Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go

Subject: Folklore: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Tony G.
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 04:50 PM

Hey, guys and gals!!

I fell in love a few years back with an album called High Flying Bird by Ann Benson. It was released in 1969 on the Aspen label (most likely a private pressing.). I am enamored by it.

My search has proved fruitless on finding information on Ms. Benson. What happened to this beautiful voice? Anyone have any history on Benson?!?

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 06:43 PM

My wife's name is Anne Benson. Obviously not the same person since Anne was 14 years old in 1969. But neither of us has ever heard of the Ann you mention. But my curiosity is aroused.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 06:58 PM

which country are you referring to?
Derek

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Tony G.
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 07:08 PM

I emailed an Anne Benson a few months back to see if she was the same...she wasnt. Might have been your wife, Jim! The record comes out of the US, so I'm assuming she's American (no accent, either.)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Tony G.
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 07:20 PM

There is one video of the title song, High Flying Bird (the old Billy Edd Wheeler song covered by Richie Havens, etc.), on You Tube, if you'd like to check it out.

This album also has covers of Paul Simon, Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zant, and some others I forget at the moment.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 08:16 PM

To Tony G.

Ah, someone else knows of this wonderful album by Ann Benson. I have it too!

Unfortunately I have not heard anything about her or know what she is doing nowadays either.

Great album!

Perhaps if there are other artists/guitarists on the album you could do a search for them. I don't have access to the album right now.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 08:20 PM

Means nothing to me but a clip here if anyone's interested.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 09:19 PM

I suppose it wouldn't be this
Ann Benson 
or
Ann Benson 

a singer certainly but folk singing isn't mentioned.

( Mother of Robby-Benson  )

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 09:44 PM

Guest: Freddy

No, I don't think this is the same Ann Benson. Doesn't look like the folk singer at all and there probably would have been some mention of her being a folk singer if it was the same person.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Bardford
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 11:12 PM

Here's a link to a record seller with some info. Only 500 discs pressed. Apparently she was in Dallas/San Antonio when the album was recorded.

http://collectorsfrenzy.com/details/380565633474/Outsider_Folk_ANN_BENSON_LP_High_Flying_Bird_PRIVATE_Dylan_Townes_Van_Zandt

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Tony G.
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 11:46 AM

Bardford...

Good information! At least now we have a geographic location to start with! I knew it was a private press, so I assumed it was a low run.

I've run down the 'mother of Robbie Benson' lead before, but ruled that out. Too many things didn't add up.

Thx for all the comments guys and gals! Hopeful we can find her!!

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 07:37 PM

To Guest Tony G:

Did you have any luck with looking up any other musicians/or names on the back of album cover that worked with Ann Benson on this project?
Perhaps if you can track down someone who's name appears on the album you might be able to find out about Ann, where she is, etc. Or if there were any other recordings or maybe she sang on someone else's album. Just a thought.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 11:34 PM

Hey, Lin...
Missed your suggestion yesterday. I checked, and the back cover only lists the song titles and writers of those songs. No mention of other artists, and to be honest, the whole album sounds like a singer and one guitar to me. The inner sleeve is a plain, generic sleeve, on my copy at least, so that's no help either. Thx for the suggestion!

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Tony G.
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 11:36 PM

Oops, that last comment was from me... Forgot to add my name!!

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 03 Mar 15 - 01:12 PM

Guys, good luck with Ann Benson; I wouldn't mind finding out about what happened to Gillian McPherson (she sang the closing track to "Dogs of War") She is one elusive person, I've only managed to find a thumbnail picture of her on the net.

________________________________________________________________________ VOIP Phone Service

Subject: RE: Gillian McPherson
From: GUEST,Gealt
Date: 03 Mar 15 - 04:51 PM

http://www.folkworld.eu/32/e/cds3.html

https://soundcloud.com/gilliemcpherson

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 03 Mar 15 - 09:55 PM

Guest Gillian McPherson posted on this thread and I did click on the two links she mentioned on her post but did not see anything about or related to Ann Benson. Just curious if you have information about Ann Benson, the singer we are looking to find out about on this thread? Ann Benson, American folk singer who had one LP in the 1960's.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Karen
Date: 03 Mar 15 - 11:32 PM

I too was wondering why this guest named Gillian McPherson posted on this thread regarding folk singer from the 1960's, Ann Benson. I did not see anything on her thread about Ann Benson at all.
Does she even know who Ann Benson was?

Don't understand why Ms. McPherson wrote a post and links - but nothing to do with Ann Benson. I also would like to know what happened to her. My brother gave me her album many years ago as he had two copies of the album.
Or did I miss something on Ms. McPherson's post? I just did not see anything noted or written about Ann Benson on her post.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: Megan L
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 02:00 AM

Perhaps that post was in response to guest Pete's post asking about gillian MacPherson.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 05:49 AM

I am GUEST.Gealt(blue print). I am not Gillie McPherson. I was responding to GUEST.Pete's statement: " I wouldn't mind finding out about what happened to Gillian McPherson (she sang the closing track to "Dogs of War")" Guest.Pete's post preceeds mine. I changed the Subject heading to indicate we were off topic.
Apologies to Ms.McPherson if I misled 2 other posters.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Dave Ross
Date: 12 Apr 15 - 12:20 AM

Ann Benson is alive and well, and still sings (and plays guitar) for friends. She lives in Portola Valley, CA. I just got home from a delightful concert put on by Ann and her life & musical partner, Iris Harrell.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 12 Apr 15 - 02:16 AM

To Guest Dave Ross,

Is there any way to contact Ann? I would be interested to hear anything about her concerts and possible other albums or CD she might be working on. Is she doing concerts only in the Portola area or does she perform in other areas of California?

Thanks,
Lin

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Tony G.
Date: 07 May 15 - 11:15 PM

Dave Ross, I'm also very interested in contact information, if you have it? Please email me, [e-mail]. Thx!

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Ann Benson
Date: 30 Apr 16 - 05:52 PM

I'm fairly gobsmacked that anyone still has the record I made in 1969, much less that they're still listening to it. My fiddler friend Paula told me that y'all were at this site, so I want to catch up with you.

First of all, I'd like to invite you to a little concert at the Ladera Community Church on Alpine Road in Portola Valley next Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 (it's kind of a small venue, so please get there by 7 pm to get a good seat). Our band More Joy plays folkish, countryish music: Paula on violin/fiddle, Spike on bass & guitar, Ginger on keyboards, me on guitar and voice, and Iris on voice. Iris and I live now in Santa Rosa, but our band is still down on the Peninsula, so we sing two concerts a year, for now, in Portola Valley. Our second concert will be at 7:30 on Oct. 8 at the same venue.

We're hoping to get to a recording studio so our band can make a CD. If you liked one guitar and voice on High Flying Bird, I know you'll like the band.

Thank you for your interest in my music; I'm very grateful.
Best,
Ann

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 30 Apr 16 - 09:56 PM

So nice to see your post here about an update of your music.
Any chance you might ever release your "High Flying Bird" LP onto CD?
It would be great if that would happen!

I look forward to the CD you talked about on your post. Do you have a title chosen yet? Please let us know when that CD comes out.
Maybe some time in the future you will get down to So. Calif. for a concert. There are some good house concerts (one in Claremont, CA. ) that has regular house concerts of folk/acoustic artists performing.

Besides the one LP released in 1969, were you ever on any other records? A few folk artists living in Northern, CA that I have listened to and have recordings of are, Mary McCaslin, Kathy & Carol,
(Carol McComb) and the late Kate Wolf. I think a singer named Kate Price (similar style of music to Lorenna McKennitt) might be from Northern, CA too.
I wish you all the best for your work on your new CD.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Ann Benson
Date: 01 May 16 - 02:22 PM

Hi Lin,
Thanks for asking about releasing High Flying Bird onto CD. I hadn't though of that, but I have the master somewhere in storage, and if it's still viable, we could think about it. Don't know how much it would cost, and I can't imagine that there's a big audience. But when I go through the boxes we'll see...

The theme of the songs on our band's current concert is "Peace begins at home." So I guess the someday-CD might be something like "More Joy: Peace begins at home." Just a guess.

After High Flying Bird, I didn't make any other records. Life happened, and actually we haven't much done any music for the last 30 years. So it's way fun to get back to it after all these years. We're really looking forward to hearing all the great musicians up here. LOVE Carol McComb's songs, and I need to hear the others you're talking about. Thanks for sharing.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: babypix
Date: 01 May 16 - 03:23 PM

Wow! Fantastical good use of Mudcat! Good work, 'Catters!

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 01 May 16 - 08:15 PM

Good to hear from you. Just curious, I was wondering who some of your favorite singers are or who you were listening to when your 1969 record came out? Or perhaps influenced you? Did you by chance ever listen to Canadian folk singer (now living in UK,) Bonnie Dobson? She had LP's out in the 1960's when she was still in Canada and was the writer of "Morning Dew." I think she still performs occasionally in England.
A lot of her stuff is on Youtube including a recent concert she did in England singing "Morning Dew" Voice is still lovely, lovely!

I have a lot of obscure folk Lps from the 1960's & 1970's of mostly unknown folk singers. Been collecting for years!

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Ann Benson
Date: 08 Jun 16 - 01:17 PM

I'm not familiar with Bonnie Dobson, but I will definitely look her up - thanks for letting me know about her.

I guess in 1969 I was listening to the usual suspects: Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, Ian and Sylvia, Buffy Saint Marie, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Eric Andersen, Frummox, Willis Alan Ramsey, The Limelighters, and others whose names I don't remember. I think I got the song "High Flying Bird" from Judy Henske. There's a great song by Karen Dalton called "Are You Leaving for the Country" - have you heard that? I remember that she characterized her own voice as "vocal abrasions," but the song is awesome.

Great musicians, so long ago.

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Glynda in the past
Date: 20 Jun 16 - 12:54 AM

so glad to see posts from ann benson! MY sister and I used to go to the rubiayat in Dallas every time you were there, and you sold me your 12 string Goya!! I hope you can put your album on cd! You were wonderful and very meaningful for me!!

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Tony G.
Date: 20 Jun 16 - 08:22 PM

Hello, Ann! I'm the original poster of this thread. My name is Tony, and I found your album several years ago, and the entire album is beyond amazing. It is a go-to album for me, for sure. Recently, I lost my nephew in a car accident, and I found solace in your songs, particularly High Flying Bird. For that, I am eternally grateful.

As I am in Indiana, I'm unable to make it to the west coast for your shows, but I would be very interested in any new recordings, as the people above have also mentioned!

Do you have a website, or contact information? I would love to be able to contact you. Thank you for responding to the post, I had been searching for awhile to find you! Thanks again!!

Tony

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Tony G.
Date: 06 Jul 16 - 02:29 PM

I guess I missed my opportunity to speak with Ms. Benson. If you happen to see this, Ann, (or her friend who referred her to the site in the first place), I would love to get some contact info so I can contact you. Your album is amazing to me, and I would love to just pick your brain about some things...

Thanks for the music, and for posting here!!
Tony
[e-mail]

If you have Facebook, I run a Folk music appreciation page...everyone is free to join, if you want!

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/thevillagefolk/

Subject: RE: Ann Benson: Who is she, Where did she go
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 06 Nov 22 - 07:10 PM

Hello Ann,
I posted messages here in the past and so happy to see your posts.
Any updates for releasing your 1960's album on CD?
Are you on the west coast? I am in California and wonder if you ever play out anywhere anymore? Maybe at house concerts?
Any current projects going with your music?