Bob Stewart - where is he now?

Subject: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 09:12 AM

Bob Stewart lived and made excellent music in Bath and the west around 1974.

The Unique sound of the Psaltery

Any current news?

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 10:10 AM

http://www.dreampower.com/rjbio.html You'll find R.J. Stewart (as he now prefers to be known) here! He's been an American citizen since 1996 apparently.
Once had him at the Hartshead Moor Folk club back in 1975. Nice chap he was and a very good musician

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 10:39 AM

Nice chap he was and a very good musician

And now a prophet of the New Age! How the mighty are fallen! Actually, the cracks were showing early on but as part of the overall Alt-Folk Hippy thing we could accept the various misgivings on Up Like the Swallow and even his book Where Is Saint George? - A Search for the Pagan Imagery in British Folk Song as being somehow par for the course, but his recent stuff looks soul sappingly earnest, and 100% codswallop to boot. Still, a nice wee earner for the man! Nice work if you can get it, or are prepared to sell your soul to the New Age in return for the wealth & riches that are the right & entitlement of the successful, thus reaping the spiritual rewards of enlightenment...

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 01:09 PM

Sean,

I had a couple of tries at "Where Is Saint George? - A Search for the Pagan Imagery in British Folk Song"

and found it a bit like a jigsaw made up from other jigsaws. Shame really his music was good.

Cheers

Les

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 01:34 PM

I seem to recall that he lives in Sonoma County (California) these days.

I loved "The Unique Sound of the Psaltery," and every year when my local Pagan convention (Pantheacon) books him, I go to hear him play. His coterie is amusing, and hardly any of them understand why I go to his yearly mini-concert but not to his much better-attended lectures.

This year, sadly (for me), he concentrated on songs accompanied on guitar and mandocello. The beloved psaltery was not in evidence.

You've just reminded me, though, I thinj I was able to but "The Unique Sound..." on CD at the con. Now, where did I put it????

Claire

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 02:53 PM

and found it a bit like a jigsaw made up from other jigsaws

I couldn't agree more, Les - but I've always had a fondness for Where Is St George? - flawed though it undoubtedly is; hell, I even like The White Goddess and there are passages of The Manifesto of the Communist Party that might still bring tears to my eyes. The worst of it is when you put R J Stewart into Google and you get something like this!

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: BB
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 03:01 PM

That 'psaltery' is, in fact, a harpeleik, one of which we used on our most recent CD. It's a Swedish form of the psaltery. Tom used to work with Bob so was very familiar with it, and when one came up on eBay recently for an astonishingly small sum, we couldn't resist it. It has an absolutely stunning sound, and Bob is/was undoubtedly a superb player. Sad if he's no longer playing it. It can be a wonderful instrument for accompanying songs.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 03:20 PM

Barbara, thank you so much for that information! Now I know what to scour eBay for.

He was still playing it as of last year's con, but I think he only uses it for non-vocal work. This year he concentrated on songs rather than tunes, so possibly that was why he didn't bring it.

C

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 04:59 AM

Sean,

well that web site is amazing! I don't know what to say really. No, I really don't. I guess it's basically harmless? But then look at Scientology.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,doc.tom
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 05:05 AM

His other vinyl was 'Rise Up Like The Sun'. Oh yes, and 'Tomorrow We Part' with Finbar Furey.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 05:35 AM

Ithink the psaltery has certain limitations,it is impossible to play legato.
he was agood singer and musician,and the psaltery does make an interesting change.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 06:27 AM

I knew him back in the 70s in his Bob incarnation, and always found him completely congenial and down-to-earth. One of his projects was doing the soundtrack of Tony Richardson's film Joseph Andrews, and I played harp on it, right at the beginning in the song over the opening credits (I think credits were rolling - it was a long time ago). I believe Bob wrote the song, and he was also playing in the session, as was Jeff Lynne. Jim Dale (far less well known then than he later became) sang it, and that was one of the most enjoyable jobs I've ever done (Tony Richardson resplendent in silver lamé from head to toe, but he wasn't the least bit affected).

The guys were all so friendly and good-humoured that it was huge fun. If you see this movie in the TV listings, as it occasionally is, you can catch this number which comes right at the beginning. I've always thought it was a good song, and wouldn't sound out of place in the folk clubs as it's very folky.

ClaireBear, you should be able to obtain a harpeleik - as well as many other fascinating stringed instruments - from the following maker, though I don't know how old this website is. I knew there was someone making them, but had to go to the German Google page to find it:

http://www.musikzentrum.de/hopf/english/default.htm

and click on "harpeleikzither" in the links at the right.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 06:32 AM

Well, I can only quote Mike Harding at this point:

"All good things must come to end - as the Nun said when she bit the arse off a sugar elephant"

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: JeffB
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 12:26 PM

I remember him well from occasional appearances the Bath folkclub in late 70s-early 80s. He didn't come too often - I think he was a little peeved that some friends and I had pre-empted him in opening a club. A very fine all-round musician (sensibly, he didn't sing much!), playing the uillean pipes as well as the hammered psaltery in those days. And his then-wife Lorraine was a real sweetie. I wonder what she ended up doing?

He did indeed write the music for "Joseph Andrews", which featured many location shots in Bath.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 02:22 PM

The Hat & Feather by any chance?

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 03:29 PM

The Hat & Feather - one of our favourite gigs - was run by Rosie & Pete MacGregor, though probably others were involved too. They posted in Packie's birthday thread last year, so they may see this thread and weigh in. JeffB, my apologies if I haven't recognised you -

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Effsee
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 10:07 PM

Pete MacGregor...was he the member of "Chanticleer" I seem to remember from a visit to Bath in the early '70s? From Bathgate IIRC?

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 03:04 AM

Rosie and Pete indeed. I sang there between 74 and 78 and remember Jo King, Jo Wankowsi, Dave (?) clearly I don't remember very well

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: JeffB
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 11:56 AM

Very sorry Bonny, but I just saw you a couple of times performing with Packie. We never met. I was always merely a very distant admirer ... > heartfelt sigh <.

Les, : The club I ran, along with a couple of other partners in crime, was after the Hat and Feather closed. We operated from Smith's in St James Parade. I'll send you a PM

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 12:21 PM

Dave was Dave Adams good singer, great bloke

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Pete MacGregor
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 02:40 PM

Hi Bonnie et al
Lots of bits and pieces being raised from a while back. At the risk of it becoming an Alikadoo session here goes.

I first knew Bob when he was living in Bristol and working often as a duo either with Paul Evans or Albert Lightfoot. This was sometime in the sixties (sorry about the vagueness). At the time Bob had no transport hence perhaps his infrequent appearances in Bath except when he had been booked. Later he moved to Bath and for a while I drove him to some of the more local gigs.

Chanticleer existed for a few years around 1970 and was me, Mary MacGregor and Dave Galloway who we lost a couple of years ago. We couldn't afford an acapella so we had to sing unaccompanied.

I still see Dave Adams from time to time although he hasn't been singing AFAIK.

Rosie and I are still doing the occasional song (whilst carrying out the traditional married couple's argument on stage) - the latest installment being this lunchtime at the Bradford on Avon Arts Festival between the Punch and Judy Show and the samba drummers.

Effsee - I lived for a while as a youngster in Bo'ness which is to the north of Bathgate and gave me the inspiration for several songs although I probably wouldn't have thought so at the time I was there. Some of them are recorded on the CD 'When Years Were Long"

Bonnie - if you are in contact with Packie please give him Rosie and my best wishes to the both of you with the memories of many wonderful evenings.

Pete

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: strad
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 03:02 PM

Pete - to refresh the memory, Bob, Albert, and Paul were around in 1966 to 1971 and all gave us great music. Bob was one of the musicians who took part with Stan Hugill and the Folk Tradition stalwarts in the LP made by Bristol Museum. It must have been good cos some bugger stole my copy! Regards to all in the Bristol/Bath area

Nigel Hallett

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 03:53 PM

Hi Pete -

I just saw Packie two weeks ago - we drove north and had a nice few days sitting in his kitchen drinking toddies and swapping memories. He's somewhat physically frailer now and looks a bit (not a lot) older, but he's still his same twinkly self. We went into the village with him (a fairly rare occurrence these days: he mostly stays at home) and every 10 feet or so, someone stopped us to greet "Packie Manus". It took ages to get down the street! I told him to be sure to come to all our 90th birthdays, only half in jest.

I will certainly pass on your & Rosie's best to him when we next speak, which he'll be delighted to hear. We both remember The Hat with great fondness. Glad to read that all is well.

B xxx

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: BB
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 05:03 PM

Pete, really sad to know that Dave Galloway is no longer with us. I was at college with him, and we sang together in the college choir. We were doing some, for those days, quite weird and wonderful music, and I remember when we first saw The Songwainers at the old Folk Tradition in Bristol, some of their chords gave us a real 'ooh, that's wonderful!' feeling which we'd already from some of the harmonies in the choir. He was a really good friend, along with his lady of the time (Jan?), and I was always sorry that we lost touch.

It must have been around 1967 too, that I first met Bob (to get back to the thread) in Bristol, when he was living in Clifton with Albert, and was frequently at the old Troubadour club there. It was through me that he met Tom and moved down to North Devon to work with him for a year or so. That's where he met Laraine (sic). They split up some years ago, and Laraine is now living in South Devon, and still doing a bit of singing (to answer Jeff's query.)

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 06:08 PM

In one of those odd coincidences that happen every so often, I ran into a book in my local charity shop today: Legendary Britain by Bob Stewart and John Matthews. Got it for a song. I am hoping that the presence of a co-author will make it a more readable work than Where Is St. George, which I too found heavy going. (in fact, I believe I drowned midway through.)

Mind you this book was printed by an English press in 1989, and I am in central California. I have no idea how it fetched up here.

Claire

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Pete MacGregor
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 05:21 PM

I hope the thread drift police won't mind but just to round off.

Barbara
Jan (Blyth) died suddenly last year. She and Dave were together from the time they were at college for the rest of their lives. They now lie together on a hillside overlooking Newton Park where they first met over forty years ago. How 'folk' is that?

Pete

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: BB
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 06:15 PM

That's just lovely, Pete (she typed through her tears...) I shall think of them next time I pass by there. Thank you for telling me.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,Glenn Wardle
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 08:27 AM

Anyone got a decent picture of Bob's psaltery? - I would very much like to see how it differs from the harpeleikzither mentioned earlier.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 08:38 AM

If anyone has the words to a song of Bob's called "The Song of the Green Man", I'd be eternally grateful if they could tell me the meaning/spelling/etymology/anything about the word that sounds like "smockaging" that comes at the end of the second verse:

"I used to look out of the woods at children calling spring
But now I hide in old tin cans and fear my smockaging (????)"

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 11:30 AM

I got my old tape of Up Like the Swallow to play but the quality of both sound & Bob's somewhat mannered vocal style are such to make it indecipherable.

Otherwise...

by Bob Stewart and John Matthews. Got it for a song. I am hoping that the presence of a co-author will make it a more readable work

In this case I would think Mr Stewart & Mr Matthews would just bring out the worst in each other, both being pedlars of unsubstantiated new age drivel of the make-it-up-as-you-go-along-and-pass-it-off-to-the-gullible-as-inspirational-and-watch-the-cash-roll-in variety. Matthews, for example, with reference to the above mentioned song, has fabricated a small library's worth of lies concerning the so-called Green Man, including Oracle Cards and books of bogus rituals. One of these you can buy at Past Times for a not inconsiderable sum, but it does include a delightful little non-authentic resin plaque to which to direct ones devotions!

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 12:19 PM

So, twenty-five cents ill spent then? At least the investment wasn't a major one.

I know the new-age drivel whereof you speak; there's rather a lot of it in California. I confess I have little patience for Stewart's particular take on mysticism, but I do love that psaltery and have also admired the man's skill at tune-weaving. I had friends play his beautiful "Processional" (or was it "Recessional"?), from The Unique Sound of the Psaltery at my wedding.

For whoever wanted a picture of that psaltery, there's a sketch of it at http://www.discogs.com/release/1219811. There's a photo of it, I think, on the cover of the aforementioned i>Unique Sound LP, but I haven't found it reproduced online.

Claire

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 02:41 PM

Here It Is!

I must say, I'm with you on the music, Claire - even his singing; Bob remains a crucial, albeit idiosyncratic, stylish for whom I have much respect. His album with The Fureys is a delight, as is Up Like the Swallow.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: masha
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 02:46 PM

Bob was the first person I met when I stopped in Bath back in 1982, for what I thought was going to be a couple of hours. I took out my banjo to busk, he came up, listened for a couple of tunes, then took me to meet Marco and Lenny and... gosh, who else was there? I ended up living in and around Bath for 14 years (in between our many horse-drawn travels).

Imagine my surprise, when, 25 years later, I'm sitting in a favorite hangout in Marin county, California, and Bob is sitting in the next room!

He was living in Marin about 5 years ago, but I've moved since then, and lost touch again.

Does anyone know if Marco is still around?

- Masha (who used to sing & clog & sell jewelry around Bath)

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 02:49 PM

Oh, good, you found a photo of the cover! Thanks -- I was sure it was out there somewhere.

I have all three of those albums on vinyl. Would that I could play them! They are all indeed lovely stuff.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,JeffB
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 06:46 AM

Yes, Marco is still in the Bath area Masha. Saw him at Priddy Fest this summer. Looks much the same.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,rohan
Date: 07 Aug 11 - 02:47 PM

before you slag someone off especially their spirituality, perhaps it would be prudent to at least make some attempt to understand where they are coming from. Speaking as a folk musician AND a person who believes that there is more to the world than the current materialist paridigm I can only say that Bob's work has originated through directly confronting the Folk tradition and exploring the lore passed down through the old ballads. If you take the time to try some of the techniques he teaches WITH AN OPEN MIND you will find them to be most enlivening and IN FACT AN ANTIDOTE TO THE COMMERCIAL COSMIC FOO FOO YOU RIGHTFULLY DESPISE. Why demean a man's lifeswork without taking the time to understand him? You obviously enjoyed his music back in the day so hey give the man a break. I've known him for nearly 20 years and he is sincere in his beliefs and attempts to bring us all closer to the spiritual forces which so obviously permeate and shape this world. (ask any quantum physicist!)

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 07 Aug 11 - 03:02 PM

I enjoyed Bob's music in Bath around mid 70s and I have read one of his books and quite a few other books related to English tradtions.

I have discuseed a number of issues with Suibhne O'Piobaireachd and enjoyed his and Rapunzal's music. Suibhne O'Piobaireachd is extremely widely read and plays & creates music from traditional and others ources.

I think he's comments about his Bobness and based in much knowledge and understanding and nicely understated

Best wishes
L in C#

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,Howard Bryant
Date: 03 Sep 13 - 06:00 PM

He taught me in Bath around 1975 / 76 when I was a teenager. My first guitar teacher.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,Don Wise
Date: 04 Sep 13 - 02:36 PM

Bob Stewart and his psaltery......Flashback to a Sidmouth Folk Festival sometime in the 1970s. Bob was playing in the beach store and had placed his psaltery on the floor of the stage. People within in reach had placed their cassette recorders on the stage.....Bob politely advised them to remove the recorders because the vibrations from the psaltery could seriously damage them. One person reckoned that his cassette recorder was immune to such risks whereupon Bob's comment was "It's your cassette recorder...". Bob played, finished his set and left the stage. The above mentioned person retrieved his recorder and was seen shaking his head in disbelief as he listened to the bits and pieces rattling around inside.......

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,SqueezeMe
Date: 20 Nov 13 - 11:54 PM

I know Bob wasn't renowned for leaping about on stage, but I wonder if a stray boot might not have just had some small effect on said recorder....perhaps while he was hypnotising the audience with his music....

(Not "slagging him off"; just a slight attack of the cynics.)

That said, I remember him well from the Bristol Troubadour and the Bath "Hat" and much enjoyed his music (even "Horse Named Bill" if the mood was right).

And a (belated) thank you to Mr MacGregor for bringing back memories of Chanticleer, Lorraine, Dave Adams, Rosie, Albert, Joe King et al from the early 1970s. Not to mention (because he didn't!) Arnold, Zac, John Mills, Norma, the Lawler brothers and countless others. Great days!

Apologies for thread drift.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 03:10 AM

Interesting that this has popped up again - any later sightings of Bob?

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Irene M
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 03:23 PM

I too, came across Bob at Sidmouth. May have been 78 or 79. That psaltery made the most astonishing sound. I asked him about how it was made (because I was making bowed psalteries at the time)and I recall him saying it had a metal inner frame. A timber frame could not have withstood the huge tension from the strings.
Somewhere I have the photo I took of the psaltery. I bought the LP, of course!

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 03:47 PM

Did anyone mention the record he did with The Fureys? I've still got that on vinyl and very fine it is too...

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,Pete MacGregor
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 06:21 PM

http://www.rjstewart.org
I think covers most of the above questions.
Love to all
Pete

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,Tim Cumming
Date: 28 Nov 14 - 08:22 AM

I'm reading Where is St George now, picked up at Treadwells bookshop in Bloomsbury a few days ago, and it's very interesting, plainly and clearly written, without any 'new age nonsense' while at the same time pointing to and explaining ritual remnants in a handful of 'magical' songs carried down through the centuries in the oral tradition. Some of the rather Gradgrindian remarks on this thread are drearily typical of a certain form of mindset, and about as aspiring as migraine!

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 May 16 - 09:45 PM

Can somebody confirm (or not) whether the Bob Stewart discussed on this thread is the same Bob Stewart who contributed to this thread on "The Traveller's Trade" ?

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 May 16 - 02:12 AM

Hi - note that he gives contact information in his message (click). Best to send him an email and ask him yourself.

-Joe Offer, Mudcat music editor and registrar-

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 31 May 16 - 04:45 AM

unnamed GUEST above is me .... I did send an email to the address in the message, but it bounced ...

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Pete MacGregor
Date: 31 May 16 - 05:31 AM

No. They are two different people.

PM

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,Melissa Pinol
Date: 18 Aug 16 - 06:56 PM

RJ Stewart was involved in alternative spiritual practices throughout his musical career, and it certainly didn't affect his music. He was just quiet about it.Now he is being open and honest, as we should all be, some people think it's OK to ridicule someone who is "different" and imply things that simply are not true.I have known Mr.Stewart for many years, he is decent, ethical, and about as far from being a "Guru" or flake as you could get.He absolutely refuses to take an authoritarian, "cultish" attitude and makes this very clear to everyone who studies with him.His techniques, though they might seem silly to some, helped my husband to remain calm and survive for 2 years with terminal cancer, when he was given less than 6 months.However you may feel about such practices, I saw how they helped a loved one deal with a hopeless situation with cheerfulness and yes, awareness that this was no magic pill to work wonders, but a way to cope with a crisis without the despair so often seen.Please do not judge what is different, just because it is unfamiliar. Every one of RJ's students that I met were intelligent and independent minded people who just see the world a little differently. Never, in over ten years, have I seen power tripping or anything but another, compassionate and truly useful way of dealing with life WITHOUT resorting to surrendering one's own personal power or wanting power over others.Please, let's be a little more open minded.It's a big world and thank goodness we are allowed to chose how to perceive life these days without fear.I personally saw him tell someone who clearly wanted a "Guru" to go elsewhere more than once.Melissa