Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)

Subject: OBIT: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: GUEST,Ballyholme
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 08:00 PM

Just heard that Belfast singer, song collector and film maker David Hammond has died.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: Severn
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 09:40 PM

The Clancys learned a lot of songs from him and always gave credit in the "adapted and arr." by credits.

I have one of the LPs of his. He found quite a few versions of songs we take for granted by now through cover versions.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: maire-aine
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 10:02 PM

I also have one of his albums. So sorry to hear this. RIP, David.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: GUEST,Ballyholme
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 11:48 PM

David was a mentor and a provider of songs to many singers throughout Ireland. In his early career as a schoolteacher he counted among his pupils one Van Morrison.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 11:53 PM

I'll have to look and see if he's included in the resources my Dad accumulated in his music collecting.

Condolences, Ballyholme.

SRS

Subject: Obit: David Hammond
From: GUEST,Newry
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 02:43 AM

The death of David Hammond has just been announced.
His rendering of Traditional Irish song and ballad will go on forever.
R.I.P.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: sapper82
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 03:44 AM

David Hammond singing Master McGrath

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 05:00 AM

A sad loss, a legend in Ulster folklore circles.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 09:18 AM

A beautiful sound on that video. extraordinary depth to the stringed instruments

was that a guitar cittern/bouzouki plus guitar?

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: Alice
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 09:28 AM

When I found his song recordings, they were truly a treasure trove for me. Thank you Davey, for your gift of songs. Sad to hear of his passing.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: GUEST,Avrl in London
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 11:21 AM

Davey has left a big space to fill....his laughter and music and love of life and people will live on in our memories but will be sorely mised

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: GUEST,jim mac farland
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 04:32 PM

a true gentleman he will be sadly missed

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 11:17 AM

he was a lovely man and I got a shock when I read about his death (a report of the funeral in yesterday's Irish Times). It's a couple of years now since I've seen Davy; he was very spry and active but I had thought Davy was in his 80s (the report says he was 79). I'd been meaning to contact him - about some lyrics, etc - and am kicking myself that I didn't get around to it.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: gnu
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 11:30 AM

Sad indeed. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 12:41 PM

Last Thursday's Guardian contained a very touching tribute to David Hammond from Seamus Heaney. It's online at

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/28/ireland.folk

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: GUEST,Linda
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 01:44 PM

A true legend, who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
He may be gone, but he will remain in our hearts forever. x

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 01:47 PM

From today's Irish Times

Regards

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 03:18 PM

In fact, a Google on DAVID HAMMOND OBITUARY already throws up a rich collection of material. Not surprising for the folk equivalent of a polymath!

Regards

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:44 AM

on Downtown Radio (DTR) (Newtownards, N Ireland)last night, "Ramblin' Man" Bobby Hanvy played clips from a past interview with Davy Hammond and songs and snatches of songs sung by Davy. I believe DTR has a website; I don't know if they archive broadcasts. Next Sun night on the same station Tommy Sands will play a tribute to Davy Hammond on the weekly folk music programme, 10-11 pm.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: Felipa
Date: 27 Dec 08 - 11:00 AM

lots of memorials to Davy on the media this Christmas season. On Christmas day, 25 Dec, 8pm on RTE radio 1, the whole of Vincent Woods' "Arts Show" was a tribute to Davy Hammond. If you are able to listen to this programme on on-line archives, you might also enjoy the programme that followed, Radio 1 Music Collection featuring Christmas recordings from all over Europe.

Today on BBC Radio Ulster, Neil Martin (one of the contributors on the Arts Show)presented a programme "Images of David" from 11-12 am, mostly made up of talk and song from Davy recorded over the years at the annual Belfast Festival at Queens. This programme will be repeated at 5 pm on New Year's Day.

There will also be a tv memorial programme, "A Time to Dream", aired on BBC1, 30 Dec, 9-10 pm and again on BBC2, 31 Dec, 5.35-6.35 (Northern Ireland region only)

(and if you do a search for Davy Hammond on the BBC website, you will find some tributes from last August (see for instance http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7582378.stm

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 11:47 AM

both broadcasts of A Time to Dream will be followed by Hammond-related broadcasts, on BBC1 a documentary he did of Belfast children and their songs, on BBC2 a follow-up programme with those children. Northern Ireland region broadcasts only, I believe.

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 01:44 PM

How did I miss this very sad thread last summer? As the "Master McGrath" clip proves, David Hammond was one of the greatest Irish folk singers, in the same league as the late Seamus Ennis and Paddy Tunney. I have three of Hammond's albums, including the wonderful The Singer's House, made thirty years ago. I can still remember how pleased I was to see a new Hammond LP after so many years. All of them should be reissued on CD, and every Mudcatter should buy them when they are!

Subject: RE: Obit: David Hammond (August 2008)
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 21 Aug 10 - 04:06 PM

Seamus Heaney's new book of poems Human Chain is reviewed by Colm Tóibín in the Guardian today.

The review quotes from a poem Heaney wrote in memory of his late friend David Hammond:-

The door was open and the house was dark
Wherefore I called his name, although I knew
The answer this time would be silence

That kept me standing listening while it grew
Backwards and down and out into the street
Where as I'd entered (I remember now)

The streetlamps too were out.

What a fine testament to a great friendship.

Matthew