2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer

Subject: Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 03:44 AM

I see on Facebook that Grace Griffith has died after suffering from Parkinson's Disease since the 1990s. She was well-known in the folk community in Washington, DC. She die on June 5, 2021. She was 64.
May she rest in peace.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Griffith

https://gracegriffith.com/

Here's her YouTube channel, which has lots of examples of her beautiful singing:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Lju4UICiPXXe-EJDky3fw

I highly recommend that you take a listen to this remarkable singer.

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: Anne Lister
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 07:07 AM

Thank you for posting this, Joe - I was going to, if no one else had done so.
Grace was a good friend to me on all of my visits to the DC area. She recorded my "Demeter's Daughter" on an early album, and we met at Folk Alliance in Boston, where we instantly bonded over a meal (a treat from one of her supporters) at Legal Seafood! After that, whenever I was in DC I would see her and stay with her when possible, and she helped me secure some gigs. We also did the occasional duet, but sadly I don't think any of those were recorded.
She was warm, supportive, generous, funny and altogether fabulous, as well as having one of the finest voices in the business. Parkinson's Disease slowed her down but didn't entirely stop her from singing at first, although sadly it restricted her ability to stay in touch over distances as I know typing was difficult for her. She also recorded my "May Morning" song on a later album.
I am so very sad that we've lost her.

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 08:50 PM

I am so sorry to hear of Grace Griffith's passing.
I still remember where I heard her music for the 1st time.
I was out in Santa Monica, CA with some friends one night walking on the 3rd Street Promenade in about 1995.
There were many shops and restaurants there and found this great record shop that sold new and used cassette tapes, records,magazines. Of course I headed straight for the used folk music section. I saw an album by Grace Griffith but was not familiar with her at all. After reading the liner notes on back, I was quite interested to hear Grace's music.
The store had players so that customers could listen to albums that were used. I listened to her album and was blown away. I loved Grace's voice and of course bought the album.
Have been a fan ever since and later went on to buy more of Grace's albums over the years. Very lucky to find the two out of print cassettes she recorded with Susan Graham White when they were a duo known as Hazlewood (these were released in the 1980's I believe) before Grace and Susan went on to pursue a solo music career. Both great albums.

So I am sad to read this news today of Grace Griffith's passing. Only wish I could have seen her perform "live"
but don't think she ever had a concert in the area of California where I live.

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: GUEST,Patrice G
Date: 08 Jun 21 - 09:06 PM

I came here to read a bit about Grace Griffith's passing. Anne Lister: Demeter's Daughter by Grace is one of my all time favorite songs.

May she rest in peace. What a voice and presence she had.

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 09 Jun 21 - 05:12 PM

I've been reading about some of Grace's early music background, before she became a solo artist.
One group that was mentioned that she was once a part of was a D.C. based Celtic band called, The Hags.
I was trying to find online if they ever released any albums, even if only on cassette format.
I know Grace was only a part of that group a short time, although don't know how long exactly.

If anyone has any information about any releases that this band, The Hags, (with Grace Griffith in the band),
please post the name of the album and year it was released.
My search came up did not bring anything as far as any releases.

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: GUEST,Skivee guesting in
Date: 11 Jun 21 - 01:25 AM

Lin- The Hags never put out an album. They did make a 2 title 45; but that was before Grace joined the band

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: clueless don
Date: 11 Jun 21 - 05:55 AM

Grace continued a tradition of fine singers in The Hags. In addition to her fine solo singing, she did outstanding vocal duets with Ivy Harper.

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 11 Jun 21 - 11:23 PM

To Clueless Don,
Is there anywhere to hear her singing with Ivy Harper?

I'm not familiar with him. Did they release any albums or
even a song or two on a collection of various artists album?
I have most of her solo albums, two with Connemara (spelling?)
and I have the two releases with Susan Graham White (Hazlewood).

Just wondering if there are any other recordings other then the ones I mentioned I have above?

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 12 Jun 21 - 10:16 AM

I was sorry to hear that Grace had passed away. As you can see from the links in this thread she left a wonderful legacy behind her. I have added her name to the "In Memoriam" thread and send my condolences to all those who know and love her.

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: clueless don
Date: 14 Jun 21 - 06:49 AM

GUEST,Lin, to my knowledge Grace and Ivy (in that incarnation of The Hags) never recorded together. I may have some field recordings of them, but it would take me forever and a half to root them out.

Don

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 15 Jun 21 - 09:10 AM

To Clueless Don,

Thank you so much for your reply. If you ever do get around to rooting these recordings out, please let me know.
I really love Grace's music and am still interested to hear these recordings. I kept hoping Grace was going to get better and just so sad that she has passed away.
I am in California and never had the opportunity to hear Grace in concert.

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: GUEST,Lisa
Date: 17 Jun 21 - 09:59 PM

It doesn't matter which song you listen to of hers, she was an exceptional singer.

To Lin, hello! I have Grace's and Susan's (Hazlewood) Wheel Of Hope and Journeys albums, but haven't had a chance to listen to their 1988 cassette "Legacy". Both albums I've heard so far are wonderful, but the cassettes seems to be very hard to come by. Could you please let me know if there any way you could send a recording of it my way? Thanks!

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Grace Griffith - remarkable singer
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 18 Jun 21 - 01:46 AM

Hi Lisa,

Sorry, at this time, I don't have any equipment to record/duplicate tapes or CDs.
Actually, I think one of the Hazlewood recordings was later released on a CD, but not both of the albums. I think it was the "Journeys" album.
I sent away for it several years ago from a store in Maryland called, "House of Musical Traditions."
I was able to contact Susan Graham White through her website. I sent a payment to her for a copy of the "Legacy" one. This was also several years ago now. She was so very kind to do this for me.
I initially had both recordings on cassettes but many years ago I had a lot of boxes of folk Cd's and tapes stolen and
the Hazlewood tapes were amongst them along with hundreds of obscure recordings. I cannot even begin to say how devastating it was to have hundreds of mostly all folk recordings stolen, never to be replaced again because of costs and many,many obscure folk recordings from Canada, UK, Ireland and USA. Many were cassettes I bought while in England and things never released on CDS.