Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) (1941-2018)

Subject: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songbob) 1941-2018
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 07 Nov 18 - 03:52 PM

Robert (Bob) Clayton of Silver Spring, Maryland, passed away this morning from a massive heart attack. He had suffered earlier from a series of strokes beginning in February 2017. He was a songwriter, a banjo expert, a decent musician, and a wonderful neighbor and friend.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Nov 18 - 04:03 PM

Bob had two different names at Mudcat over the years, SongBob and more or less simultaneously, he was Songster Bob.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Nov 18 - 04:51 PM

Bob was indeed a musician... he knew the old songs, and made new ones. When I first was in the Wash. D.C. area in 1973, I asked at music store where to find folk music. They said, "You want to find Bob Clayton. He will get you properly oriented." It was several years before I actually moved here, but it didn't take long to find Bob... and just being around him was enough to get me immersed in the local scene.
40 years later and I can barely imagine NOT having him in my life. The last year was hard as Bob tried to play and sing as long as he could, but I have memories of the many shared holiday dinners, drams of scotch, great--and not so great humor, and discussions of everything & sundry..

I'd say more, but I gotta go find some more tissues....

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Nov 18 - 06:10 PM

I think Tom (Curmudgeon) first met Bob in the early Seventies...FSGW when Tom was living in DC.

I met Bob (and Jennifer) at Indian Neck in the early Nineties. And, of course, the one year Tom and I went to the Getaway and Bob was kind enough to not only give me the lyrics to his song "Turn the Boat Around" but to sing it into my tape recorder so I could learn it.

A gentle man and a fine musician who had an apt eye on Life, the Universe...Everything.

He will definitely be missed...and is missed already.

Peace and sincere condolences to Jennifer and Drew and all...

Linn

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: ranger1
Date: 07 Nov 18 - 06:39 PM

I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon showing Bob and Jennifer around Wolfe's Neck Woods one day a few years ago. It was a beautiful day, spent with lovely people.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Nov 18 - 07:01 PM

Bob's songs in the DT:

0.7967 - TOO MUCH FOR OUR WHISTLE
0.7967 - THE DADDY SONG
0.7967 - SUMMER MAN
0.7967 - JUMP START MORNING
0.7967 - AS A CHILD
0.7742 - FOLKSINGER'S SONG
0.7742 - WE DON'T WANT TO GO
0.7742 - TALKING FOLK MUSICIAN PURIST SNOB BLUES
0.7742 - STRING BAND DISASTER
0.7742 - OUT OF LUCK, OUT ON ANOTHER HIGHWAY
0.7742 - GLORY TRAIN
0.7742 - FOLKSONG GIG FROM HELL (We Only Do it for the Money)
0.7742 - EQUINOX
0.7742 - A WORLD OF TIME
0.7742 - A SONG FOR FOLK-LEGACY (Or A Record Edged in Black)

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Nov 18 - 07:14 PM

Oh, no! I'm going to miss him.

I think it was back in March of 1999, that Bob and Jennifer first welcomed me to their home for a song circle. They were the first of so many Washington people who have made me feel so much at home over the years.

Bless you, Jennifer. You've been good for him. I am so sorry that you've lost him. May he rest in peace, and in our memories.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: bbc
Date: 07 Nov 18 - 09:01 PM

Such sad news! Jeri, thank you for those links.

With love & sympathy for Jennifer & all who loved him!

bbc

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Janie
Date: 07 Nov 18 - 09:58 PM

Thanks, Charlie, for starting this, and Jeri, for posting the links to his songs. I did not know Bob well, a few conversations every year at the Getaway. I always appreciated, not just his musicianship and knowledge, but his kindness to those of us not so musical.

Rest in Peace, Bob, and much love to Jennifer. Deepest condolences, to not just Jennifer and his family, but to all of you FSGW folks.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 18 - 10:45 PM

Deepest condolences.    May peace find you, Jennifer.......................

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Carly
Date: 08 Nov 18 - 12:59 AM

Bob has been a part of my life for over forty-five years; I met him at the very first FSGW event I attended, an open sing, and a few weeks later sang with him at my first Getaway. I remember when he started dating Jennifer; I remember, with joy, singing at their wedding. I am godmother to their son, who has himself grown to be a loving parent, a true reflection of Bob’s great love for his family. Our families have shared many good times, and some hard times, together. I have lost a great friend today; the world has lost a compassionate, witty, talented man. May his memory be a blessing for all who knew him, and may his family find peace in the memory of his love.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 08 Nov 18 - 07:38 AM

So sad to hear this news. Thanks Jeri for the links to some of his lyrics. I have added Bob's name to the "In Memoriam" thread. Thanks for the music Bob.

RIP

Peter

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: clueless don
Date: 08 Nov 18 - 08:31 AM

A fine musician and fount of song knowledge. I particularly remember him singing "Monongahela Sal" at an open sing (back when I attended open sings). I should learn it, in Bob's memory. RIP.

Don

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 08 Nov 18 - 09:00 AM

I only knew Bob from his posts here, but he seemed one of the good guys. Condolences to his family and friends.
RtS

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: voyager
Date: 08 Nov 18 - 10:58 AM

Many good memories of Songster Bob -

FSGW performances (many)
Co-worker at US Dept of Education
House concerts at the Clayton home.

Condolences to Jennifer and the Clayton family.
Thank you for your gift of music.
You have made your life a gift of song.

voyager

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Nov 18 - 11:47 AM

For a brief look at Bob's songwriting, here is perhaps the one song he was most proud of...I had no idea there was a video of it until today...

A War Story

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Severn
Date: 08 Nov 18 - 01:49 PM

A fine singer, songwriter and friend, but above all, a wonderful human being. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Nov 18 - 02:02 PM

I bought his banjo book, it was good, never met him personally but he seemed a helpful pleasant man

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: clueless don
Date: 09 Nov 18 - 09:54 AM

Any word on funeral arrangements?

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Nov 18 - 02:00 PM

There will be a memorial service...Saturday, DECEMBER 8th at 11 am, at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Silver Spring, Md.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) 1941-2018
From: Genie
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 04:58 PM

I learned on Facebook of Bob’s passing .
As Severn said, Bob was a fine singer, musician, songwriter ad above all, a wonderful human being. I knew him personally only via my 4 opportunities to be at Getaway and and online but I am sad that he is gone from the earthly community, and I know
he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bob Clayton (Songster Bob) (1941-2018)
From: dick.hamlet
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 05:46 PM

I just saw Bob's obituary. Thank you, Bill, for finding and posting the WAR STORY video.

I knew Bob as a performer and one of the core members of FSGW. A novice banjo player with slight talent (me) would hear from Bob -- "Try an Am there...", but he had the caring and skill to say it in a way that the novice could hear and heed.

The incident that popped into my mind is a slight one: In the early 1980s he was somehow involved in a project to utilize a venue called (I think) "DC Space", and I volunteered to help. DC Space was sort of depressing. Our job was to schlep the FSGW sound system in and out. Not too exciting, but Bob was cheerful and matter-of-fact. As I was toting a speaker out to the van, it occurred to me that this wasn't his first or last time on such work, usually cheerful and matter-of-fact. I still aspire to a similar attitude, and Bob is my model.

Subject: ADD: War Story (Bob Clayton)
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 01 Jun 26 - 01:43 PM

Newly transcribed:

WAR STORY
(Bob Clayton)

Troop ship on the waters, Asian-conflict bound,
Destroyers in our convoy say there’s danger all around.
Nothing much to keep us poor soldiers’ spirits high
Except this merchant-sailor guitar-pickin’ guy.

He used to sing and play for us songs we all would know,
Songs of home, songs of war, and songs of long ago,
Some we’d never heard before but we was quick to learn–
Just the thing to make our spirits burn.

This train is bound for glory, This train
This train is bound for glory, This train
This train is bound for glory,
Don’t carry nothing but the righteous and the holy
This train is bound for glory, This train

I was bunking by a hatchway in the bunkhead near the hold;
I heard some glorious singing coming up from down below.
Then it stopped and I heard footsteps and our guitar guy was there
With some colored sailors on the stair.

“You can sing and play for us like you’ve done every night;
Your guitar and your songs are helping us in this big fight,
But you can’t bring those swabs in here—there’s some a black as coal—
We don’t race-mix, we’ve got keep control.”

Well the little fellow says to him “Here’s what I think is right—
You and me and all these troops are all in one big fight—
But so are these black sailors and so it seems to me
If they’re not welcome, there’s no songs from me.”

This train don’t carry no gamblers, This train
This train don’t carry no gamblers, This train
This train don’t carry no gamblers,
No crap shooters and midnight ramblers
This train is bound for glory, This train

Well the captain flew in anger and said in a big shout,
“You and all these Negro soldiers, you can just get out!”
And I spoke up and said to him, “Sir, it’s fine with us.
They can stay; no need to raise a fuss.”

So we all sang together and damn those boy was good;
The gospel music that they brought us did our spirits good.
That’s how I chanced to be there on the spot and everything
The night that Woody Guthrie wouldn’t sing.

This train carries black and white now, This train
This train carries black and white now, This train
This train carries black and white,
All together in the same big fight
This train is bound for glory, This train
This train is bound for glory, This train