, and during the first half of the 1960s it was one of the important centers of the folk scene in New York City. At one time Michael Cooney lived in one of the apartments on the second floor of the building which housed the Interlude, and he often served as the MC for the Thursday open mic nights, then called hootenanny nights. Michael was also among the many who appeared as featured performers on Friday and Saturday nights. Others included Pat Sky, Dave Van Ronk, Eric Andersen, and Phil Ochs.

In its most recent incarnation as the Bliss Gourmet Cafe, the venue continued to present live music, mostly local singer-songwriters. A year ago it hosted he Kew Gardens Music Festival, and I was invited to be the first performer in recognition of my connection to ithe past. Let's hope a new tenant comes along to reopen the cafe and continue its long tradition.

--- Steve

Subject: RE:Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: CC Ryder
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 07:40 PM

To the person who sent the post regarding Sam Cancilla/CC Ryder
I am his sister, I live in Canada. Sam died on September 1st 2007 in Ocala Florida of heart failure. He was an amazing man and a wonerful singer, excepionally talented with a velvet voice. I am glad someone remembers him.
Thank you.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: CC Ryder
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 07:48 PM

I sent a reply to this post but I am not sure if I did it right...
I am Sam Cancilla's sisier. I live in Canada. Sam passed away on Sept 1st 2007 of heart failure in Ocala Florida.
I am glad to see he is remembered. He was an extremely talented man with a velvet voice. I miss him very much.
Thank you

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Suffet
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 08:12 AM

Here's a double blast from the past! I heard both Matt Jones (ex-SNCC Freedom Singer) and Donal Leace perform at the Peoples' Voice Cafe in New York City last night (March 20, 2010).

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Marco Paolo McNeill
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 10:46 AM

"Children of the storm", the last album from Paul McNeill, my father is on

www.paulmcneill.ch

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Bill French, Epsom, NH
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 07:02 PM

I hope this connects to the thread about Leonda and her ocelot.
I worked in the same USAF shop at Otis AFB as Billy and used to hang out at their house in Sandwich, Ma. in 1964 - 1966

We used to go up to the Boston coffeehouses after we got off work at the base to listen to Leonda and other folk singers.

I had a photo darkroom in their basement. When I got out the USAF from Goose Bay, Labrador, I stopped by their place in Cambridge and they had the ocelot then.
I also remember then having a "Honey bear" (kinkajou?) at one point.

Bill French
Epsom, NH

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Stringsinger
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 06:44 PM

The "lads" or the "boys" The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem brought Irish music to America through the folk revival.

I worked with them and a wonderful guitarist who did great work with Odetta on
Tradition Records (owned by Pat Clancy)................... Bruce Langhorne.

Paul Clayton opened the Gate of Horn folk nightclub in Chicago.

John Braheny mentioned the Fickle Pickle in Chicago. I played there with a trio on the off night and a new comedian used to come in and do impromptu sets ....Dick Gregory.
Bob Gibson came in too.

Does anyone remember Pat Foster or Woody Wachtel? Or Rolf Cahn? (I know Jo Mapes does because she posts here.)

John Braheny, "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" by Eric Von Schmidt, Jim Rooney does a good job of chronicles from that time and preceding times. Lots of Club 47 folks there.

Taj Majal and Ry Cooder were in a group called "The Rising Suns"

The late Erik Darling influenced the pop folk scene with "The Banana Boat Song" running concurrently with Belafonte's and "Walk Right In", his rewrite of Gus Cannon's song with the Rooftop Singers.

Broadside Magazine run by Cis Cunningham and Gordon Freisen featured some songwriters who weren't quite as famous as Paxton and Dylan (who they featured)
such as Gil Turner.

Len Chandler was part of that also. He later wrote songs for a weekly news show in
Los Angeles on current events called "The Credibility Gap".

Bernie Krause replaced me in the Weavers. He has an interesting autobio: In 1998, Heyday Books ," Into a Wild Sanctuary: A Life in Music and Natural Sound."

Does anyone remember Jessie Benton (Tom Benton's daughter?)

Some might remember Billy Faier, the banjo player. He innovated some interesting banjo styles as did Sandy Bull.

Jim Rooney and Eric Von Schmidt. Joe Val and the New England bluegrass band, The Charles River Valley Boys. Around that time Geoff Muldaur, Maria and the influential Bill Keith (the father of melodic conjunct style banjo playing) were in Jim Kweskin's band at the Club 47 on Bow St. Cambridge.

Ray Boguslav from New York.
Children's songwriter Peter Alsop.

Did anyone know that Jac Holzman of Elektra Records played flamenco guitar?

Tony Saletan? Brookline MA.

Molly Scott?

Caroline Hester

Anita Shearer?

They were known by a small audience in the 60's.

One of my fave folkies that I worked with at the Gate of Horn was Alan Mills (nee Alan Miller) who brought with him the greatest fiddler I've ever heard name Jeanny Carignan (Ti Jean) from Montreal..

I also worked with Brother John Sellers, a great fellow and fine gospel singer.

Of course, if you remember the 60's, you weren't there.

F.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: iancarterb
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 10:58 AM

I love that list, Frank. Heard most on recordings, a few in the same room. One I knew of from an in-law was Tony Saletan, whom I missed at Pinewoods because I moved west, but finally met last year when he sang with Joe Hickerson in Seattle. He lives in Tacoma, and forever in 15 minute segemnts of in service-television for schools from the late fifties and early sixties.
Carter Bannerman

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Suffet
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 04:48 PM

Frank,

Tony Salretan did a program for the New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club just one year ago. The program featured songs from the 1948 Progressive Party campaign of Hentry Wallace.

Carolyn Hester will be performing with her two daughters at the Peoples' Voice Cafe in New York City this coming May 15.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Bettynh
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 05:02 PM

I remember seeing Tony Salatan on public television when it was on maybe 3 hours a day in the early 60s. Saturday afternoons had Julia Child, Pete Seeger's "Rainbow Quest" and sometimes Tony, but I don't remember the name of his program.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 08:50 PM

aloha marco -

i just found your postings on mudcat. i only check in every couple of years but i'm glad to have the opportunity to let you know i knew your dad briefly in 1966.
we hitched together from greece to rome where we stayed a week or so with gordon mcintyre and his wife. had my first espresso.
i liked your dad.....was sorry to hear he is no longer on the planet. i hope he had a good life.
we were not in touch much after that summer. i went on to open a guitar store with my then significant other - store still there in nyc......umanov guitars. your dad would have loved all the old martins that passed through.

i live in hawaii now.....have a bamboo nursery on the big island and a bunch of old guitars up in the loft.

hope you have good memories of paul. though i only knew him briefly, i think he was a pretty good guy.
and he sure made getting to rome easier and safer and more fun for me.

aloha, and peace without bombs......susan ruskin (ex umanov).

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Mark Ross
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 10:09 PM

Hello Susan, good to see you here.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Stringsinger
Date: 10 Apr 10 - 07:59 PM

Steve,

Pete Seeger told me that he cut his teeth as a performer on the Wallace campaign trail with Robeson. Learned to sing for large audiences.

Tony was responsible for the arrangement used on "Micheal Row The Boat Ashore".

Frank

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,susan ruskin
Date: 11 Apr 10 - 02:05 AM

and aloha to you.....still in the city?

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Mark Ross
Date: 11 Apr 10 - 11:24 AM

Eugene, Oregon these days. Left The Big Core(the apple has long since been eaten) 34 years ago, Montana far 23 years, and then here.

MarK Ross

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Suffet
Date: 12 Apr 10 - 01:27 PM

Frank,

Thanks for those tidbits.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Gene Jaleski
Date: 02 May 10 - 03:01 PM

I am alive and well on a little island in the Gulf of Mexico. I loved being a part of the folk/hippie scene in the early sixties. Moved to Duvall in 1967 followed by Lahaina, Holly Weird, Lake Tahoe and here and now. I played six and twelve string and mostly rural blues.

Seattle was a beautiful experience with beautiful characters and a story almost too special to tell.

Link to me and friends in Duvall and Seattle in the sixties:

http://picasaweb.google.com/geneonlbk/DuvallWashington19681975#

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 14 May 10 - 06:39 PM

Alright, here's a couple who none of you are probably familiar with: (Maybe they qualify more as 70's rather than 60's).

RICHARD WHITE: Played a lot in Edmonton (at The Hovel and The Edmonton Folk Club) as well as in Calgary and Winnipeg--plus the very first Frostbite Music Festival in Whitehorse. A great songwriter, the theme of many of his songs being the loss of traditional ways of life---with a Western Canadian focus. He put out 3 lp's on Tonic Records, the last one being adaptations of poetry by Icelandic/Canadian poet, Stephane Stephanson (sp?).   Currently he's a history professor in Toronto.

DALEN AND STOJAN: (Gary Dalen and Mike Stojan). From Grande Prairie, Alberta where the performed during the late 60's, early 70's--then disappeared. Great complex harmonies during a period of time when this wasn't "in". They played at the first Dawson City Music Festival in 1978 and nothing more has been heard of them.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,moonrider
Date: 22 May 10 - 05:06 PM

Anyone remember Don Crawford - great folk singer, played in Canada and the US, worked in Vancouver at Vancouver LIfe magazine. Played 12-sring and sounded like Richie Havens.I heard him in Vancouver 1962 nd again 1968 - played Hootenannies. Where is he now?

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST
Date: 22 May 10 - 05:50 PM

Anyone know where Don Crawford is? I remember him from Vancouver between 1962-1968. Sounded like Richie Havens. Played 12-string. Great voice. Worked for Vancouver Life magazine 1962. Anyone know what happened to him?

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Marvin Dockery
Date: 29 May 10 - 10:13 AM

I went often to the Hunt Club in Newport to listen to Jim, and drink an ale or two. He was buddies with several of my friends, and twice came to our house, at 82 mill street, for dinners prepared by our land lady, Berniece Woods.

Jim has a new cd, to be released any day now, that features two of my 1962 images of him, and the destroyers at Newport.

If you want to see the old 1962 photos of Jim check out his gallery at www.pbase.com/modelsmodels

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 03:26 AM

Re. the list compiled by BKLick. Where are Mickey Newbury and Tom Rapp? Two of the greatest. (and take out Eartha Kitt, Toots Thielman, and others who have nothing to do with folk, singer-songwriter, or roots music).

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 06:03 AM

Whatever happened to the two London boys Martin Shoben and Harry Vallins, known as 'The Haverim'?   They were well known on the UK folk scene in the 1960's, singing Yiddish songs like 'Yoshke Fort Avec', and others like '9 Inch Nails'.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Don Firth
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 01:23 PM

Don Crawford. Yes, I heard him once at The Ark in Vancouver, B.C. This would have been sometime in the late 1960s.

Excellent!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: BK Lick
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 11:27 PM

Saidman said:

Re. the list compiled by BKLick. Where are Mickey Newbury and Tom Rapp? Two of the greatest.
(and take out Eartha Kitt, Toots Thielman, and others who have nothing to do with folk, singer-songwriter, or roots music).

Well, if you will notice, the list purports only to be a compilation of names mentioned in this thread.
The two you inquired about had not yet been mentioned, whereas the ones you instructed us to take out have
been mentioned.

—BK

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 11:41 PM

Good point! Sorry about that. But consider them now to have been mentioned.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Tim Shoben
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 04:45 PM

Hi Burl,

Martin's my dad, so let me know what you want to know!! He'd be very happy someone remembers him & Harry.

All the best,

Tim

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Genie
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 05:31 PM

Among the good folksingers I heard when I lived in Greenwich Village in the early '60s but who are not well-known except maybe to real folkie "insiders" are Josh White's daughter Beverly, Peter & Isobel Gardner (very eclectic and both with classical musical training), and Bonnie Dobson. The latter two, as well as Carolyn Hester, Guy Carawan, and Judy Henske, were folksingers I discovered early on, by way of live performances or workshops and/or records, but who never really became big names.   

Then there are people like Andy Cohen who were hardly known in the '60s and even now are not as well known as their talent deserves. Andy spent a short time in Champaign-Urbana, IL, where I met him and he would entertain me and others, playing my old Martin guitar. I don't think he had done much songwriting at the time, but his guitar work and blues singing were very impressive even back then.
Another excellent guitarist/singer/performer whom I knew in Philadelphia about 1970 was Max Yasgur's nephew Bruce Yasgur. DK if he ever did any recording but he was excellent.

Someone's already mentioned the Seattle area folks like Don Firth, Nancy Quense, Stewart Hendrickson, Reggie Miles, Mike Nelson, Bob Nelson, Stan James, and Bruce Baker.   
And in the Portland, OR, area we had some excellent folkies such as Jinx Davis, Steve Culver (the same one mentioned before as a Seattle area musician?), Bo and Paul Parker, Bob Cotta, Mary Benson (both of the group "Howling Gael"), Kate Power & Steve Einhorn, Bill Murlin. I might add Baby Gramps and Jim Page, as well as Linda Allen and Linda Waterfall.

And back about 1959, when I first "got into" folk music, I got a record by a folk trio called "The Coachmen." They were a lot like the Kingston Trio or The Limeliters, for what it's worth, but whatever you think of that type of "folk" music, they were excellent musicians.

Then there are people like our own Mary Garvey, who have been writing and singing beautiful folk songs for decades - not sure if they all were doing that in the '60s though.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Morgana
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 07:41 PM

Abby, could your San Fransisco folk singer Tom be Tom Parrott? He wrote "The Freedoms We've Been Fighting For," which is in Broadside Magazine, and I think he's still alive. I'm pretty sure I looked him up on wikipedia once.

Many of the people whose names I've seen here appeared in Broadside Magazine. I'm too young to have been around in the '60's, and I always thought that anybody I knew the name of had to be well-known, otherwise I wouldn't know about them. But, there are several names in a Broadside songbook which my mother gave me that I've tried to look up online, and had no results. Of course, just because somebody isn't online now doesn't mean they weren't famous then, but I feel as if there would be some mention of their name somewhere if they were.

I've noticed that several people have posted about David Cohen (I guess there are three David Cohens). In my Broadside songbook, there is a David Cohen mentioned who wrote "The Cruel Years," and "More Good Men Goin' Down," both anti-Vietnam songs. I wonder if he is one of the same ones you all have talked about? Also in the songbook are Alex Cohen and Bob Cohen. Probably unrelated, since Cohen is a common name.

I'm going to list here some of the "little-known" song-writers who appear in my book, along with others whom I consider to be well-known:

Eric Anderson - He wrote "My Land is a Good Land," and had a record (1965ish) called "'Bout Changes and Things." I own this, and it's the only record of his I've ever heard of.
Rich Astle - He wrote "The Autumn Wind," which I love. I don't know what became of him, but I would like to know.
Ed Carl
Jimmy Collier - I think he was active in the poor people's movement with Fredrick Douglas Kirkpatrick "Everybody's Got a Right to Live."
Joan Cosman
Gail Dorsey and Emilie Gould
Richard Farina - played the mountain dulcimer. Mimi Farina's husband. He wrote "Children of Darkness," and died tragically in a motorcycle accident.
Bill Frederick
Ricardo Gautreau
Chris Gaylord
Guillevic
Carolyn Hester
Matt Jones and Elain Laron
Paul Kaplan
Mike Kellin
Peter Krug
Peter La Farge - I think this is who wrote "As Long as the Grass Will Grow," and worked for Native American causes. He died young, but I'm not sure why.
Julius Lester
Walter Lowenfels
Ernie Marrs
Ric Masten
Matt McGinn - He may be more well-known than I think. I've seen his name in other places besides Broadside.
Will McLean - He wrote several songs about the history of his home state, Florida. He was also a WWII vet, and older than many of the younger folk-singers of the time.
Jerry Moore
Ronnie Peterson
Vanessa Redgrave - A little-known singer, but a well-known actress and activist, I would guess.
Malvina Reynolds - I don't consider her little-known, but nobody else seems to know who she is. She's one of my favorites.
Norman A. Ross
Teddi Schwartz
Patrick Sky
Mark Spoelstra
Luis Valdez
Carl Watanabee
Billy Edd Wheeler
Elain White
Martin Wood
Woody Wright

If anybody has information about the people mentioned in this post, I'd like to know more about them. Feel free to correct me if I've listed someone who is actually quite famous as "little known."

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Suffet
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 07:09 AM

Morgana,

Lots of people you mention are still alive and actively performing, and there are several that I am in contact with. For example, I regularly see and speak with Paul Kaplan, since both he and I currently serve on the People's Music Network steering committee. Paul currently lives in Amherst, MA, where is teaches music and runs a concert series.

The last I heard of Julius Lester he was also living in Amherst, but that was several years ago. He is a Professor Emeritus of African-American Studies and Judaic Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as well a the author of many books.

Carolyn Hester tours with her two daughters, and they peform at the Peoples' Voice Cafe in New York City about once a year.

Matt Jones lives in New York City and has been part of the local folk scene for many years. He has been seriously ill lately, and I visited him in Saint Luke's Hospital earlier this month.

I believe Eric Andersen lives in Norway. He is still touring, and I've seen him here in New York three times in the past five years.

Several people on your list have, of course, passed away.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Kurt Foster
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 06:41 PM

I've seen several references to my Father Pat Foster. It's nice to know he is remembered. I thought I would provide the details of what happened to him

Pat passed away at age 61 in 1990 in Seaside CA at his Mother's home of a sudden heart attack after years of alcohol and tobacco abuse.

As those who knew Pat, he could be a very "difficult" person. When drinking he was downright unpleasant and when sober he was at best miserable.

Pat and my Mother divorced when I was a baby due to their being arrested in LA in regards to child neglect and abuse. I looked him up and finally met him when I was 14 years old. He was living with his then Wife Harriet in Sausilito CA and by that time he had pretty much stopped gigging.

When I turned 18 we took a road trip in a VW bus to Yellowstone and we played some impromptu sets in a few small bars and bistros along the way. Pat was drinking quite heavily and trip ended when he wound up in the hospital in Yellowstone from a pancreatic attack.


He went on to live many more years that he was supposed to spending his last years in the persona of a Catholic Priest of the American Catholic Church in the Salinas and Monterey area. His ashes are buried next to his Mother Hazel and his Uncle Robert Greene in the cemetery overlooking the lighthouse at Pacific Grove CA.

I had the opportunity to produce and record Brownie McGhees final record just before Brownie passed away and in passing I ask him if he had know Pat. He said nothing but he gave me such a dirty look, I decided to drop it. Those who knew Pat probably understand. He was a great talent but he wasted it. He led a tortured existence due to some very bad experiences in the service of the OSA as a teen and I am comforted that in his passing he is finally at peace.

Kurt Foster

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Art Thieme
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 11:01 PM

to Kurt Foster,
Thanks for telling us all that about Pat. I never met him but his music really did hit me where I've lived; the graphic songs from history---his renderings of California gold rush ballads--those brought him alive for me. In that sense, I'm glad I got to know him.
The tune he had for "The California Boy" is the one I used for the Wisconsin lumber camp ballad called "The Pinery Boy." That good tune made the song quite popular there in Wisconsin and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Those two songs along with "The Sailor Boy" --- from Britain---all had the same tale to tell; but the manner in which the "boy" made his living changed with the geography and culture involved.

Again, thanks for taking the time to set us straight.
Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Don Firth
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 02:28 PM

I met Pat Foster on one occasion, back in the very late Fifties or very early Sixties. He came to Seattle looking for work singing. We made a few suggestions of places he could try, then one fellow I knew offered to put him up at his apartment.

He didn't seem to care to mingle with any of the local singers at all. Kind of aloof.

The friend later said that Foster never left the apartment, apparently expecting local impresarios to come looking for him. Never did check out the places we suggested. Then, my friend said that Foster rolled up his sleeping back, stuffed it into his back pack, picked up his guitar case, declared Seattle the nether orifice of the world, and left for other parts.

A "difficult" and fairly unpleasant person indeed.

A few weeks later, the fellow who ran the Folklore Center in Seattle's University district discovered that he had a record of Pat Foster in stock (Riverside, I think, but I'm not sure). He played it for me.

Pat Foster was a darn good singer, and the record had some good stuff on it.

I kind of got the impression that, in a way, he was his own worst enemy. Too bad.

Sorry to hear about your loss, Kurt.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Gandalf
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 07:34 AM

Know Don Crawford well...we had a common friend and in the early 70s he appeared on a PBS special called 'The Session" in addition to releasing several great albums. In fact, WoundedBird records has re-release three of them on CD and they sound as fresh as they did when they were released in the early 70s.

Wish I knew where he was now...last time I heard anything about him was years ago when he was in Denver.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 12:26 AM

Any info on Dorothy Callison of W. Va? I heard her on an Oscar Brand SSA program.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Iberus Hacker
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 02:49 PM

As I remember, he introduced himself to me as Iberus J. Hacker. I met him in the late 60s / early 70's in Chattanooga. He was quite a character, but very talented and cared for humanity.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Suffet
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 10:03 PM

A quick update: I went to visit Matt Jones at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York Cty earlier this week, but he was in a deep sleep. He has been hospitalized for several months already, and he looks like a shell of his former self.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: sheila
Date: 26 Dec 10 - 01:48 PM

Guest Morgana (23 Jul 10)-
Matt McGinn died in 1977, due to a fire.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Judy Hensdke (is still around)
Date: 26 Dec 10 - 02:05 PM

I don't know if she counts as little known but Judy Henske (High Flying Bird- pre Richie Havens) Wade in the Water, Salvation Army Band) Hooka Tooka (see my link about a new interpretation) is still around. She is still touring (a little( and he is a racious and seductive as ever.Not bad for somebody in her 70's.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,Jon Marchett
Date: 01 Jan 11 - 02:42 AM

The Queen City Balladeers sang backup for the Mitchell Trio in their 1960's concerts in OH.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 08:45 PM

Looking, looking....... what happened to 60's folk singer Judy Bright ????? Seems that at her Music on DOT, she was in good company with Bob Dylan, etc. Any music available anywhere?? Sherry

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 09:45 PM

looking for Judy Bright, or any other out of print LP - look on eBay, GEMM, musicstack, or google for other record dealers.
Best wishes, Thomas.

Subject: RE: Little known '60s Folk Singers
From: GUEST,magnettejake
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 11:27 PM

Haven't seen too much about SoCal in he 60s--lots of us tried to be folksingers. Here are some really little knowns: Melinda Rinker (now a prof at stanford), George Ball (who wrote Baxter's Flatpicking Manual), Steve Stapenhorst (AKA S. Stapen, S. Horst and S. Forest); Owens, Bob and Carol (from Texas--Owens Castleman had some success); Tim Morgon; Tom Carvey; Al Ellington; the Green Valley Clodsfrom Pasadena.