Ray Fisher unwell (Dec 2009)-died 31 Aug 2011

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: GUEST,chris
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 11:00 AM

best wishes and love from Chris and Annie at Swan Folk Loughborough
chris

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: GUEST,George Henderson
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 10:53 AM

Haven't seen Rae for many years but I still listen to her recordings. A great, great singer. Get well soon Rae.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 10:43 AM

Excuse typo. Should read Best wishes FOR a speedy recovery..

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 10:37 AM

I agree with every word of the above posting fom Vic Smith. Ray is an exceptional artist and human being. Best wishes ffro a speedy recovery my friend.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Vic Smith
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 10:28 AM

One of the all time greats with a voice to die for and a way of putting over songs that showed that she knew what it was all about.
The stories that she told about life in Glasgow were an absolute hoot!
All best wishes to Ray

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: GUEST,Andymac
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 09:55 AM

As a relative latecomer to the folk scene, I never thought much of Ray at first as I'd heard no more than 1 or 2 songs from recordings others had played for me. Then I saw her judging at a small festival in the Scottish Borders, then again at a concert with Cilla and Archie and since then I've gone on to buy every one of her recordings I could find.
She's a one-off, as Brian says: she's got a way with the big ballads but can also effortlessly switch from profoundly moving to hilarious within the space of an intro to a song.

I agree with many of the other posters in that she's been criminally under-appreciated, especially by the high-flying youngsters. Get better soon Ray, I haven't seen you anything like often enough yet...

Andy

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 09:14 AM

a great singer who has never, in recent years, got the recognition that her talents deserve. She was on top form a year ago at the 50th anniversary celebrations at the Bridge in Newcastle (when she and husband Colin - and Louis Killen - also received the EFDSS Gold Badge) ... great singing and full of her usual fun and jokey comments.
get well soon Ray!
Derek

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Silas
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 09:07 AM

Sorry, I meant Cilla Ray and Archie!

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Silas
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 09:05 AM

Well, I do wish her well. I have not seen her since the old Bromyard days when Cilla and Ray all performed together - great times.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Brian Peters
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 07:18 AM

Please pass on my best wishes to Ray as well. I haven't seen her for some time, but I remember a good evening and a lot of laughs when she played our local folk club in the 1990s and cleaned us out of malt whiskey (with a bit of help from me, it must be admitted).

Ray Fisher will always come top of my 'female singers' list and very likely my 'any singers' list, too. She can weave incomparable magic with the great ballads, but also make what in other hands could be a throwaway song into something profoundly moving.

Hope I get the chance to hear you sing sometime soon, Ray.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: GUEST,Ken Wilson
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 07:03 AM

We were talking to Ray a couple of months ago still maintaining her great sense of humour, and remembering some great late night sessions, one of which I seem to recall Ray dancing on the tables in a bar at Redditch festival.

Ray's a battler and I'm sure she'll see this latest setback off!

Best wishes Ray from the Wilson Family.

Ken & Chris.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 06:29 AM

Ray remains one of my heroes & inspirations; back in the eighties she sang up a storm every week at The Bridge and always had a wry twinkle in her eye at our own wayward endeavours. Her records are too few for so outstanding a genius; & I remember sharing a few happy words when she had her wool stall in Tynemouth flee-market...

Good thoughts, Ray - and best wishes - for auld lang syne & the future to come!

Sean.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Jim McLean
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 06:11 AM

We go back a long way so please give her my regards and wishes for a speedy recovery.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 05:58 AM

I saw Ray and Colin at Ripponden Folk Club a few years ago, she was on top form [ as was Colin Ross ]

Best wishes, Dave H

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 05:56 AM

Best Wishes to Ray; it has been far too long since I last saw and heard her.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 05:36 AM

Ray, you must know how much you are loved by us all, and I'm sure all that affection will carry you through this wee hiccup.
I too had the pleasure of meeting up with you again at Whitby over the last two years, and I look forward to meeting up again in 2010.
Frae yin Glaswegian tae anither, awra best hen.

Lang may yer lum reek.


John MacKenzie

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Folkiedave
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 05:06 AM

And I was lucky enough to hear her at Whitby. She was wonderful. Speedy recovery Ray.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: peregrina
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 05:06 AM

It was wonderful to hear Ray at Whitby last summer--sending all good wishes

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 04:53 AM

I should have added: best wishes to Ray and here's hoping for a quick recovery.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 04:52 AM

Diane - was that at the Bert Lloyd event at Cecil Sharp House? I saw her sing there with Desi Stefanova of the London Bulgarian Choir - it was the highlight of the evening for me.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 04:47 AM

All I know of Ray is her recordings, but oh, they're wonderful. I hope she knows how much she's appreciated.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 04:44 AM

I had the pleasure of seeing Ray sing a year or so ago, outwardly fully recovered and in as marvellous form as ever. I'm sending every good wish and fervent hope that this setback is a mere blip and that she'll be back performing soon.

Subject: RE: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 04:36 AM

I sure am rooting for her - I haven't had the joy of seeing Ray for many years now, but I always remember what fun she was, and what a gorgeous voice. As it happens, I am just back from visiting Packie in Donegal, who thinks as highly of Ray as I do and has always spoken of her warmly. I know he would send his best wishes too.

Here's to a speedy recovery, Ray!

Bonnie xx

Packie had an ancient folkie mag lying around his house which I was looking at - and amongst its photos was one of a very young Ray when she was just starting her career.

Subject: Ray Fisher unwell: good thoughts, please
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 04:21 AM

Singer Ray Fisher is in hospital again as a result of complications / after-effects from the surgery she had a few years ago.
She's painfully thin, but the sense of humour is still intact (just) as is the way with words.

Any spare good thoughts Catters may have would be welcome, and I'll try to pass messages on. When I saw her yesterday she was cheerful but obviously in some discomfort. I think it would help her to know that people are rooting for her.

Thanks
Paws