Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: JedMarum
Date: 30 Aug 14 - 12:36 PM

Lovely to hear from you Don - and Derek.

I love the Lichtbob's Lassie - and sing it in the car during my travels, but have never sung it on-stage, though I've considered it. Maybe now is the time to see if I can do it justice.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 26 Aug 14 - 12:53 PM

Don Firth .... you were, indeed, the source of the story from Berkeley Folk Festival posted here, that I used in the Guardian, for which many thanks. It was a good story to illustrate her authority on arrival in the States.
Derek

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: GUEST,Dom
Date: 26 Aug 14 - 12:18 PM

So Sad

My Grandmother Ella taught Jean a couple of songs, Banks O' Red Roses and Lichtbob's Lassie " Songs that I can never sing without hearing Ella's voice" Jean

"One of the first songs I decided to learn was Lichtbob's Lassie"
"I'd known Ella for more than 50 years. She was a rare spirit and I think of her often when I'm singing one of the songs I had from her.
Jean Redpath

(See Ella Ward on Kist O Riches website)


I never met Jean. We past through Fife once but she wasn't home that time.

I have been waiting for her new books to come on sale which were to be a memoir and a book of songs I believe.

Jean was a family friend from the early days of Edinburgh University Folksong Society. I think of Jean, because of that connection to my grand parents, my mother Pat and Hamish's folk song revival.   

I feel the same

Aw, shit!

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: GUEST,Jed Marum
Date: 26 Aug 14 - 12:33 AM

Earth has lost a jewel but the heavens have gained a star!

What a light, what a beauty, what a lovely woman she was, as she passed through our time.

I am grateful for her music, her wit and her friendship. I will always treasure her memory.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Stewart
Date: 25 Aug 14 - 01:18 PM

It seems that Jean Redpath (sadly) isn't widely known among younger people (or maybe I'm just getting too old), but it took several days for the NY Times to get the news, and then they buried it in the Obits section. Our local rag, the Seattle Times had no mention whatsoever. Yesterday on our local public radio Celtic music show the DJ (after I sent him the news) admitted he knew very little about her, and opened his announcement with "... who dated Bob Dylan at one time" (arrrgh!) and then quoted from the NY Times Obit. And this DJ was a grad of the UW Ethno-musicology Dept!

I dug out my old LP of Jean's "Lowlands" and converted it to a CD. Some great singing! She certainly left a huge musical legacy.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Aug 14 - 03:47 PM

I watched all those yesterday, maeve... I hope others do.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: maeve
Date: 24 Aug 14 - 02:53 PM

How Can I Keep from Singing - Jean Redpath

Jean Redpath sings "The Banks O' Red Roses"

Jean Redpath & Garrison Keillor: "Tuna, the Food of My Soul"

Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest - Roscoe Holcomb and Jean Redpath

Jean Redpath - Annie Laurie

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: GUEST,open mike
Date: 24 Aug 14 - 02:27 PM

I wished I had some recordings to share on my radio show yesterday-- but found none in the radio station library or in mine....sadly.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Aug 14 - 04:19 PM

Saw her perform in Dunfermline only a few years back: lovely night, supported and accompanied by fiddler Gregor Borland. Still treasure her album of songs of Lady Nairne, which my parents had, and several CDs. At that same concert she sang Auld Lang Syne to the auld tune, and was pleasantly surprised that so many of the audience knew it.
Welcome tae "The Land O' The Leal", Jean and rest in peace.
Trish

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Lighter
Date: 23 Aug 14 - 04:19 PM

Garrison Keillor in the New York Times: about her singing:

"The songs aren't pictures. They're rocks. They are the mountain itself."

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 14 - 02:51 PM

I remember seeing Jean Redpath at a Dorchester Folk Club in the mid 60s, she even played my guitar though this may have been during the interval. Can anyone confirm that she did some UK gigs at this time? I'd hate to be suffering from False Memory Syndrome.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Duane D.
Date: 23 Aug 14 - 02:12 PM

Caroline asked me to post this note she wrote yesterday morning.                                                                                        


August 22, 2014

        We were deeply saddened today to learn that we have lost our Scottish nightingale. It was a delight to have known Jean Redpath and an honor to have been able to record her for Folk-Legacy. Her beautiful voice and emotional range are legendary. She could convey the power of a great classic Scottish ballad and in the next breath delight her audiences with her brilliant sense of humor. To paraphrase a few lines from Robert Burns-

        "Fare thee well, my bonnie lass,
        Till the rocks melt in the sun,
        We will love you still, my dear,
        While the sands of time shall run."

                                                                                Caroline Paton
                                                                                Folk-Legacy Records
                                                                                Sharon, CT.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 23 Aug 14 - 12:53 PM

Robert Burns never had a better friend but she was so much more than that. I've been listening to her on Spotify since I heard of her passing and am awed by the size of her repertoire. RIP Jean.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Don Firth
Date: 23 Aug 14 - 12:37 PM

The Guardian obituary linked to just above mentions Jean's attendance at the 1961 Berkeley Folk Festival and how she, young and unknown at the time, was invited to join a workshop panel because, from the questions she asked, it was obvious that she knew more about Scottish folk songs than the panel members.

I was AT the workshop!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Vic Smith
Date: 23 Aug 14 - 05:25 AM

Derek Schofield's obituary in "The Guardian" -
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/22/jean-redpath

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 23 Aug 14 - 04:01 AM

Another great loss. Treasure the recordings; not only the singing but also the crack. I have one of my own from an evening at Cecil Sharp House. I'd better dig it out.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Irene M
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 02:50 PM

Oh bugger.
What a shame.
I was lucky enough to meet her once. She was staying with Jacqui and Bridie on Luing when they did one of their residencies at McTavish's Kitchen in Oban in the late 70s.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 12:03 PM

It seemed like she would always be with us.....I've added her name to the "In Memoriam" roll if honour.

RIP

Peter

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 11:23 AM

National Public Radio audiences in the US and around the world were introduced to Jean Redpath many years ago by her frequent performances on A Prairie Home Companion. In addition to beautiful performances she was always a good sport in the comic radio dramas that were part of the program.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Lighter
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 11:03 AM

What a miserable shock!

I vividly remember checking "Jean Redpath's Ballad Book" (on the Elektra label) out of the library in 1966. One listen and I was hooked.

Forty years later I found a copy on eBay. Even though I had no longer had equipment to play it, I bought the album.

What a wonderful voice, what a wonderful style and approach she had!

What a rotten day.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Elmore
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 10:44 AM

Saw Jean Redpath perform many times. She was a unique and impressive singer who had great audience rapport. I'm sorry to hear of her passing.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Hrothgar
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 09:27 AM

I am sorry that she is gone, but I am glad that she was here.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: cetmst
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 08:34 AM

We were privileged to see Jean Redpath twice, once in the 70's driving the 450 miles from Columbia MD with four young teenagers to our NH home in North Conway we passed the town of Tamworth NH, population about 2000, twenty miles from home and saw a sign advertising her concert at the Tamworth Congregational Church and drove in. The church was filled and we had to sit on the floor. She graciously delayed the start as we got settled and afterward greeted us and heard our story, very warm and friendly lady. About 20 years later she gave a concert at the Candlelight Concert Society in Columbia, a comprehensive and well-organized performance - "I won't do requests" - our only request was "More". I have most of her recordings and some transcriptions of Prairie Home Companion broadcasts and will continue to listen to them and regret not hearing more.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 07:46 AM

"The Strange Wild Cry of Homeless Things"

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: gnu
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 07:40 AM

RIP and thanks.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: eddie1
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 05:58 AM

Jean had the voice of an angel and is now in that great heavenly choir. Thanks for leaving such a wonderful legacy for us
Love you

Eddie

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Vic Smith
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 05:49 AM

The Herald

A nice tribute - but why does every media piece on folk singers have to mention their slight connections to B** D****.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 05:22 AM

I think I first met and heard Jean in 1959 at the Edinburgh Folk Club, where she sang with Dolina MacLennan and two men as a Weavers-type group. She was always so impressive, and so nice to meet.
Last contact with her was over Arthur Argo's diary account of staying with her when he was touring singing in the USA in the early 60s. We agreed to meet and chat next time she was in Scotland - not to be, alas.
I thought of her two days ago when passing The Toft in Elie where I think she had one of the cottages.
So sadly missed by so many.


Edinburgh FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERT FROM A BOOK ABOUT ARTHUR ARGO AS A COLLECTOR AROUND SCOTLAND IN 1960
TO HEAR THE RECORDINGS GO TO THE KIST O RICHES WEBSITE AT http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/ AND SEARCH FOR REDPATH


Arthur visited another future star of the Folk Revival, JEAN REDPATH, and her family at home in Leven, Fife. Jean sang:
Scots ballads – Sir Patrick Spens and Willie's Drooned in Yarrow, The Overgate
Scots art songs – Islay Reaper's Song, and accompanied by her father on hammered dulcimer The Road To The Isles
childrens parodies – God Save the King, Whiter Than the Snow, Put a Nickel on the Drum, Jesus Saves, and with Ella Ward Jesus Loves Me
and the Irish comic song Paddy McGinty's Goat.
And then she lilted a melody of her own composition titled The Strange Wild Cry of Homeless Things.

Her Father JAMES REDPATH played on hammer dulcimer The Road to the Isles, Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms, two unknown jigs, and an Imitation of Church Bells, he sang two Scots songs – Imphm and I've Got Nothing to Do and Nowhere to Go – and talked about his grandfather, James Lawson, who made hammer dulcimers.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 02:36 AM

sad news, she was a fine singer,R I P

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: LadyJean
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 12:11 AM

She did an outdoor concert at Clayton, which was once the home of Henry Clay Frick. The thunderstorm hit right before the concert was supposed to start, and it was impressive. There might have been ten of us left when it ended. She came out on the stage and said, "Ye're a' daft." Then she sang five of my favorite songs, and announced she'd be back the next night.

If I hadn't loved her before I did then. She was one of the great voices of our time, and a great lady besides.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Duane D.
Date: 22 Aug 14 - 12:11 AM

I just received the news via email. Jean was one of the Folk Legacy artists I had always hoped to meet...a sad loss. May she rest in peace.

Duane.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath (1937-2014)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 11:56 PM

She was always so vibrant and so interesting, I thought she would live forever. I wish I had had the chance to see her perform, but at least I heard her on the radio and on so many wonderful recordings.
May she rest in peace.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 11:10 PM

Amongst her other songs I often listen to her 'Caller Herrin,' she makes it sound so REAL.
A sad loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 10:43 PM

Sad news!


Thistle And Shamrock: Jean Redpath
September 05, 2012 3:27 PM ET

Singer Jean Redpath first travelled from Scotland to the United States in 1961 and was soon immersed in the American folk scene. Since then, she has performed throughout the world, released over forty recordings, and won the hearts of public radio listeners through her many appearances on A Prairie Home Companion. Host Fiona Ritchie met up with Redpath to reminisce about five decades of sharing song.

Jean Redpath Thistle & Shamrock interview

http://www.npr.org/2012/09/05/160598809/thistle-and-shamrock-jean-redpath

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: GUEST,steve s
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 10:26 PM

rest forever in peace

s.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 09:30 PM

Aw, shit!

(I don't know how to say that in Scottish or how better to express my feelings over this.)

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: Don Firth
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 08:52 PM

I believe it was in 1961 that I was attending one of the many workshops at the Berkeley Folk Festival at U. C. Berkeley, one of the workshops moderated by the inimitable Sam Hinton, when a young woman in the front row who spoke with a pleasant Scottish "burr" in her voice asked a number of questions of the panel. After several questions from her and a bit of conversation back and forth, Sam Hinton said, "It's obvious to me that you know more about Scottish folk songs than we here on the panel!" And he invited her to come up and join the panel, which she did.

She was gracious, pleasant, and very knowledgeable.   The panel and those attending wound up directing most of their questions to her.

This was the first time I had heard of—heard and saw—Jean Redpath.

A few years later, she had occasion to visit Judy Flenniken in Seattle, a young woman I was singing with frequently. I don't know how she and Judy became acquainted, but Judy had a small "songfest" at her father's home and that's when I had a chance to meet her.

She has sung here in Seattle a couple of times at the auditorium of the Museum of History and Industry (which has served as a venue for many folk music concerts, including Peggy Seeger and Ewan McColl, Peggy Seeger alone, Greg Brown, Gordon Bok, and others, along with several local singers) to full houses.

There is a great vacancy in the world of folk music now that Jean Redpath is gone. . . .

She was an international treasure.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: Stewie
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 08:24 PM

Sad news indeed. A lovely voice.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 07:58 PM

DAMN! I loved her voice, I loved her, I loved her sense of humor. DAMN

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: GUEST,Claire
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 07:30 PM

One of the very first "real" voices I ever heard, untutored and full of vibrancy. So different from the more polished sounds (like Richard Dyer-Bennett and later on, Baez) that filled my youthful listening hours. The only good thing about this is that many who may not have known of her will seek out her voice now. And THAT will live forever.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: GUEST,Giok
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 07:27 PM

Mortals enchanted,were.

Sleep weel quine.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: Gurney
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 07:01 PM

I'm beginning to hate threads that start 'Obit...'
So often influences of mine, sometimes friends, and contemporaries...

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 05:58 PM

Some of my earliest encounters of real ballads & folk music were of Jean & her wondrous voice. I first checked out LPs of her from my public library in Kansas about 1961 or so. ("Scottish Ballad Book")

I then collected everything I could find by her in the next 15 years...until I moved to Wash. D.C and saw her in person and met her. Her command of language and accents amazed me... especially when she used it to illustrate things ABOUT music & culture.

Her command of an audience was complete... she could work her way thru 4-5 songs without leaving 'space' for applause! She would end a song, slip into a story, and lead into the next song without pause.

Then, I watched her begin the 2nd half of a concert without an introduction by just moving onto the stage as people were just settling into their seats and launching into "Jock O'Hazeldean"....

♫"Why weep ye by the tide lady.."♫.... and she had complete attention! Just that opening "Why" was enough!.

My 1st year here, Jean was booked by a club for 3 nights, and I made sure to be early for a front row seat. I was, of course, awed. The 2nd night, I went back and got the same seat.
Jean came out on stage, rested her guitar gently on the stage, looked down at me about 6 feet away, and said with a twinkle in her eye, "Aye... yer a real glutton fer punishment, aren't ye?"

.....now I must go wipe my eyes and find some records to play.. perhaps the one she signed for me....


There ARE Angels Hovering 'Round and now, one more.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: maeve
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 04:19 PM

Jean led me to so many songs and friends. I feel so grateful- and so sad. She encouraged our chorus to tour in Scotland and asked we do it when she was there- I wish we could have done so.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-28890309

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 03:41 PM

Oh, no! We have lost another of music's treasures.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 03:41 PM

Oh noooooooo.

She was so wonderful. And I agree, a fabulous voice.

SRS

Subject: Obit: Jean Redpath
From: oggie
Date: 21 Aug 14 - 03:37 PM

Confirmation from the BBC that Jean Redpath has died at the age of 77.

One of the great voices now silent.