2021 Obit: John Shaw, UK singer & dulcimer player

Subject: Obit: John Shaw, UK singer & dulcimer player
From: Felipa
Date: 30 Jun 21 - 06:00 PM

https://fotmd.com/forums/forum/general-mountain-dulcimer-or-music-discussions/41006/death-of-john-shaw-uk-mountain-dulcimer-giant
on 29 June 2021 Geoff Black wrote:
"I'm sad to report the sudden death of John Shaw, a fabulous MD [Mountain Dulcimer] player with many friends on both sides of the Atlantic. He was a mentor to so many of us in the UK when we started playing, and his superb dulcimer arrangements of such a wide range of fascinating music will constitute a major legacy for the international dulcimer community. John taught at many UK festivals and even a few years back toured venues on the US East Coast. His smooth, melodic and unfussy style of playing, such a positive influence on so many new players, was another major legacy. He was also an excellent singer and performer, and a longstanding member and one time Chair of the UK Nonsuch Dulcimer Society. His wife Angela would like the FOTMD community in particular to know that he thought very highly of you all. In turn, I'm sure you will miss him as we all do over here."

Subject: RE: Obit: John Shaw, UK singer & dulcimer player
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 30 Jun 21 - 06:41 PM

So sorry to hear this. John also contributed to research upon Dorset Folk song. I have good memories of his singing. Sad News. RIP John.

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: John Shaw, UK singer & dulcimer player
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 01 Jul 21 - 02:58 AM

So sorry to hear this. I have known John since the. 1980s when I used to see him at the Nova Scotia in Bristol. Later he was one of the leaders of "Called to be Saints" West Gallery choir in Nailsea that Anne and I sang in. Musically very knowledgable and a considerate person, not always a combination that you find! I think the only recordings I have of him would behind parts in the "Alongside Bristol Quay" album.

Greatly missed, our thoughts for Angela.

Robin

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: John Shaw, UK singer & dulcimer player
From: GUEST,Ian Croft
Date: 02 Jul 21 - 05:23 AM

I was in touch with John a few years ago trying to track down any recordings by Elecampane, that great and very original band from Bristol. He was a lovely man, and is a sad loss. RIP John

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: John Shaw, UK singer & dulcimer player
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 02 Jul 21 - 09:14 AM

I was sorry to hear this news. I have added John to the "In Memoriam" thread and send my condolences to all those who know and love him.

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: John Shaw, UK singer & dulcimer player
From: GUEST,Bristol Kid
Date: 03 Jul 21 - 08:35 AM

John had an enormous range of musical interests:

I’d known John since the early 1970s, having first I met him the at the Folk Tradition club, which was held in the Nova Scotia pub, Hotwells, Bristol. In addition to being a regular performer there, John was on the club committee, and he also took a turn with hosting on club nights.

As already noted, John was a member of the psychedelic folk rock band: ”Elecampagne” which (if I remember correctly) was active in the 1970s and 1980s.

Again, as already noted, John was a leading member of the “Called to be Saints” West Gallery Choir.

https://blagdon.org/things-to-do/groups/called-to-be-saints/

John was a member of the Bristol Shantymen:

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

John was a leading member of the folk song and music group: “The Hotwells Howlers”

https://www.thehotwellshowlers.com/


John also played in a duo with Alan Kirkpatrick:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzFwz9Ozn3M


In 1989, John joined our ceilidh band (then called “Rumpus”, now called “Jig Mad Wolf”). Initially, John played guitar in the band, but later switched to playing bass guitar.

https://jigmadwolf.co.uk

On account of Covid, Jig Mad Wolf hasn’t played since January 2020 - John played with us at this last gig.

Not only will John be greatly missed by family and friends, but also by the folk world in general. We will of course miss him in Jig Mad Wolf. Ceilidhs usually include an interval for refreshments – primarily for the dancers, but also for the band and caller. Events are sometimes over-catered for, and sometimes there would be calls to come back for second or even third helpings. John always responded to offers of more food! Did he have hollow legs we wondered?

My lasting memory of John is seeing him playing his bass guitar with gusto, acting out his inner rock musician, to the tune of Soldier’s Joy.

- Roger

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: John Shaw, UK singer & dulcimer player
From: Felipa
Date: 03 Jul 21 - 04:01 PM

Roger's memories of John Shaw as a musician are so different from mine! I met John several times at dulcimer gatherings. I never saw or heard John's rock musician persona, and I don't remember him playing anything instruments other than mountain dulcimer (though people do indeed bringa good variety of other instruments along with them to dulcimer meets).

singing with dulcimer:

Leaving Home (a Charlie Poole song)

Barbara Allen

dulcimer instrumentals:

John Shaw in a trio of mountain dulcimer players

De Schvartse Khasene

https://fotmd.com/john-shaw/uploaded_audio/12/quickstep-in-the-battle-of-prague-aye-me-or-the-symphony

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: John Shaw, UK singer & dulcimer player
From: JohnR
Date: 01 Oct 21 - 04:26 AM

https://www.theguardian.com/.../sep/19/john-shaw-obituary
John Shaw's obituary, written by his wife Angela is in today's Guardian. I knew him since the 1980s in Bristol, from the Iron Acton folk Club at the Lamb Inn, where he was the only other person I knew locally who played the mountain dulcimer. He was a wonderful, but modest, player, a knowledgeable folk musician and a lovely, kind, unassuming gentle-man. He is such a loss to the dulcimer community.

Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: John Shaw, UK singer & dulcimer player
From: JohnR
Date: 01 Oct 21 - 07:45 AM

Sorry looks like there was a break in my previous link
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/19/john-shaw-obituary