The Critics Group: Who is still Alive ?

Subject: RE: The Critics Group: Who is still Alive ?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 06 Jan 16 - 08:08 PM

Can't guive you a full rundown of who is still alive.
Brian Byrne, a young performer with a great deal of potential died around 1967 (exact date somewhere), and Charles Parker in 1980
John still withus and performing Faulkner living in Galway.
Samdra, of course teaches and still preforms
Bob Blair sings occasionally - lives in Glasgow.
Brian still alive - just received a 'freinds request from him on Facebook
Pat Mackenzie stopped singing when her voice went a few years ago - I started singing again a few years ago - both of us live inn Co. Clare and became heavily involved in research and collecting forty years ago.
Jim O'Connor took up theatre work when the Critics folded in the early 1970s
Jack still singing and writing songs
Buff returned to the US in the 70s
Frankie singing
Mike Rosen was never really a member of the group as a singer
Terry lives in Suffolk, still active in research but doesn't sing much (more's the pity)
Dennis worked with us for a few years collecting from Travellers in the seventies, then took up theatre work
Phil, is singing and songwriting
Not sure about the rest,
I have done a great deal of work gathering together, archiving, talking and writing about the work of Ewan and the group - still a major interest with me, though a fair amount of work to do yet.
We have arranged to pass on our recordings of the group, and all documentaton on to Ewan's son, Neill, but i the meantime, I'm happy to pass on any material and information to anybody interested - it's time the work was discussed rationally and in a genuinely honest way without all the mud-slinging and agendas - it really is worth it.
Jim Carroll

Subject: The Critics Group: Who is still Alive ?
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 06 Jan 16 - 07:08 PM

Which members of The Critics Group are still alive and performing? And which ones are already booked for festivals this year? I ask this because I( and I'm sure many others ) would like to go to a festival workshop where information about the group is delivered by people who have first hand knowledge. When performers have already been booked then it should be fairly easy for festival organisers to set up such a workshop. If this thread attracts some attention then perhaps Mudcatters could draw it to the attention of festival organisers to get the idea up and running?

Wikipedia says "Members of the group at various times included Frankie Armstrong, Bob Blair, Brian Byrne (UK), Helen Campbell (UK), Jim Carroll (UK), Phil Colclough, Aldwyn Cooper, Ted Culver, John Faulkner, Richard Humm, Allen Ives, Sandra Kerr, Paul Lenihan, Pat Mackenzie, Jim O'Connor, Maggie O'Murphy, Charles Parker, Brian Pearson, Michael Rosen, Buff Rosenthal, Susanna Steele, Denis Turner, Jack Warshaw, Terry Yarnell and others who joined for individual Festival of Fools shows.