need info on Tommy Bonthrone

Subject: Tommy Bonthrone
From: srich
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 01:20 AM

Has anyone heard of this man? I have a song in one of my songbooks by him titled "The Whiskers of my Grandfather's Grave" and I am assuming he has a Scottish background, but can find no recordings of him or in particular this song.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: Tommy Bonthrone
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 03:44 AM

srich
We have recordings of a few songs given to us by MacColl.
This is the information that went along with them.
Tom Bonthron, Rattaray, Blairgowrie.
Talk.                                
Tinker's Wedding (frag).        
Nicky Tams.        
The Dying Ploughboy.        
Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre.        
Jamie Raeburn.        
You know, I'm sure that the address given was also that of the Stewarts of Blair and as the recorded items are on a tape of Scots Travellers he may well have been a Traveller himself.
I think I might know where there are some more recordings - will look them out later.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Tommy Bonthrone
From: srich
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 09:16 AM

Jim:

Thanks for the tip any information would be greatly appreciated. This is an excellent lead.

A quick search through the book, "Travellers' Songs From England and Scotland" by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger did not have the song.

I will keep searching.

Jim, I have a lot of interest in these areas, is this your area of expertise?

Sammy Rich

Subject: RE: Tommy Bonthrone
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 11:29 AM

Sammy,
I thought that something might turn up in the Peter Hall collection - it didn't.
I have a vague memory of Ewan saying he was either given the recordings or went along to record Tom with somebody while he and Peggy were on tour.
You are welcome to what little I have if you PM me (bit busy at present, but should return to what passes for normality here in the West of Ireland sometime next week).
Traveller songs are certainly a major interest; our own field is Irish Travellers but our initial introduction was through the Scots.
I'll be seeing Geordie McIntyre this week-end so I'll make it a point to ask him if he has any information, which I will be happy to pass on
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Tommy Bonthrone
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 03:25 AM

Sammy,
Spoke to a friend, Bob Blair last night who told me that Tommy Bonthrone was a boilermaker from Blairgowrie who also played the melodeon.
No more information than that I'm afraid,
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Tommy Bonthrone
From: srich
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 08:44 PM

Jim:

Thanks for the information. I find it hard to believe that a song as humorous as "The Whiskers of my Grandfather's Grave" isn't recorded somewhere.

I would send this as personal message, but haven't gotten that far with mudcat as of yet.

Will be glad to share anything in my personal library with you if you should need it.

Sammy Rich

Subject: RE: need info on Tommy Bonthrone
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 08:57 PM

Sammy, could you please post the lyrics to "Whiskers"? If you can e-mail me a MIDI or a scan of the melody, I'll post that, too.
What songbook has it?
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: need info on Tommy Bonthrone
From: srich
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 12:17 AM

Joe:

I will be glad to as soon as I find it again. I may have to many books along these lines and it sometimes easy to lose one in the shuffle of day to day living.

Will send the scan of the melody and the first couple of verses. It was in the last two verses that I was having a hard time fitting with the melody and now they are separated. It will turn up, just takes time.

Sammy Rich