Baby Gramps is in fact a fine singer and musician, on his own terms. He plays an old National Steel resonator guitar, and he sings old hokum songs, his own compositions, and even the occasional Bob Dylan song all in his own unique style. He has played with lots of other people, and opened for the Grateful Dead and the Holy Modal Rounders. He's one of the most popular folk music acts in the Northwest. As I said upthread, until this CD came out, I don't think I'd ever heard him do any sea chanteys, and I've been listening to him for more than 30 years.

He's also one of the most perceptive musicians I know. He pays attention to a lot of other performers, and absorbs a tremendous amount from them. More than once, I have run into him at a concert or club gig and asked what he thought about the show. His critiques (positive and negative) are always spot on, and helped me understand exactly what the performers on the stage were doing.

I have to believe that the producers of this set came to him, and he gave them a chantey in his own style, rather than changing his style to fit the song.