Whose Biography would you like to read?

Subject: Who's Biography ?
From: Alan Day
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 02:01 PM

There are very few, if any biographies of folk performers available, which is a shame, because there are some very interesting people amongst us.If you had the choice who's biography would you like to
read ?
I would certainly pick John Kirkpatrick's off the shelf even though I have known him for not far off fifty years.
Al

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 02:56 PM

Try ' Bert ' by Dave Arthur. Excellent biography of AL Lloyd or ' Class Act ' by Ben Harker, biog of Ewan MacColl.

Personally I'd like to read Martin Carthy's biography.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 03:02 PM

The Mountain of the Women: Memoirs of an Irish Troubadour
by Liam Clancy comes to mind

there are others that I'm not remembering the titles of... dang oldtimers... lol

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 05:06 PM

More autobiographies than biographies:
I have read Barbara Dickson's autobiography- very interesting, especially with the recording of all aspects of her career, from the Scottish folk scene in the 60s revival to her time in big musicals in London, and coming back to her folk roots.
Also Ralph McTell's "As far as I can Tell" which includes his childhood days in wartime and after, but it only covers up to the time he decided to go professional: a sequel is a must! (I even told him so after one of his concerts!)
Absolutely fascinating read: "From Fuzz to Folk" - autobiography of Ian Green of Greentrax recordings from his service in the Korean War , his time as a Police officer, and the "Fuzzfolk" folk club in Edinburgh, through to setting up his own recording and distribution business, Green tax recordings which has served so many Scottish artistes so well.
"The Queen Amang the Heather" - Sheila Stewart's book about her mother, Belle Steart, and such an insight into the life of the traveling people in Scotland. (Also read "Yellow on the Broom" and Red Rowans" by Betsy Whyte and anything by Jess Smith). Adam McNaughtan's song "Yellow on the Broom" was inspired by Betsy's book.
And not quite so folky, but Pam Ayres' autobiography (tho she does appear at folk festivals!), and Evelyn Glennie's "Good Vibrations".

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 05:09 PM

Oh, a pox on predictive text!
GREENTRAX!
And maybe typo: Belle STEWART.

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 05:12 PM

And (see Apostrophe Catastrophes on Facebook of which I am a full member!)
WHOSE Biography???

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: Alan Day
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 05:58 PM

How nice it is to be famous.
I have already more lines than Clapham Junction,You beat Irene to this and I predict more on the way.
Al
PS The Ralph McTell's one looks interesting I shall watch out for that.

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: GUEST,ApostrophePolice
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 09:27 PM

what Tattie Bogle said. whose

Brendan Behan's [largely autobiographical] Borstal Boy

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 05:34 AM

More than a life: John Meredith and the fight for Australian Tradition
By Keith McKenry

I was presented with this as a Christmas gift on a recent visit.

A cracking read but you would probably need to be "far away in Australia" to get hold of a copy.

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 07:22 AM

The second part of Brendan Behan's autobigraphy ' Confessions of an Irish Rebel ' is excellent.

And Ronnie Drew's auto biography ' Ronnie ' is absolutely brillant.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: Alan Day
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 08:30 AM

If you had the choice WHOSE biography would you choose that is not already available?
Al

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 10:54 AM

I believe you can find reprints of works by Bob Roberts at the chanty cabin website. I do wish he'd recorded more.

There's a whole slew of ex-patriots over in OZ that I'd love to know more about.

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: Will Fly
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 11:01 AM

"Dazzling Stranger" by Colin Harper - the subject being Bert Jansch - is worth a read, though it's a bit of a hotch-potch.

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: Will Fly
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 11:03 AM

And, before I forget, "Richard Thompson: Strange Affair" by Patrick Humphries, though it's now a little out of date (published in 1996).

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 11:29 AM

Not a full biography, but the autobiographical 'Land Where the Blues Began' by Alan Lomax takes some beating
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 11:56 AM

And here I thought this thread was going to be about a biography of Messrs. Townshend, Daltry, Entwhistle, and Moon.

Subject: RE: Who's Biography ?
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 12:33 PM

of related interest, imo, is the book, video and 2 CD set River of Song - available on ebay if you hunt- done by our public media television on the music found from the headwaters of the Mississippi down to New Orleans and the people of the area. biography of a musical river???? lol

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 06:33 PM

Ha, the mudelfs have corrected the title!
And there IS a biography - "Before I get Old - The Story of The Who", by Dave Marsh - going cheap at Amazon!
Guess it's just "my generation" who had to learn apostrophe rules.

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 10:53 PM

I've always wished that Jacqui McShee would write an insider biography of The Pentangle. I actually suggested the idea to her one time and she gave me a smile. Guess I'll have to settle for that.

David E.

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 11:24 PM

A biography of Peter, Paul & Mary which would include information about their life (growing up ) before they formed their group and then take us through the very earliest days of their career and throughout the years of P.P.& M until present. (which would include about Mary's passing) and what Peter & Paul are doing these days.
Would like to see it include many pictures of them from their childhood to current and include many photos from their concerts and candid photos too. Their music meant the world to me.

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 03:04 AM

Back in 2004, I read Joe Klein's extraordinary 1980 book, Woody Guthrie: A Life. There have been at least two Woody biographies that came out since then, including one by Ed Cray. The Joe Klein book was so good, I've been reluctant to read the others.
I'd like to read a good Carter Family biography, but I haven't found one that caught my eye.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 07:53 AM

Superb biograhies? Well, someone has already mentioned Dave Arthur's book on Bert Lloyd so I won't mention that one.

However, I'm suprised that we've made it this far down without anyone apparently mentioning Timothy Neat's 2 volume biography of Hamish Henderson. Polygon 2009.

Other must reads include:

The Last Cavalier-The Life & Times of John A Lomax. Nolan Porterfield. Illinois UP. 1996.
The Man Who Recorded the World; A Biography of Alan Lomax. John Szwed. Heinmann. 2010.
The Life and Legend of Leadbelly. Charles Wolfe/Kip Lornell. Secker & Warburg. 1993
Ramblin' Man; The Life and Times of Woody Guthrie. Ed Cray. W W Norton        . 2004. Despite Joe Offer's comments above, this is an extraordinary read and it contains a lot of detail which wasn't known about when Klein was writing his book. The other book which Joe mentions is presumably Woody Guthrie; American Radical. Will Kaufman. Illinois UP. 2011. That isn't so much a biography as a discussion of his politics. Well worth reading though.

There is a hell of a lot more, including biographies of just about every bluesman who ever recorded, but they'll have to wait for another day.

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: GUEST,Robin Twatt
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 10:19 AM

Read Louis Armstrong's - it's great

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 12:53 PM

Lin - have you seen:
Peter, Paul and Mary: Fifty Years in Music and Life by Peter Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey and (the words of the late) Mary Travers, Charlesbridge Publishing 2014?

Derek

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 12:54 PM

These suggested reading lists are great ... but the thread question was different:
If you had the choice WHOSE biography would you choose that is not already available?

Derek

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 02:47 PM

Bix Beiderbecke. the sweetest voice on the planet. i think i've read everything that exists, but somehow it all tells you nothing.
to hear the truth , to hear his story from his lips. that would be good.

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 03:00 PM

Whose Biography ?

my great great great great great grandson's.

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 06:48 PM

The Paul Clayton bio by Bob Coltman is on my list, but it's so damn ezpensive, and I can't get the library here to order it.


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: Joe_F
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 07:25 PM

Cray's book on Guthrie shows he did his homework and will allow you to pick out the fact from the fiction in Guthrie's autobiographical novel _Bound for Glory_, which, of course, is still good reading.

Jean Ritchie's autobiography _Singing Family of the Cumberlands_ is beautiful. Read it aloud and sing the songs.

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 07:43 PM

To Guest Derek:

I did see a program on TV recently about their music- Fifty Years In Music, etc. but I did not realize there was a biography. I thought it was a DVD only which you could order from the TV station.
Can't afford it so didn't order the DVD and don't have a way to record the program. Is it an actual book though that has the same title as the DVD? Or is it a booklet of sorts that comes with the DVD?
Thanks,
Lin

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: Hagman
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 08:45 PM

Bill Leader

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: Hagman
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 08:46 PM

Peter Bellamy

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 12:05 AM

Yes and Yes Hagman!

David E.

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: LadyJean
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 12:21 AM

Ten years ago, I brought home a sampler embroidered by a lady known in our family as Great Great Grandmother Who Was Captured By The Indians.

The lady's name was Eunice Brown. That's what I know about her. She married an Eversull. I don't know which Indians. I don't know when she was captured. I don't know how she got home. I would give a lot to read "A Narrative of the Captivity of Eunice Brown". Especially since I tried to look her up online and discovered there were two of them. Nothing about either of them being captured by Indians.

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 05:47 AM

I guess it would be interesting, especially to a non-believer, to read the biography of one J. Christ, since all that was written about him was written by people who never met him or were even alive when he was.

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 06:06 AM

Lin yes it's an actual book, 144 pages, lots of photos - in fact more photos than text. Price is 29 dollars but sure it'd be cheaper from Amazon etc.... Derek

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: GUEST,Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 06:23 AM

Mine. But I don't want to know how it ends.

:D tG

Subject: RE: Whose Biography would you like to read?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 12:02 PM

I'm looking forward to reading Ian Zack's biography of Rev. Gary Davis, coming out in April. I think it's called "Say No to the Devil."