The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #133660 Message #3077734
Posted By: Dave Sutherland
19-Jan-11 - 05:02 AM
Thread Name: BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2011 Nominations
Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2011 Nominations
We have politely disagreed over this in the past Al regarding the (non)contribution by Donovan to the folk scene. Donovan emerged from nowhere in early 1965 to perform a spot on "Ready, Steady, Go" from which he was roundly and rightly castigated as a Bob Dylan rip off and it was from this that he was afforded his couple of years fame on the pop scene. Since then he has dropped off the radar (both folk and pop)except when he is wheeled out for the odd event such as this. Over the years I would say that there are far more Richard Thompson, Ewan MacColl, Greame Miles, Ed Pickford and, dare I say it, Bob Dylan songs sung around the folk clubs and festivals than Donovan compositions. I can not honestly say that I have heard anyone, and certainly not among the new wave of young performers, who have said that they have been influenced by Donovan.
The announcement of this award is surely the point where the Folk Awards cease to be taken seriously.