Living Singers of Traditional Ballads - N. America

Subject: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: John Minear
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:15 PM

I am interested in compiling a comprehensive list of singers of the traditional Child ballads who are currently residing in North America.   I have read a good deal of the various threads on Mudcat associated with this topic. Specific names are often mentioned but they a scattered all over the place. I am interested in pulling this kind of information together in one place.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: John Minear
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:22 PM

At the risk of being redundant, let me be specific about what I am looking for. First of all, I am looking for contemporary, living people who actually sing these ballads. I would like to limit my search to North America, which means both the U.S. and Canada. I realize that there are many fine singers of traditional ballads in other places, but I am concerned with those who are on my side of the water. This is strictly a geographical limit and nothing else.

These people don't have to be professional performers, but they can be. At this point I don't want to limit my search to any particular style of presentation. I'm interested in people who sing the old ballads. I'm more interested in people who tend to focus their singing on this kind of material or who at least have as a significant part of their repertoires the old ballads. However, I think that anyone who undertakes to sing a Child ballad has to have some serious interest in the material!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: John Minear
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:24 PM

If you have read this far, then let me say that I am well aware of the debates about the meaning of most of the key words in my opening sentence. What is a "ballad"; what constitutes "traditional"; what is a "ballad singer" – I very carefully have chosen to talk about "singers of traditional ballads". And I have further specified that I am interested primarily in the "Child Collection" of traditional "English and Scottish" ballads, realizing that these old ballads have turned up all over the place, and that there are many fine ballads that lie outside of the Child Collection.

I am interested in living singers, not ones that have contributed to this area but are now dead, whose songs lie archived in the Library of Congress. And I am interested in people who are singing these ballads who actually live in North America. If you were to gather all of these people in one place for an old fashioned "round robin" who would be there? In other words, they don't have to be (but certainly can be) people from Southern Appalachia or Upper New York State, or Newfoundland or Texas. They don't even have to be native born. They can be transplants from wherever. Anyone who is singing this kind of stuff counts.

I would like to know who they are, what they sing, where they live, how old they are, and where they learned their versions of these ballads, and where they sing them. Did they learn them from family and kin, or from books and records and the Internet, or both? Are they primarily formed by the Folk Revival of the Sixties, or are their sources broader than that? What can you tell me about these individuals? Are they still actively singing these traditional ballads?

Thanks for your help with this. T.O.M.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Burke
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:41 PM

Jean Ritchie

Sheila Kay Adams, @50, from Sodom, NC. Learned them from realatives & others who lived in her area. A real treasure & great story teller as well.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Deckman
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:42 PM

T.O.M. I am somewhat intrigued by your thoughts here. I'm going to give this some serious thought. One question: Once your list of singers of traditional ballads is written, what next? CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:47 PM

I live in a community where traditional ballads are sung socially, though most of us have learned them from books or recordings. A lot of us are even Mudcatters. Would we be the sort of people you want to know about? I can think of gatherings in places like Maine or Maryland where lots of people will get together, and entertain each other with six variants in a row of Lady Margaret or the Cruel Mother.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Ferrara
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 07:06 PM

Phyllis Marks, who is recorded on the Augusta Heritage series of tapes, sang this year for the 50th time in the West Virginia Folk Festival in Glenville, WV. She sang a great version of Eggs and Marrowbone, I believe that is from Child. Mrs. Marks's breath doesn't alway hold out but her voice is still clear as a bell.

And at the other end of the spectrum in age, Elizabeth LaPrelle, of Rural Retreat, VA, is 17 years old. You can hear her here. Her new CD has The Devil's Nine Questions and Gypsen Davey on it. Actually, I signed onto Mudcat this evening intending to start a thread on Elizabeth's singing and her CD. May still get around to it.

Another well known singer in West Virginia is Ginny Hawker. Ginny produces the Glenville festival. I have heard a version of The Silk Merchant's Daughter (American version of Jackaroe, I think) that Ginny sang, and I know she does others.

I suspect Bobby MacMillan, of Elkins, WV, also sings a lot of the American versions of Child. He was on the staff at Augusta Vocal Week when I was there 2 years ago and Sheila Kaye Adams praised his knowledge of the music very highly.

Neat question but could be a bit more specific. For example, Judy Cook is a local performer (and friend) who sings many, many American versions of Child ballads. She has performed at least twice in the British national folk festival, I believe doing mostly American ballads.

Rita Ferrara

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 07:16 PM

Possible suspects:

Patty Tutty 219 -11th St. East
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Canada S7N 0E5 www.prairiedruid.net

Ian Robb
285 Spencer Street Ottawa ON K1Y 2R1
http://www.finestkind.ca/

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Snuffy
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 07:33 PM

Rita, I'm guessing T.O.M. is looking for people exactly like Judy Cook and Karen Kobela who have discovered and love and sing the old songs, rather than restricting his search to folks who have been brought up "in the tradition"

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Burke
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 07:36 PM

Rita, I remember Elizabeth from Augusta last year. Thanks for the information.

Tim Eriksen is a punk rock musician and singer of traditional music. I'm guessing he's late 30's. Originally from Mass., I think he's learned the ballads both from traditional singers & Library of Congress recordings. His solo CD has a couple of really long versions, much longer than you usually get on a CD.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 09:59 PM

I think you could probably find some leads on Martyn Wyndham-Read's Song Links II project. His website is here, and there are a couple of mudcat threads about it here and here.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 10:43 PM

Molly Andrews sings a pretty good traditional ballad when she is of a mind to. Her Twa' Sisters variant that she got from Horton Barker is awfully good. She's my main contribution to your list. Got to agree with Burke about Sheila Kay Adams and Jean Ritchie. They're the best.

Doc Watson sings 'em and does the same great job he does with everything else.

Ralph Stanley does a traditional ballad from time to time.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: andymac
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 10:48 PM

Norman Kennedy, still going strong your side of the pond (can we borrow him back please?)
Jean Ritchie, Judy Cook as mentioned earlier...

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: John Minear
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 10:55 PM

This is a great start!   Thanks everyone for jumping right in there. We have a good list going. Some old friends and some new folks (to me) are already showing up. This is intended to be a broad category. I'm looking for people who like to sing these ballads.

Bob Deckman, I don't have any agenda for where this goes at this point. I just think that it is important to gather up this information and share it, especially among those who love this music.

Charlie Baum, others may know about you and your community of singers but I don't. Can you say more about this?

My good friend, Bobby McMillon, lives down in North Carolina, rather than in Elkins, W.Va. He does do workshops at Elkins and was there again this past summer.

T.O.M.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Ferrara
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 12:20 AM

Oh, thanks for the correction, I somehow had the idea that Bobby McMillon was part of the permanent staff of the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins.

Judy Cook and I are both part of Charlie's community of singers, so is Karen K; not sure how he would define it but among other things we're members of the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, (that includes you, doesn't it, Karen?) which is IMHO the best thing in Washington, DC and environs. Many, many, many of us sing ballads. At our annual fall Getaway we have had one long ballads session for years but are starting to realize that's not nearly enough time for everyone who's interested to get to sing just one song. It's not all Child but his material is well represented.

Do you really want the names of all the people we know who sing Child ballads in one version or another? You've started me thinking, will probably start making a list, offline.... Just to count names.

Rita

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: John Minear
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 08:04 AM

Rita, As long as people don't mind having their names in public, share what you like. My experience has been that singers of ballads usually get good responses to workshops and concerts but lead somewhat isolated existences otherwise. I'm interested in people finding out about each other. You have mentioned the "Folklore Society of Greater Washington" as a place that nurtures this kind of singing. While we are at it, I'll ask if there are other such organizations around the country in North America that bring people together for this kind of music. If I have missed a thread on this already in existence, someone kindly point me in that direction. T.O.M.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Maryrrf
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 08:56 AM

You could count me among those who sing old ballads. Here's my website:

http://www.maryfsmith.freeservers.com

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Burke
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 09:57 AM

I am interested in pulling this kind of information together in one place.
and
Some old friends and some new folks (to me) are already showing up.

T.O.M., it looks to me like you're wanting us to work for you & contributing little but rhetoric yourself. How about telling us who you know about already & their details? Then maybe list the information on people you've found in other lists & indicate where you need more information?

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: GUEST,Cookieless KathWestra in Rockland, Maine
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 10:22 AM

Joe Hickerson, Takoma Park Maryland (former head of the Archive of Folk Culture at the Library of Congress). His recordings include some great Child versions, and his concerts always include some lovely ones. Some of my favorites: Catskill Mountain variants learned from source singers at Camp Woodland in NY State in the 50s.

Helen Schneyer, Plainfield, Vermont: all of her recordings include a significant number of traditional ballads, as do her concerts. She's 83, still performing, and has a new CD on its way.

Margaret MacArthur of Marlboro, Vermont: a singer and scholar, particularly of Child ballad versions collected by New England collectors Helen Hartness Flanders and Eloise Hubbard Linscott

Sandy and Caroline Paton of Sharon, Connecticut: owners and founders of Folk-Legacy Records, and performers of mostly traditional material including many, many ballads.

Art Thieme of Peru, Illinois: not currently performing, but has recorded many wonderful American versions of Child ballads, including my favorite "Cowboy Barbara Allen"

John Roberts and Tony Barrand, both solo and as a duo. Their performances always include ballads, and their recording of supernatural ballads, "Dark Ships in the Forest," is the best.

Lisa Null of Silver Spring, Maryland (Charlie, I can't believe you didn't mention her!). Sings and has recorded many unusual and beautiful versions of traditional ballads.

Judy Cook of Laurel, Maryland: already mentioned by Charlie and Ferrara, but worth noting that she has recorded two CDs that include LOTS of ballads--again some unusual and beautiful versions.

Phil Cooper and Margaret Nelson from the Chicago area: longtime performers and ballad junkies, with loads of Child versions on their numerous recordings.

Cindy Mangsen of Bennington, Vermont: Again, a ballad junkie who can always be counted on to include lovely and unusual versions of Child ballads. She has recorded many of these.

Sue West of York Beach, Maine: not a full-time performer, but a great lover of ballads whose repertoire is probably 90% made up of Child versions.

Joanie Bronfman and Neal MacMillan of Boston, Mass.: Again, not full-time performers, but devoted amateurs who fall firmly in the Child-ballad junkie category.

Ed Trickett of Chicago, Illinois: Always includes versions of Child ballads in his performances, and has recorded many on his numerous recordings (both solo and with Gordon Bok and Ann Mayo Muir).

Betty Smith of Georgia: A rich source of traditional North American versions of Child ballads. She has recorded many of these on Folk Legacy and other labels.

And those are just the ones that spring to mind in five minutes of thinking about it at my desk at work. I, too, am a ballad junkie, and though not a full-time performer, always include 3-4 traditional Child ballad versions in every performance (usually at festivals like NOMAD, NEFFA, and the Washington Folk Festival). There are LOTS of people out there, both dedicated amateurs like myself and full-time touring musicians, who just love this material.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: karen k
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 10:46 AM

Thanks Snuffy and Rita for mentioning me. I feel honored to be on this list with the likes of Jean Ritchie, Sheila Kay Adams, Helen Schneyer and many more. Many of the people I would have mentioned are on Kathy's list above and in other posts.

I will add Becky Kimmons, Charleston,WV, a wonderful singer and part of the Missing Person Soup Kitchen Gospel Quartet

How about Tom Gibney from NJ - a great singer of ballads and much more.

This is a great thread idea. Thanks for starting it T.O.M.

karen

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Mark Ross
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 10:48 AM

Don't forget Faith Petric of San Francisco!

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 02:02 PM

There are singing parties I can think of in Virginia, Connecticut, New York, and Maine, which I'll leave anonymous because they're gatherings by invitation. One in Maine is a weekend of ballads and chocolate; people sit around room, sing chocolate and eat ballads, or vice versa. The others are heavily infested with ballads. Every fall, the FSGW Getaway devotes several sessions to ballad circles.

Kathy--I didn't mention Lisa Null above because I didn't mention anybody, for fear of leaving someone out. Lots of folks noted above, but no one has yet mentioned Sue Matthieu (of Ruckersville, Va.), Bill Day (of Wheaton, Md.), Mark Gilston (of Cedar Park, Tex. of late), Susan Friedman (from near Trenton, N.J.), Ed O'Reilly (of Silver Spring, Md.), Andy Wallace (of Largo, Md.), Mary LaMarca and George Stephens (of Silver Spring, Md.), or me (of Silver Spring, Md.), for that matter. And I'm leaving out others, including near neighbors, but I'm at work and don't have time to compile a complete list.

Outside the people I sing with regularly, there's Custer LaRue (VA), Melissa Weaver Dunning (VA), Chris Noyes (MD), Molly Andrews (VA), Carol Ponder (of NC/TN)...


--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 02:08 PM

Colleen Cleveland (N.Y.) [and her nephew James], Anita Best (Newfoundland), Lorraine Hammond (Mass.), April Grant (Mass.), Julia Friend (N.Y./Ohio),...

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Tradsinger
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 02:09 PM

Why has no one mentioned Colleen Cleveland and her nephew James of Brant Lake, New York State? Great living traditional singers of their family reportoire.

I would also check out Mike Yates' great double CD 'Far in the Mountains', although I have no idea how many of those singers are still alive. Details at:http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/mount12.htm



Gwilym

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Deckman
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 02:33 PM

I would be quite neglect if I didn't add the name of Mr. Don Firth, of Seattle. Don has a very robust bass voice and he surley knows how to use it. And as collector and researcher of the traditional ballad, he is also a great teacher of history. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: John Minear
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 03:31 PM

Burke, I'm not much for "rhetoric" and I apologize to you if that's what I sound like. Most of what I know about this kind of music I know from reading and listening to recordings. Much of what is written and recorded is by and about people who are no longer with us. Their contributions are huge and I spend a good deal of time with that. I have also had the good luck to meet and get to know a few really good singers of traditional ballads, such as Sheila Kay Adams and Bobby McMillon. I know of others mostly by their CDs.

I have purposely tried to make my request broad to discover and recognize as many singers as we can. When I go to festivals and conferences, the singing of ballads is a pretty small part of the overall emphasis. Granted, I may not have discovered the best gatherings and would like to hear about others.

I'm not asking you to do my work for me. I can make a list of a lot of people who have recorded Child ballads. But I know there are also lots of people out there who haven't made CDs who sing this stuff and love it. I don't know who they are, but now I'm beginning to find out, and that is exciting. It is also good know what others on Mudcat think about this kind of music and the people who make it. I plan to submmit some names of my own as we go along. T.O.M.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Deckman
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 04:20 PM

O.K. I'd like to add the nmae of Nancy Quense, also of Seattle. Bob

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Tradsinger
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 05:02 PM

Another excellent American ballad singer is Andy Wallace from the Washington area.

Gwilym

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: curmudgeon
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 05:42 PM

There's a sizeable contingent of ballad singers here in Southeast New Hampshire, loosely centered around the Press Room in Portsmouth.

Since our Friday sessions are mixed tunes and songs, longer narrative ballads don't fit, unless of course, most of the instrumentalists have a gig elsewhere. And the monthly shanty / forebitter sessions sometimes will feature a couple of nautical ballads.

And if there's sufficient interest, I could arrange an occassional ballad session.

PM me for particulars and details -- Tom

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Folkiedave
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 05:57 PM

Well I have looked through this thread and find no mention of one of the finest singers of the current generation - Peggy Seeger - lives in Asheville North Carolina. Also Heather Wood of the UK lives in New York and organises Pinewoods.

Dave Eyre
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: John Minear
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 06:06 PM

Here is a list of (living)singers of traditional Child Ballads from my own collection of recordings. There will be some repeats of people already mentioned.

Peggy Seeger, of Asheville, NC
*Gordon Bok, Ann Mayo Muir, & Ed Trickett
Betty Smith
Jean Ritchie, of eastern Kentucky
*Tamara Sheen of eastern PA
Custer LaRue
*Mike Seeger, of Lexington, VA
Jody Stecher
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings (a very nice version of "Wind & Rain")
*Sheila Kay Adams, of western NC
*Ellen Gozion, of western PA
Debra Cowan
Acie Cargill, of Kentucky
*Bobby McMillon, of western NC
Phyllis Boyens
*Dwight Diller, of West Virginia
Diane Jones
Bob Heyer
Laura Boosinger (another nice version of "Wind & Rain")
John Roberts & Tony Barrand
Susan Brown
*Tracy Schwarz & Ginny Hawker, of WVA
*Doc Watson, of western NC
*Mary Jane Queen, of western NC
Norman Kennedy
*Ed Miller, of Texas
*Elizabeth LaPrelle, of VA
Cindy Kallet
Phyllis Marks, of WVA
        
I don't know if the following people ever sing Child ballads anymore or not:

Bob Dylan
Hedy West
Joan Baez
Judy Collins
Billy Edd Wheeler
Odetta

I also have tapes made by Gerry Milnes at Elkins, WVA of singers from WVA, but I don't know how many of them are still living: Holly Hundley, Everett White, and Clyde Case.      

*People that I have heard in person. T.O.M..

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Ferrara
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 07:08 PM

Kathy W in particular, great list. Here's a few more from my list of local FSGW people:

Andy Wallace's wife Sondra
Carly Gewirz
Linda Rice-Johnston
Lorraine Van Buren
Jennifer Woods
Also Jerry Epstein, Dick Swain, Nancy Mattila, Susan of DT and Dick Greenhaus, who aren't local but come sing with us anyway.

Lisa Null is one of those on my list along with a number of people mentioned above by other folks. (Also my husband, Bill D). Hadn't thought of Sue Mathieu and Mark Gilston though! The list keeps growing, this is just people we get together with informally, it's up to 20 now.

Lorraine VB and I have often remarked on how fortunate we are to be part of a community where there is so much musical richness. It sure adds a lot of joy to life.

BTW if we're trying to be comprehensive here, Elizabeth LaPrelle's mom Sandy LaPrelle is also a singer of old ballads.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: GUEST,ALLAN.S
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 08:08 PM

Have you all forgoten Tom Paley and John Cohen of the NLCR

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 08:42 PM

Faith Petrick isn't the only San Francisco singer of ballads. People know Sharyn Dimmick for her Wallflower Waltz, but her real love is ballads. Sadie Damascus has a phenomenal number of ballads in her head, and she sings them with an unusual flair. Our very own Blessings Barbara always sings a few, and so does Lani Herrmann. Hmmm. I'm seeing faces of several more, but can't recall names.
It does seem like the ballad singers are mostly women, particularly in San Francisco.
I'm sure most of the people on the Ballad-L List are ballad singers.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: John Minear
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 07:49 AM

Joe, thanks for the link to the Ballad-L List in the previous note.

Also, everyone be sure and check out the new thread on Elizabeth LaPrelle's CD, and the older thread on recordings of the the Child Collection.

I've been to both Swannanoa and to Augusta Heritage to ballad workshops. Wouldn't it be something if ballad singing had it's own week instead of being subsumed under the "Old Time Music" category! This is one reason why I'm interested in finding out about all of the singers of traditional ballads, to see the scope of this interest and to see what kind of base really exists. I don't represent any organization and I don't have any official connections to any of the festivals or workshops. But I sure would want to be a part of a week-long gathering devoted to this kind of music. T.O.M.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 10:12 AM

Julie Henigan (Mo./Ind.), Nancy-Jean Ballard Seigel (Md.,/Vt.), Ruth Perry (Mass.), Deb Flanders (Vt.), ...

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Ferrara
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 10:25 AM

Oh yes, Nancy-Jean! Good thought. Which reminds me, what about Dan and Bonnie Milner, who have recorded an album based on songs collected by Nancy-Jean's grandmother, Helen Hartness Flanders. I can't quote specific ballads they sing, Dan's primary focus is Irish music and Bonnie's is maritime, in fact right now the only thing that comes to mind is Bonnie singing "Dark Eyed Sailor," but still I suspect they should be added to this list.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: John Minear
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 08:15 AM

I'm not ready to let this discussion slip over the horizon yet. In going back over the contributions so far, it looks to me like there are some singers of traditional ballads (and perhaps we could even call some of them "traditional" singers of traditional ballads) from down in Western North Carolina and over in West Virginia (I'm in Viriginia, myself). And then there are some strong concentrations of people who sing traditional ballads from D.C. to Maine. There are also some in San Francisco and Seattle, and a few in Chicago, and other places. That we know about so far. From the responses, it would seem like the Northeast is where a lot this kind of singing is going on. That is not surprizing. I wonder why we haven't heard more from the Southeast. Does this geographical spread correspond to other areas of interest and activity in folk music?

Sheila Kay Adams and Bobby McMillon are younger than the generation of the '60's folk revival. Both grew up in the old mountain culture of the Southern Appalachians and learned their songs from family and community. Their sources are probably all gone now. Are there other people out there of Sheila and Bobby's generation that are passing on family and community traditional ballad singing like they are?

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 11:50 AM

For a vote from the desert Southwest, I love to sing 'em but don't have much opportunity (to sing in anyone else's hearing, that is).

I must confess to being influenced by many of those northeast and mid-atlantic folks, thanks to a few precious opportunities to go to Folk Music Week, put on by the Country Dance and Song Society at Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, Mass. (which I take every opportunity I can to plug!).

~ Becky Nankivell in Tucson, Arizona

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Stewart
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 12:46 PM

One should certainly mention the Vancouver (B.C.) Folksong Society. John Bartlett and Rika Ruebsaat are experts on the old ballads and have founded The Vancouver Ballad Group in 2000 to "sing and study the great ballads, in the main from England and Scotland." Perhaps someone from Vancouver can provide more information on that group. Included in the Vancouver Folk Song Society is my good friend Paddy Graber who sings many of the old ballads and had his first CD released earlier this year. He is an 80-year old traditional singer who learned most of his songs from his family in Ireland.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 05:00 PM

There are at least one hundred people at our annual family reunion who know and sing many of the old songs learned from us older souls- and every 'living singer' here-mentioned must have a similar group of offspring and far-family members. Don't worry! The river of song will survive!    Jean

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: John Minear
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 07:46 AM

As of this morning, Sunday, Nov. 21, this is the list I come up with from our discussion so far. It is quite impressive. I hope I didn't miss anyone who has been mentioned. Please feel free to correct any mistakes or oversights. T.O.M.

Jean Ritchie, Sheila Kay Adams, Charlie Baum, Phyllis Marks, Elizabeth LaPrelle, Sandy LaPrelle Ginny Hawker, Bobby MacMillan, Judy Cook, Patty Tutty, Ian Robb, Karen Kobela, Tim Erikson, Molly Andrews, Doc Watson, Ralph Stanley, Norman Kennedy, Rita Ferrara, Mary Smith, Joe Hickerson, Helen Schneyer, Margaret MacArthur, Sandy and Caroline Paton, Art Thieme, John Roberts and Tony Barrand, Lisa Null, Phil Cooper and Margaret Nelson, Cindy Mangsen, Sue West, Joanie Bronfman and Neal MacMillan, Ed Trickett, Betty Smith, Kathy Westra, Becky Kimmons, Tom Gibney, Faith Petric, Sue Matthieu, Bill Day, Mark Gilston, Susan Friedman, Ed O'Reilly, Andy Wallace and his wife Sondra, Mary LaMarca and George Stephens, Custer LaRue, Melissa Weaver Dunning, Chris Noyes, Molly Andrews, Carol Ponder, Colleen Cleveland [and her nephew James], Anita Best, Lorraine Hammond, April Grant, Julia Friend, Don Firth, Nancy Quense, Peggy Seeger, Heather Wood, Gordon Bok, Ann Mayo Muir, Tamara Sheen, Mike Seeger, Jody Stecher, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Ellen Gozion, Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Phyllis Boyens, Dwight Diller, Diane Jones, Bob Heyer, Laura Boosinger, Susan Brown, Tracy Schwarz, Mary Jane Queen, Ed Miller, Cindy Kallet, Carly Gewirz, Linda Rice-Johnston, Lorraine Van Buren, Jennifer Woods, Jerry Epstein, Dick Swain, Nancy Mattila, Susan of DT, Dick Greenhaus, Tom Paley, John Cohen, Sharyn Dimmick, Sadie Damascus, Blessings Barbara, Lani Herrmann, Julie Henigan, Nancy-Jean Ballard Seigel, Ruth Perry, Deb Flanders, Dan and Bonnie Milner, Becky Nankivell, John Bartlett, Rika Ruebsaat, Paddy Graber, "at least one hundred people at our annual family reunion" – Jean Ritchie!

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: KathWestra
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 08:29 AM

A few more off the top of my head for a Sunday morning:
Kate Seeger
Fay Baird
Kim Wallach
Kate Spencer and her daughter Susannah Branch
George Ward
Riki Schneyer
Joan Sprung
Suzanne Mrozak
Joel Mabus
Dick Holdstock
Bob Walser
Wally Macnow
Berta Scott-Macnow
Priscilla Herdman

Sure there are many more....

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 09:48 AM

The Missouri Folklore Society has among its members a few of note:
Cathy Barton and Dave Para
Judy Domeny Bowen
Lynn Wolz
Alex Usher
Paul and Win Grace
Clyde Faries

I'm sure there are more in the organization that don't perform where I can hear them but who know some of the songs.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 01:25 PM

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Sarah Grey, or did I miss it. She may not reside in the USA any longer. She was in Scotland the last contact I had, though she was originally from this side of the pond.

A couple of local ballad singers, from Stone County Arkansas, are Sheryl Irvine, of Timbo who learned many of her ballads from her mother Georgia, and Deborraha Carbone who learned many ballads from Almedia Riddle.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 04:02 PM

My friend Andrew Calhoun, usually known as a singer/songwriter, is very fond on ballads. He recorded an entire project of Scot's ballads titled Tefler's Cows recently, that is quite good. I have another friend, Brighid Malone, who does not play out much, who does some killer arrangements of Lord Randall and the Great Silkie.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Maryrrf
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 04:07 PM

I have a copy of "Telfer's Cows" and it is excellent. I love the arrangements and there are some pretty obscure ballads on that CD like "Jamie Telfer" etc. Highly recommended. He should certainly be on the list of ballad singers.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: KathWestra
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 11:12 PM

Just got back from hearing a performance by Bob Stuart who lives here in Rockland, Maine. He sang several Child ballads in his hour-long set--and a fine singer (of all kinds of songs) he is.

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 05:41 AM

Don't forget Jeff Warner! He may not always be singing the Child versions, but the ballada he sings are old, often as collected by his parents Anne and Frank Warner.

Allison

Subject: RE: Living Singers of Traditional Ballads
From: Burke
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 09:47 AM

TOM, I have to correct a spelling on your compilation. It's Tim Eriksen, not Tim Erikson.

Scarry ad I'm seeing right now!
"Gospel Singers for sale. aff Check out the deals now!"
Is this some new form of slavery?