Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009

Subject: Obit: Ken Ferguson Perth
From: gecko
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 08:29 PM

I heard from my erstwhile friend Maisie Herival that Ken Ferguson of Perth, Western Australia, passed away two days ago after suffering a degenerative disease for some time.
I recall Ken with love and respect for his incredible talent and for just being one of the nicest guys in the Folk world.
I'm gutted by the loss.
YIU
gecko

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: rich-joy
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 10:26 AM

this is so sad .... yes, great talent and great songwriter. I have fond memories of him in the duo "Blackthorn", at The Governor Broome (70s Folk Club in Perth, WA) and then in the duo "Facial Expressions", in Alice Springs (NT). And maybe it's time (overdue?) that his Overland Telegraph project "The Singing Wire", became more widely known ...... http://www.connectingthecontinent.com/ctcwebsite/singingwire/singwire.htm



Vale, Ken.


R-J

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 06:39 PM

I met Ken when he came East some years back & will play some of his music in his memory later tonight.

sandra

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: rich-joy
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 10:37 PM

from the FAA AusFolk listing :

Subject: [Ausfolk] Sad news - Ken Ferguson


Friends of Perth singer songwriter Ken Ferguson will be saddened to
hear that he passed away peacefully on Sunday night. Ken was well
known in the Perth and Alice Springs folk scene and has written some
stunning songs over the years.

Ken's funeral will take place on Monday 19 October at 2pm at Karrakatta.


Mike Murray and Lesley Silvester
East Fremantle
Western Australia


R-J

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: Bugsy
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 04:43 AM

Ken was one of the first "folkies" I met in Perth when I got into the scene over 25 years ago. Over the past few years I had lost touch with him but had been receiving reports via third parties about his deteriorating condition.
He was a man of rare talent as a singer and songwriter as well as being a damned nice bloke to boot. I am deeply saddened by his passing.

My Thoughts and prayers are with Fiona, and his kids.

I hope his music lives on.

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: rich-joy
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 06:53 PM

from the WAAN e-zine :

Vale Ken Ferguson

The Australian folk world lost a major talent this week with the sad
passing of singer, songwriter, geologist, journalist and historian Ken
Ferguson, after a long and debilitating illness.

Ken was responsible for some outstanding and ambitious songwriting,
contributing widely-performed songs such as Alice on the Line,
Franklin's River and The Singing Wire to the Australian song
tradition. He will be best remembered for his "Folk Operas",
particularly "The Singing Wire", the tale of the construction of the
Overland Telegraph, written with NT band Bloodwood for the National
Folk Festival in Alice Springs in the mid-1980s and revived several
times since. "Franklin", a collaboration with co-writer Tony Phipps,
was the musical biography of John Franklin, Arctic explorer and
erstwhile Governor of Van Diemen's Land. This fine collection of songs
was developed into a full-scale stage production and performed at the
Perth Playhouse and Port Fairy Folk Festival among other venues.
"Working Man's Paradise", the tale of William Lane and the New
Australia colony in Paraguay, was another Phipps collaboration which
was performed at the Fairbridge Festival. Ken also produced an
excellent CD of original songs, Basic Blue, in 1997, which included a
memorable version of his masterpiece song, Alice on the Line.

Originally from Inverness in the Scottish highlands, Ken was one of
many young geologists who moved to Australia for work in the 70s. A
lifelong lover of traditional folk music, Ken was a regular in folk
clubs around the country, from Tasmania and Alice Springs in the early
80s and then on to Perth. Over the years he played all over the
country with Bob Sharp in the duo Facial Expressions, in the Perth
Celtic-and-Country band McCool over many a pub and festival gig in the
1990s, and in various other combos. His high, strong and expressive
voice, driving rhythm guitar style and unfailing ear for a great song
made him a compelling and intense performer, until he was forced to
stop playing as his memory began to fail him in the early 2000's. He
especially loved the big traditional ballads, and nobody sang them
with more conviction.

He leaves us with great memories of a musical chronicler of Australian
stories, of his witty and engaging company, his warm friendship and
many a chorus sung and shared over the years. We miss him greatly.
Fortunately, we still have his beautiful, resonant songs, and we won't
forget them, or him.

Our thoughts are with Ken's surviving family Fiona, Robyn, Penny and
Maddy. The funeral is at Karrakatta on Monday 19th October, 2 pm.

Steve and Ros Barnes


R-J

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: GUEST,Barry Skipsey , Alice Springs, NT.
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 10:41 PM

Hello fellow folkies

Having received the sad news that we've recently lost Ken Ferguson, I write to share your sorrow. Memories came flooding back as I reached for my copy (a tape ) of the " The Singing Wire ". I didn't need to look too hard as I've lately rediscovered and enjoying a lot of old and wonderful recordings. What a triumph, what an amazing collection of songs and all about our own history. I was very proud to be apart of the writing and production.

I loved singing with Ken. Our voices found harmonies I never knew existed. His voice was crisp and refined.His dexterity on the multitude of instruments he played , was simply poetry in motion. I'm a better Songwriter and Musician for having known and performed with Ken Ferguson. We shared so much in Alice Springs back in the early 80's.

Struth, we even shared a woman for heavens sake. However, although it was raw and painful at the time, I will forever remain grateful that he took her off my hands.

Can you see the smoking clouds , messages of fire.
Can you hear another world , Singing in the Wire.
Singing in the Wire.

You'll be missed Ken, but believe me mate, never ever forgotten. Your songs will live on.
To all my fellow folkies out there in Cybersapce, keep smiling, keep laughing & keep singing. Evidently , life can be way too short.

My love & best wishes to you all.

Cheers

SKIP

Barry Skipsey
Desert Express
PO Box 3535
Alice Springs NT 0871
Ph:    0408 891 332
Fax:    [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web:   http://www.barryskipsey.com

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: GUEST,Jim McCulloch
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 08:54 AM

Saddened by the passing of Ken Ferguson,
                                                                              Have many memories of his music and gigs he played.

Our thoughts go to Fiona and the family,

Jim & Lynne McCulloch

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 12:00 PM

Steve and Ros-

Thanks for posting more details about Ken's life.

I'm sure his songs will live on.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: rich-joy
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 10:32 PM

Oz radio tribute to Ken Ferguson :



" List members might be interested in hearing a tribute to the music of Ken Ferguson, respected West Australian songwriter, composer of "The Singing Wire" and "Franklin" shows, who passed away two weeks ago after a long degenerative illness. The show was broadcast on Radio Fremantle, presented by Steve Barnes and Tony Phipps and can be streamed until next Tuesday from the station's website at

http://www.radiofremantle.com/archives.html
- look for "Roots and Branches".

The show includes highlights from both the shows mentioned, from Ken's 1997 solo CD "Basic Blue", 1980's recordings of Perth folk band Blackthorn of which Ken was a part, reminiscences from long-term friends and collaborators and music by some of the artists who inspired him.

I hope you can listen. We've lost a mighty talent and a lovely bloke.

Steve Barnes
Ausfolk mailing list "



R-J

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 09:52 PM

Very sorry to learn of this. Commiserations to friends and family.

I had the good fortune a few years back to be visiting Sydney at the same time that Ken Ferguson was giving a rare performance at a folk-club there (Gladesville, I think). We had a common interest in Franklin (Ron Baxter and I had worked on a set of songs concentrating on the "North-West Passage" a few years earlier) and it was great to hear Ken's take on different aspects of Sir John and Lady Jane's lives. There was much more, including an arrangement of Henry Lawson's "Faces in the Crowd" that left a vivid impression. Does anyone know if he ever recorded this? I have the words, but can't bring back Ken's tune at this remove. Any help would be appreciated.

Ross

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: Bugsy
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 08:20 PM

Ross,

I'm not sure if it's on his recording of "Franklin" but if you pm me, I'll try to put you in touch with his wife Fiona.

I know she'd love to think that people are taking an interest in his music.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Obit: Ken Ferguson (Perth, Australia) Oct 2009
From: Bugsy
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 07:00 PM

Ross,

Just sent you a pm with Fiona Ferguson's email.

Cheers

Bugsy