Actors who sing and play folk music

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 16 Sep 15 - 04:12 PM

Bert Lloyd in Moby Dick and his son in law was Benny in Crossroads.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 16 Sep 15 - 04:28 PM

Tim Grimm now mostly does singing on the folk circuit he was a regular on one legal series Reasonable Doubts. He also was Harrison Ford's buddy in Clear and Present Danger who gets killed in the early part of the movie. Like Ron Cox, he's a very good songwriter.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,Andiliqueur
Date: 16 Sep 15 - 04:36 PM

The late Tony Capstick? Last of the Summer Wine and All Creatures Great and Small.He used to make me laugh so loud "She's ready, best take her home" and the next minute I'd be weeping at one of his ballads.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 Sep 15 - 05:22 PM

Not sure about Bert in Moby Dick, Steve. He was the shantyman, so they just shoved him in a costume & an eyepatch and told him to sing Blood Red Roses. Actor? Hmmmmm---

In the book, BTW, the shanty favoured by the crew seems to be Haul Away For Rosie: despite the Quaker owners' attempts at 'singing a dismal stave of psalmody to cheer the hands at the windlass', the latter 'roared forth some sort of a chorus about the girls in Booble Alley, with hearty good will'.

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,Ebor Fiddler
Date: 16 Sep 15 - 05:35 PM

I remember Nadia Catouse (Sp?) both as a fine singer of folk and folk-oriented songs and as an actress in a nursing series - I think it was "Angels".

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 16 Sep 15 - 07:12 PM

Liam Clancy, Tommy Makem and Tom Clancy.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 17 Sep 15 - 03:19 AM

Both Ronnie Drew and Luke Kelly of The Dubliners acted before the band became famous.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Mr Red
Date: 17 Sep 15 - 04:09 AM

Trevor Harrison plays Eddie Grundy in the Archers and gigs in a C&W ish style Wiki on Archers/Grundy

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 17 Sep 15 - 06:53 AM

Packie Manus Byrne played Dr Carmody in Ken Loach's film, Black Jack...

Kitty

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,Rob Hunt
Date: 17 Sep 15 - 01:38 PM

Kenneth williams, a brilliant comedy actor who was in all the carry on films used to sing really funny folk songs.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,Rob Hunt
Date: 17 Sep 15 - 02:16 PM

Just remembered, Kenneth Williams recorde under the name of Ranmlin` Sid Rumpo.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 17 Sep 15 - 02:27 PM

Looking back a bit, don't forget Theo Bikel. or Paul Robeson.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 15 - 04:42 PM

Tim Robbins is an actor who you may remember in the movie "Bob Roberts", a hilarious film with Robbins playing of all things a rightwing folk singer running for President. In real life, Robbins and his band The Rogues Gallery have made a recording and toured, and I heard them perform at the Winnipeg Folk Festival a few years ago. Nothing astounding, but certainly competent.

-- David W.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Sep 15 - 05:12 PM

geoof higginbotham , joe stead. or are they singers who have also done some axcting, then there is tim laycock

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: brashley46
Date: 17 Sep 15 - 06:02 PM

Fess Parker, who played both Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone on US television decades ago, had a fine singing voice and did one song ("Farewell to the Mountains") on the penultimate episode of the Davy Crockett Disney series, accompanying himself creditably on the mountain dulcimer. (The MD he played was a trifle late in style for the period, ca. 1835-36, but not overly anachronistic.)

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Sep 15 - 08:56 PM

Once you start prowling the pages of IMDb you see so many actors who mostly act but occasionally sing. The list (in no particular order) could get very long. Cynthia Rhodes, Patrick Swayze, Jerry Orbach, Dick Van Dyke, Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Jimmy Dean (who was probably more a singer who acted), Reba MacIntire, Dolly Parton, etc etc.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Sep 15 - 03:56 AM

Frank Sinatra was brilliant in both particulars IMO. Not that he sang folk == but the thread has moved on to general vocalism, innit?

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,Brimbacombe
Date: 18 Sep 15 - 07:27 AM

Hoyt Axton is a good example. A country/folk singer whose acting in later years was certainly passable. Being the dad in Gremlins was probably his most memorable role. Though this probably makes him a singer who acted.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Sep 15 - 11:02 PM

I was totally surprised at hearing Patricia Routledge sing, during her Hetty Wainthropp Investigates series. She portrayed such an awful voice for Hyacinth Bucket on Keeping Up Appearances that she was bound to have the control to manage that. And demonstrate a lovely voice when the occasion arose. I don't remember what it was now, something of a choral nature, I think. In checking IMDb I see she was active with choir in church, and she has been on stage a lot - but this doesn't tell me if any of those plays were musical.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Dec 19 - 12:27 PM

Since this thread was last opened there are more actors who sing (in general, not just folk) who may have turned up on your radar.

Over the last few years I caught up with all of the episodes of Bones (US TV mystery/dramady program) and realized that the Deschanel sisters have lovely voices. Zooey performed with a band She and Him, but both sisters grew up singing informally, apparently.

Emily, a short clip and Zooey with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. And a bonus, James Corden with Zooey in an Endless Love spoof.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 14 Dec 19 - 12:41 PM

Steve Martin, Banjo Player...Jim Nabors. Is that the same Murray Head who was in the Broadway Musical "Chess" and who had a hit with a song from that play; One Night in Bankok ?

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 14 Dec 19 - 01:32 PM

I thought Murray Head was
the original Judas
in Jesus Christ Superstar?

which role, by the way,
is a heck of a role,
more rewarding than that of the titular character.


And it's his brother who turns out to be
the professor in Buffy The Vampire Slayer,
which is deep in the North American psyche --

seems the brother, Anthony Head, is also a respectably good singer.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 14 Dec 19 - 01:54 PM

Right you are Keb, he was in both "Chess" and JC Superstar. I think that "Chess" was a much better musical, but it did not do well at the Box office. I believe it was written by the two blokes from ABBA.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,GuestTF
Date: 14 Dec 19 - 02:47 PM

Jim Carter from Downton is a bit of a folkie non?

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 14 Dec 19 - 04:52 PM

Pierce Brosnan of James Bond fame was and maybe still is a folk singer... Here is one of his. The Parting Glass.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 14 Dec 19 - 04:54 PM

On the top right of the page in the link... he can also be heard singing On the Banks of the Roses.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Jack Campin
Date: 14 Dec 19 - 05:12 PM

I didn't notice a mention of Peter O'Toole. Small but significant contribution to folk.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 14 Dec 19 - 05:57 PM

Re. Richard Bridge's comment at 5:27. The Scottish singer he refers to is probably Isla St Clair. If it is, she was Larry Grayson's "eye candy" (RB's words), not Bruce Forsyth's
Isla was well known as folk singer long before her Generation Game fame.

Re. a later post on Tim Grimm. I totally agree, he is an excellent singer/songwriter as well as an actor.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: RTim
Date: 14 Dec 19 - 07:23 PM

Ewan Maccoll was known as an Actor well before he became a Folk Singer - but I fear adding him to the list will upset some people on Mudcat......

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 15 Dec 19 - 07:29 AM

Isla St Clair is a genuine traditional singer.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 15 Dec 19 - 06:07 PM

Andy Irvine was a successful actor as a child. He played Raymond opposite Laurence Harvey in Room at the Top and, although his main scene was cut from the final release, he appears briefly in the film, handing a bottle of champagne to Harvey during a wedding scene.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Dec 19 - 06:18 PM

the actor who played lewis in inspector morse.Before turning to professional acting,Kevin Whately began his working life as a folk singer, and still plays the guitar, performing for charity concerts

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Dec 19 - 06:52 PM

That's interesting about Whately! I read the remarks about Pierce Brosnan above and listened to the link; I saw him in Mama Mia and thought he sounded awful. That example (The Parting Glass) posted above is fine alone, but he just didn't have that something extra that that worked with the rest of the actors who were singing in their roles.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,Ballyholme
Date: 17 Dec 19 - 06:53 PM

I believe the late Roy Harris (aka Burl of this parish) also did a bit of acting.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 17 Dec 19 - 08:42 PM

Harry Belafonte - Actor-vocalist, doesn't play an instrument.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Dec 19 - 08:51 PM

I was impressed by James Mason's skill on piano and organ. As a kid I remember my mother explaining how people who couldn't really play the piano were filmed so you saw their shoulders or maybe arms moving, but didn't see their hands on the keyboard. I was thrilled to realize, when watching 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, that not only did you see Mason playing the organ, you had a real good look at it and knew he was playing those chords. I remember he also played piano in Georgie Girl.

And it occurs to me that Stephanie Zimbalist, who was popular in the 1980s-1990s on Remington Steel TV series in one of the later episode sat down to play Chopin on a piano she was give. As granddaughter of the great violinist, I'd be really disappointed if she didn't play an instrument.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Dec 19 - 02:55 AM

The late Tony Capstick turned to acting after a long career in folk music, he was pretty good at both, RIP Tony.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 18 Dec 19 - 03:00 AM

That was me above, no idea how I got logged out !

Dave H

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: John C. Bunnell
Date: 19 Dec 19 - 09:42 AM

I've been waiting for someone to mention the talented performers of the mock-documentary movie A Mighty Wind

In particular, consider Jane Lynch, who's followed up the movie with additional musical work (see particularly a Christmas-themed project from a couple of years ago, including a lively version of "Up On The Housetop" and a very nice duet on an original Christmas song with none other than Dick Van Dyke). Lynch is best known, though, for her star turn on the TV series Glee.

Also worth mentioning from Wind is Annette O'Toole, who co-wrote wrote three of the film's songs and has occasionally done cabaret-style gigs with her husband, Michael McKean. Her acting credits run several screens' worth on Wikipedia; nowadays she is likely best remembered for her turn as Martha Kent, Superman's adoptive mother, on Smallville.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: gillymor
Date: 19 Dec 19 - 10:11 AM

Ed Helms of the U.S version of The Office is a banjoist, guitarist and singer who plays bluegrass and other stuff with his trio.
Alan Arkin was a guitar- playing singer with the Tarriers back in the 50's. Someone no doubt mentioned this already.
Jeff Daniels is a pretty good hand at fingerpicking country blues.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,jude
Date: 22 Dec 19 - 04:48 AM

Paul bradley, currently in Holby City and formerly in 'Stenders, plays in the hKippers.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Dec 19 - 04:51 AM

nick dow?

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,Jude
Date: 22 Dec 19 - 04:58 AM

Julia Roberts sang on her former husband, Lyle Lovett's album just before they split (learnt on recent praised country music doc series.)

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 22 Dec 19 - 06:24 AM

To change the parameters briefly, in my days in Kent (late 70s) I used to play with some friends in the bar of the lovely old Smarden Bell pub.
Audience at times included Kate Bush and Jeff Beck, but despite many requests, neither would give us a song

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,SC
Date: 22 Dec 19 - 09:16 AM

John C. Reily (Walk Hard, Step Brothers, Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule) played on this cover of "When The Worlds on Fire"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZe_Ye2F5Hk

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Deckman
Date: 22 Dec 19 - 01:16 PM

Walt Robertson

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 23 Dec 19 - 05:54 AM

Ronnie Cox is very good at both, remember ' Deliverence ' ?

Dave H

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 23 Dec 19 - 07:48 AM

Jeff Bridges. He played and sang some of the material in the film "Crazy Heart", for which he won an Academy Award for best actor. He has released two albums, played on "Austin City Limits", and recorded with some notables, including Judy Collins.

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Dec 19 - 04:22 PM

*
A footnote about an actor people thought could sing, but apparently couldn't. I looked up the actor/dancer Cyd Charisse the other day and found this: At age 70, she made a disastrous Broadway debut as a replacement in the long-running "Grand Hotel." She couldn't sing and had been dubbed in all her movies.

The odd thing is, SHE knew she couldn't sing, so what was she thinking?

Subject: RE: Actors who sing and play folk music
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 26 Dec 19 - 05:07 PM

Judy Collins herself played several roles as an actress.