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Tales of Walt Robertson
Related thread:
Other 'Walt Robertsons'??? (7)
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Deckman Date: 30 Jan 04 - 05:09 PM Walt Robertson continues to have an impact in my life. I've been house bound for the last couple of months, which has given me time to go through many boxes of stuff and many books and notes. I've been wondering where to place, as a final repository, some of these items. Any suggestions will be very welcomed. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Cluin Date: 28 Jan 04 - 05:13 PM Saw a couple of older threads refreshed. This is the best one I've read here. Worth a look by any newer members and a refresher by older ones. Threads like this one would keep me coming back. |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Don Firth Date: 22 Aug 03 - 01:08 PM I just checked a couple of things. The album offered on eBay is probably genuine. The original release of Walt's American Northwest Ballads was a 10" LP. In the picture on eBay, you can see part of the cover of the enclosed booklet laying flat in front. The layout of the first page of the booklet and of the cover of the original release album are the same, except that the album cover is blue (I have it right here in front of me). No photograph on it. However, I believe that Folkways re-released the album later as a 12" LP (same songs) with a new cover. I think the one on eBay is the re-release. If you are a speculator who is into collecting old vinyl records, then you may want to take a chance and go for this. Personally, I have a lot of old vinyl records, but I'm not a record collector in the sense that I just like to have the record—the physical object—on my shelves with the object of selling it later and using the proceeds to retire to the Riviera. I want what's on the record. To listen to. And I don't care what the format is as long as I can play it on something (I find CDs very convenient and they don't take up as much space as vinyl records). But choose your own poison. If you are interested in the record to play—to listen to Walt singing the songs—then be aware that Walt's American Northwest Ballads is available on CD from Smithsonian-Folkways HERE, and you don't have to bid for it. In fact, the CD's price is $19.95, four cents less than the eBay opening bid of $19.99. If you prefer it on cassette, you can get it for $10.95. I don't know who this person is, but they seem to have quite a collection of folk music records (I clicked on "View seller's other items"). I think it's all for real. But I've found that if I spot something on eBay that interests me, I always check other sources. I find that more often than not, I can buy the item outright somewhere else, new, often for less than the opening bid, I don't have to go through the bidding process, and usually shipping is less expensive. Caveat emptor! Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Aug 03 - 10:42 PM I think I have some of his albums here. I'll take a look, too. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Deckman Date: 21 Aug 03 - 10:28 PM I just looked at the album cover as displayed. That's a PHONEY cover. I don't know what it means, but that is NOT the original album cover. Don Firth ... check me out! Bob Nelson |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Aug 03 - 10:15 PM Looks like 11 Mudcatters (as of my look just now) have visited the Ebay site. Don't bid against each other--collude here to keep the price down! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: SINSULL Date: 21 Aug 03 - 08:50 PM His LP just showed up on Ebay. Look here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2552027717&category=1075 |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Amos Date: 15 Aug 03 - 11:11 PM And cheers to you, Bob -- the encouragemnent was well-deserved! A |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Deckman Date: 15 Aug 03 - 10:56 PM I started this story about Walt Robertson on Febuary 1st, 2001. It continued until January 3, of this year. When I saw that "Guest" has re-introduced it gain, I read it through. "Guest" is correct ... it is a good read. I thought about adding more to the story, but I told myself "no." It was put down very well the first time around. And yet, I have to add another thought: A week doesn't go by but what I don't have a new/old memory or two pop up. And, more than that, I am very much in touch with all the wonderful folks that did contribute to this thread. In fact, this coming Sunday, several of us are gathering for an afternoon of dinner, conversation and music. And I'm quite certain that several "Waltisms" will occur! Also, this thread was my first contribution to MUDCAT. The encouragements I received during the process made me a committed member. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: GUEST Date: 14 Aug 03 - 11:42 PM Good Read - its been awhile |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Cluin Date: 02 Jan 03 - 12:29 AM Wow! I read the first post and then got a beer and sat back down to scan through this great thread. The beer was gone a long time ago but I was too hooked on reading here to get another. Thanks for dusting this one off. Made me feel both priviledged and jealous at the same time. |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Deckman Date: 01 Jan 03 - 04:23 PM AAAAAAwwww Linden schminden! It's all the same to me! (Says Bob, in a cavalier manner) I'm sure you're quite right ... 'course you usually are! And you are probably the one that showed them to me. (well duh!) We'll be seeing you on the 12th, if not sooner. CHEERS, Bob |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Don Firth Date: 01 Jan 03 - 04:03 PM Bob, I have two 78 rpm records of Walt, which I bought in 1951 or 52. The first time I ever heard Walt was on these records. Claire had them, and I bought my copies from Campus Music and Gallery before I actually met Walt. The record label is Linden, and both records are red. Red translucent vinyl. The four sides he recorded are Wanderin', Blue Mountain Lake, Life is a Toil, and Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill. I've never heard of a Stinson recording of Walt (originally "Ashe-Stinson," as in Moses Ashe, founder of Folkways). I did ask Walt once (in the Fifties) how many records he actually had out, and he said that he had one on Folkways (American Northwest Ballads) and the two 78rpm records, which he had done locally. This was before the second Folkways he did in 1959. Next time you're here, I'll show you the Linden records. I'll bet they're what you're thinking of. Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Deckman Date: 01 Jan 03 - 03:15 PM Hello Stefan... Merry New Year to you also! I appreciate all your work assembling the list. For years I've heard rumors of an earlier recording that Walt did. It was a 10" LP on the Stinson label. I don't remember hearing it, but I know I've seen it as I can remember that the record was red in color. It would be interesting to see if a copy of this album surfaces! CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Stefan Wirz Date: 01 Jan 03 - 02:13 PM not one single tale, but one portrait (as man's an eye animal) plus a little more info about the two Folkways LPs of the man, that's the little someone from far Germany can add to this thread: Walt Robertson discography ... and to all 'catters a Happy New Year !!! Stefan |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Deckman Date: 13 Oct 02 - 03:33 AM Hi Marge! Hi Joe! Yes indeed, it is a very small world sometimes. Besides meeting Marge through that song Joe posted, Bride Judy and I also renewed our friendship with Mike Nelson (of Pamir House fame), thanks to MUDCAT. After years of disapearance, he surfaced on a MUDCAT posting. Now he is a reguliar at our hoots and our table. Hmmm, a small world indeed. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Joe Offer Date: 12 Oct 02 - 07:34 PM Hi, Marge - good to see you finally got onto Mudcat. You gave me the song years ago, and I posted it in Mudcat here (click) in 1998. That's how Deckman found out you had known Walt. Small world, eh? -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: GUEST,Masha Date: 12 Oct 02 - 07:21 PM I have just arrived at these wonderful Tales Of Walt Robertson. Have I come to heaven? My late husband and I knew and loved Walt also. We knew him starting in the very early 60's in Sacramento. During that time he was living in San Francisco and coming here to perform at a small (tiny) coffee house run by friends and at a small theater that held about 150. I recall two songs that I learned from him in those early days "The Wheel of Fortune" and "Zoom, Zoom, Cuddle and Croon." (I never heard anyone else sing the latter one.) He stayed with us when he was in town . Later on he came and stayed here on his way to and from the northwest. I have one memory of a particular night after a concert. The three of us were (as I recall) sitting on the floor with a jug of very bad red wine talking about having heard that the Smothers Brothers had written a parody verse or two to "The Streets of Laredo." We took off from there and the laughter and the wine and the verses flowed deep into the night. (I think Deckman can post the song if he has not done so already.) A postscript to the story is that when Walt left here after that visit he was heading up to Portland and had no place to stay there. We gave him the phone number of good friends of ours up there who would certainly welcome him. Did not hear from Walt or our friends (John and Vivienne Olson) except for a note with an "alternative line for the second to the last verse and a new final verse. More memories are flooding in. I'll be back. Marge |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Amos Date: 26 Jul 02 - 06:25 PM Thaks, LEJ -- your scintillating precision of thought and word is impeccable, as always!! Best of infections to you and yours!! LOL!! A |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Amos Date: 25 Jul 02 - 07:21 PM Bob: If your gonna play that sort of music you should wear a tux when you play. If you're gonna soun' impo'tant, ya should look impo'tant, Ah sez!!! A |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Jul 02 - 06:47 PM Don, No, you're not long-winded. But you do need to direct those words into a BOOK! Maggie |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Lonesome EJ Date: 25 Jul 02 - 12:19 PM Art, Amos suffers from a rare disorder in today's world...he likes people, and feels compelled to voice that affection. I think that was the trigger for his post above, not anything specific that you did. Have patience...although there isn't much hope of Amos recovering from his disorder, there's a slim hope the rest of us might catch it. I understand its fairly painless. :>} |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Don Firth Date: 25 Jul 02 - 12:00 PM My first impulse was to comment on that too, but I thought, we-e-e-e-l-l-l-l. . . . Thanks for pulling this up again, Art. I reread it and--my gawd I'm long-winded! Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Deckman Date: 25 Jul 02 - 12:00 AM "LORD LOVE A DUCK", Maggie. That certainly was a slip. I can hear your Dad laughing over that one. Maybe that's why my slip of the fingers happened, so that you and I could have a good chuckle. Nice to see your name. CHEERS and HUGS, Bob |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Jul 02 - 11:37 PM Bob, Proofread your posts! You talked last about your music and it's "impotance." I understood what you meant, but I can never resist a good typo! (Neither could Dad!) Talk about a Freudian slip! Maggie (chuckling in Fort Worth) |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Art Thieme Date: 24 Jul 02 - 11:06 PM I don't understand-----but thanks I guess. I didn't do nothin'... Art |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Amos Date: 24 Jul 02 - 07:17 PM Art: You are one mother of a great soul, man! You got the song, words, music, the whole kielbasa. Thanks for being you. A |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: SINSULL Date: 24 Jul 02 - 05:02 PM Deckman. I am shocked! You have all the material for a great biography about a fascinating man in fascinating times and you think we are going to let you off with a few posts? Shame on you! Art - this is one I have printed and re-read often especially when some fool tells me that Mudcat is mediocre. Thanks for refreshing it. SINS |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Deckman Date: 24 Jul 02 - 01:22 PM Art ... I just read your posting and I want to thank you for it and for refreshing Walt's thread. You said something the really hit me ..."the music we made was all there was that had any impotance." So very, very true, my friend. I spent increasing amounts of time with Walt during the last years of his life. During one stay with him in Honolulu, he started bequeathing me things. Small items, including many letters, journal entries, etc. While we both knew he was a shortimer, I was puzzled by this. Then he explained that he wanted me to write his biography. I didn't take him seriously at first, then when I realised he was very serious, I freaked out as I've never considered myself any kind of a writer. In fact, the very first piece of serious writing I EVER did was Walt's obituary for Sing Out, and Don Firth and Sandy Paton know how much I sweated writing that! In retrospect, starting this thread, and contrubuting to it, and drawing others out, probably is my statement to Walt. Thank you again Art for bringing this up. CHEERS and BEST WISHES ... Bob(deckman)Nelson ((as Walt would say ... "KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON)) |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Art Thieme Date: 24 Jul 02 - 11:46 AM refresh-------------------'cause this is worth saving!! How often this entire scenario repeated in different places at diiferent moments and with different folks !!! And they were all just as fantastic. Steinbeck and Ed Rickets (Doc in "Canary Row") in Monterey, CA, Hemingway in Spain and Cuba, Van Ronk & Dylan in N.Y., Wolf, Muddy, Butterfield and Bloomfield and Little Walter in Chi, Kweskin and Baez and Rick VonSchmidt in Harvard Square----maybe some of us in Chicago too; and the other ponds where the folk-fish swam, spawned, sang and spilled their sonic seed on the ground fertile to mnake it fertile. The poverty and the roacy mattresses never mattered and the music we made was all there was that had any importance at all. We didn't choose this. It just happened 'cause it demanded our full attention---and our voices. The new folks here ought to read this one----and then read it again. Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Don Firth Date: 06 May 02 - 12:35 PM Yep! But I'll check with Bob and see if I can look over his shoulder. Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: SINSULL Date: 06 May 02 - 11:42 AM Art - I am forwarding the movie to Bob. PM your address to him and he can send it on to you. Anyone else interested? |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Art Thieme Date: 05 May 02 - 05:11 PM Way to go !!! |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Deckman Date: 05 May 02 - 02:39 AM HOLY SMOKE ... GOOD GRIEF ... AM I SURPRISED! I would LOVE to have a copy. I've never seen it in it's completeness. I did see some 'previews' of it while it was in production. I had given Walt my work raincoat ... he thought it was 'worn' enough that he could wear it as a fitting costume. I'd like to see my olde raincoat again. I'll mail you privately to make arrangements. Thank you again ... VERY MUCH. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: SINSULL Date: 04 May 02 - 03:38 PM I never stopped looking and... a copy of "Island Bound" is headed my way. If anyone is interested, I will be happy to send it on once I have had a chance to see it. I love having a reason to refresh this thread. |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Don Firth Date: 21 Feb 01 - 11:57 AM Sinsull, Reading your last post (above) about you and Annamill feeling "a certain regret that we were 'born too late'," set me to thinking. In just about any field, we often hear people, usually older than we are or who have been involved longer than we have, talking about things that happened before we came on the scene. We hear of amazing things and legendary people -- and it can make us feel that we got there too late -- after the Golden Age had waned. But after reading the "Annamill's gathering 02/17-02/19" thread, particularly your description (posted 20-Feb-01 - 10:45 AM) and some of the other descriptions (I wish I'd been there!), it sounds a lot like some of the bashes we used to have during the Fifties and Sixties. Or more recently, some years ago, the "First Annual Lillawap Folk-Sing and Clam-Bake" (or whatever we called it) weekend at Gary and Molly Oberbillig's place on Hood Canal (unfortunately, it was the only "annual" one -- Gary and Molly now live in Olympia). Or the ones at John Dwyer's place in Marysville before he died a few years ago. Or the get-togethers we still have, such as the song-fests and barbecues at Bob and Judy Nelson's house in Everett or at Alice Lanczos's place here in Seattle (Alice sometimes likes to have them catered, ye gods! It's not that she's wealthy. She just has a slightly [but gloriously] warped sense of style!). It may very well be that sometime in the future, when new people become involved, they will hear stories of gatherings like the one Annamill just hosted, and of the talents and abilities of the people who were there. And they will hear many other stories of remarkable people who were around, and of wonderful things that happened before they arrived on the scene. . . . Then, it will be you and Annamill and the others who were at that gathering who may very well be the legendary people. Just a thought, Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: SINSULL Date: 19 Feb 01 - 10:27 AM I am just back from Annamill's gathering. This thread came up in our conversations. Annamill and I agreed that it left us with a certain regret that we were "born too late". The most fascinating part of it for me is how much I have learned about the authors who were trying to tell what they know about a Walt Robertson. Don't apologize for keeping the more personal moments to yourselves. It would be a betrayal not to. |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Ebbie Date: 19 Feb 01 - 05:21 AM What a fascinating story of vivid, vital people. Thank you. Ebbie |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: rangeroger Date: 18 Feb 01 - 07:10 PM Just read this entire thread last night. WOW Thank you all and the Mudcat. Also a refresh as it was about to fall off the bottom. rr |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Alice Date: 17 Feb 01 - 07:02 PM This thread is already on Memorable Mudcat Thread links. Great one. Thank you. Alice |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Amos Date: 17 Feb 01 - 04:44 PM Amen. Amen. And thank you, all... for a great, geat story and a gift of great measure. I have never seen a human being, contray, lively, fired and flawed and all, so well portrayed in letters. Whew!!! A |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Deckman Date: 17 Feb 01 - 03:24 PM refresh |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Don Firth Date: 16 Feb 01 - 06:30 PM After Walt returned from Hawaii, he came to Barbara's and my apartment a number of times for dinner, general gab, and sometimes a song or two. Bob, I think you were there some of the times too, such as when he brought the videotape that we all watched. It was of the production of Shadowlands that he was in. He had the major supporting role of C. S. Lewis's irascible Oxford don friend and critic. One evening he came by himself, and that's when he told Barbara and me that he had just recently learned that he had cancer. It was all calm and matter-of-fact, and then we went on to talk of other things. But I felt so damned . . . helpless! There were a couple of out-of-print books that he had read when he was real young and he wanted to re-read them. Barbara works at the Seattle Public Library and she also knows a lot of used book dealers around town, so he asked her if she would try to find them for him. One of them was the lives and times of archy and mehitabel, which he used to read from with great relish and to the delight and guffaws of whoever was listening. Barbara found both books and got them to him. After the last hoot at Bob's house, once again we asked Walt if he would like to come to our place for dinner. He said he would, and we set it up for the following weekend. But sometime during the week his sister Liss called and said that Walt sends his apologies, but he was too sick to come. She invited us to come there, but -- well, I've walked with aluminum forearm crutches all my life (every step, a push-up) and in 1990 my shoulders just gave out and I had to take to a wheelchair. Walt's apartment was up a flight of steps and there was no elevator in the building, so that took care of that. Sometime during those brief few weeks, Bob and I and several other singers got together at George Austin's house. George has some really good recording equipment. We gathered to tape a bunch of songs that Walt wanted to hear us sing. I remember that one of the songs Walt wanted was George singing Before They Close the Minstrel Show, and George closed out the tape with that. (He also sang it at the very end of the memorial Song Circle for John Dwyer. I love the way George sings that song, but now whenever he sings it, I -- and a few other people, I suspect -- can't help but get a bit choked up.) Then, one morning, Liss called us and told us that Walt was gone. I had just finished writing the following on my word processor, then accessed Mudcat and opened the thread to cut-and-paste it into the reply window when I read Bob's last post. I felt impelled to add what I have just written above. Now. . . . This will probably be my last post to this thread (Guest is right -- this is now taking a long time to load). I'll keep checking back, and I'll certainly be around Mudcat, poking my snoot in here and there. But for now, I have to get back to writing the book I'm working on, a few chunks of which (between the dash-lines) are in my posts above. It covers the whole hairy scene in and around Seattle during the Fifties and Sixties, at least from my viewpoint as I moved through it. I shouldn't say the "whole" hairy scene, because Idaho 50's analogy about the elephant also applies here. I'm only one blind man groping my way around the beast. I hope to include a bunch of pictures and a bunch of songs, but first I just hope to get the thing finished. It'll be a while yet. When and if I get it published, I'll post a "Shameless Self-Promotion" note. I keep nagging Bob Nelson to write it up his experiences too -- our lives have crossed, diverged, and crossed again many times -- but he demurs, saying he doesn't consider himself to be much of a writer and he doesn't have the time. Granted, I'm retired and he isn't yet, but as for his not being much of a writer, I think he let the cat out of the bag in this thread, don't you? And Sandy. I would hate to put pressure on him because it is a lot of work and it does take time, but he has a wealth of knowledge and experience, he clearly has a way with words, and it is pretty rewarding once you get into it. At least think about it, will you, Sandy? I'd read it avidly, and obviously hordes and multitudes of others would too. As Rick Fielding has noted above, There probably were a dozen or so "major" folk communities in North America during the mid fifties through the sixties . . . that few people in other parts knew anything about. And on into the Seventies, Eighties, Nineties. . . . That's a big hunk of our heritage. Let's write it up, before it all goes into history's Dumpster! Special thanks to Rick, kat/katlaughing, Art Thieme, catspaw49, Spot the Dog, IvanB, Sinsull, Lonesome EJ, Bill D, bflat, John Hardly, Sourdough, Bartholomew, Tinker, Peter T., Gervase, Roger the skiffler, and Lonesome EJ who have offered much encouragement, many nice words, and some really insightful comments. You, like the children of Lake Wobegon, are all above average. Way above. And thanks, too, to those who read, but didn't feel impelled to post. And now. . . . What all I have learned from Walt Robertson outside of music, both directly and by example (occasionally, I must confess, by negative example -- Walt was human, after all) would be impossible to catalog and measure. I recently heard a sort of aphorism put forth by one of the self-help gurus who occasionally manifest themselves during PBS pledge breaks -- it may have been Wayne Dyer, but I'm not sure. When I heard it, my immediate response was, "Well, that sounds kind of hokey." But the more I thought about it, the more it resonated with me. I decided, "Yeah, hokey it may be, but that is a pretty good way of looking at things." "Your life," said the guru, "is like a movie. Have the courage to be the star." And you might say that that was the key to Walt Robertson. He had the courage to be the star in his own movie. * * * Musically speaking: despite the fact that he didn't consider himself to be a teacher, he gave me a good start on the guitar. When he felt he had taught me all he could, I was still begging for more, so he recommended a classic guitar teacher he'd heard of who could teach me what he knew I wanted to learn, even though he, himself, had serious misgivings about applying classic technique to folk song accompaniments. He also taught me a great deal about performing, as I have outlined above. But there is even more than that: He taught me that one must not be proprietary about these songs. The whole point was to learn them, sing them, and pass them along. To a singer of folk songs, this is the equivalent of a knight's Code of Chivalry. This became so instilled in me that I was shocked, surprised, and outraged the first time I met a folksinger (up from Berkeley back in the mid-Fifties, spending a summer in Seattle) who, when I expressed an interest in a song he had sung, told me "Why should I teach it to you? Go find your own damned songs!" Others heard him say it, and he couldn't figure out why, from that point on, people around here treated him pretty coldly. "Slow down!" Walt yelled as I raced through The Fox during a lesson, playing and singing as fast as I could. "Lope, don't gallop. Let people hear the words!" When I went on to study classic guitar, he taught me that less is more. An accompani-ment should be like a frame for a drawing: it should set it off and enhance it, not overpower it. Technical razzle-dazzle may satisfy the ego, but usually it distracts and detracts from the song. He showed me that less is more in other ways, too. The way he sang Johnny, I Hardly Knew You. It's very much an anti-war song. In some versions it has several angry, almost strident verses. The DT database gives seven verses, and I have often heard it sung this way -- with great energy, almost quick-march, flogging the audience with its already obvious message. Sometimes the audience (the already converted) responded with shouts, whistles, foot stomp-ing, and roars of applause. All hyped up to rush out and fight for Peace.
The first time I heard this song, it was Walt who sang it. But that was not the way he sang it. Now, Walt certainly knew of all the other verses, but he chose to sing only these four, at a moderate, conversational tempo, almost like a funeral march, but not too slow: His soft, emotionally restrained delivery paints a simple but graphic picture of intense, personal tragedy. He usually left an audience in a long moment of hushed silence at the end of that song. Message delivered, quietly and without bombast. Power in simplicity. His talent as an actor came to full flower later, but the actor's insight was there early on. He wouldn't just memorize a song, fiddle out an accompaniment, then haul off and sing it. He would often study a song for a long time. When he finally did sing it, he brought out shadings and nuances that frequently escaped other singers. It was almost uncanny the way Walt could sing an old, familiar song and make you feel like you were hearing it for the first time. Several times Walt took me with him when he performed, introduced me, and gave me a chance to sing from my small, but growing repertoire. I was not the only one he did this for, either. He inspired me, taught me, and encouraged me, then he rejoiced at my successes when I began performing on local television, in coffeehouses, and in concerts. But in the long run, at least as important to me as the satisfactions and rewards of a "singing career" were the hundreds of hootenan-nies and songfests -- and the feeling of sheer "tickledness" the first time I was able to spring a song on Walt that he had never heard before -- and he asked me to teach it to him. Beyond his singing, Walt was widely read, very knowledgeable, and possessed a rapier-like wit. He had an almost universal sense of humor, and I consider him one of the world's great raconteurs. He could take an otherwise simple joke and turn it into an epic tale that would leave a roomful of people howling with laughter. He had a real knack with a story, serious or funny. I guess that's part of the minstrel's art. I owe much of my love for singing to him. There has been, and will always be, a piece of him in every song that I sing. Someone once said that, whether our names are remembered or not, we find our true immortality in how we affect other people. Through concerts, hootenannies, or just sitting together of an evening and handing a guitar back and forth, Walt affected many people by passing his love for folk music on to them. His love and enthusiasm was highly contagious. We learned the songs he sang, then we went out and learned more songs, the way he had. And we sang. Some of us sang only at home alone, some sang at parties and hoots, some sang in coffeehouses, clubs, concerts, on television, and anywhere else we could. And from this, others -- many who never even knew Walt -- caught that same fire from us and, in turn, passed it on to still others. It becomes an endless chain. So, in this very real sense, Walt Robertson has become immortal. Don Firth ". . . let there be plenty of cheap red wine, and let there be a joyful noise. Still let the amenities and courtesies of the old hoots prevail. Honor each other and let the music honor all. . . ."
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Deckman Date: 16 Feb 01 - 01:32 PM I didn't expect to add more, but I have just read the last comments from Idaho 50 and the beautiful Ellen. Walt was a lifetime smoker. His cigarette, dangling from his mouth, was almost a trademark. I remember early on, when he showed me one of his performers tricks ... perhaps you've seen this. When you change your guitar strings, leave the bottom E string and inch long. Use this as a cigarette holder. I can well remember watching spellbound as as he sang a long ballad, while his cigarette was speared and smoking, on the head of his guitar. He used this theatric to the fullest. It was often a contest to see if he would finish the song before the ash fell ... he never lost! As Idaho 50 said, he suffered terribly from emphysema. The last few years of his life was an ongoing struggle for breath, although by now he had successfully quit smoking. He had to medicate himself frequantly. And yet throughout this period, he managed to keep working. He also managed, amazingly, to keep performing on stage. And it was as Idaho 50 said, he'd occasionally duck behind a piece of stage scenery so a stage hand could give him a whiff of oxygen. And yes, he could occasionally still belt out a song, but it took a lot out of him. On our last fishing trip together, after he had moved back to the Northwest from Hawaii, I had to piggyback him out of the woods to the truck ... but he was smiling because he'd caught a trout! I knew Walt was very ill. He called me on a Tuesday. He'd just returned from a Doctor's appointment. He invited himself (hisself, as he used to say) to my home for the weekend, but he laid out the rules: "I'll be there Friday, I want a hoot Saturday, and we'll talk Sunday, BUT ONLY ON SUNDAY." That Sunday he told me that he'd been diagnosed with smokers cancer and it was terminal. (smokers cancer is NOT lung cancer. but cancer of the pancreas). They had done all the tests. The average length of life after the diagnosis is 90 days ... Walt lived 89 days. One very telling part of this story was that he was very concerned about ME! The previous year, I had lost two very dear friends, one in January and one in September. He knew how it impacted me. So here he was, telling me of his news, and he was concerned about ME! (Again, as he often said ..."shhheeeeez!") As the final weeks sped by, he did agree to a few treatments, but only in an effort to improve his quality of life. I also know he was concerned about the strain he was causing on friends. During those final weeks, we talked about a lot of stuff ... including the impact of cigarettes. And this is the reason I'm posting this final message. If you know someone who smokes, try to help them quit. I can't close this thread without mentioning how fortunate Walt Robertson was to have two very dear and devoted friends move in and help him through the final process ... we should all be so lucky! CHEERS and BEST WISHES ... Bob Nelson
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: catspaw49 Date: 16 Feb 01 - 08:37 AM I think we have all enjoyed the telling and I'd suggest to Leej that we add this to the Mudcat Classics on the Permathread. Tales of Walt may be over, but the contributions of all here need to go on to other people, other times......including themselves. Many thanks. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: GUEST Date: 16 Feb 01 - 08:20 AM Wet blanket time. I know this is winding down but... If it keeps getting added to (and I hope it does), many of us have GREAT difficulty with threads over 100 posts in length. |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: GUEST,ellenpoly Date: 16 Feb 01 - 07:51 AM unfortunately,i don't have my own computer here in london,so my time is limited.i have so enjoyed this thread,and would like to continue to add bits and bobs,but i really think the greater part of the story has been told enough in this kind of forum.forgive me,but like deckman,some of my memories are going to be left to myself.it may be selfish,but having come so late into walts' life..i treasure the time we had and need to hold it close.the mourning period isn't quite over...thank you all. |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Idaho 50 Date: 16 Feb 01 - 01:08 AM To answer you, SINSULL, in your message on Feb. 12, trying to figure out what kind of a person would want to die in a hut on a Tonga beach.... Animals often seek a secluded place to die.... Walt, being a very private person, must have wanted to go be anonymous somewhere.... The truth is he was suffering from emphysema. But in my experience no one ever dies from emphysema. They just suffer immensely from it for an interminable time and eventually die of something else. Years later in that suffering, he was probably wishing for a swifter end. When he was diagnosed with cancer, he ruefully observed, "Be careful what you wish for--you might get it". Actually he learned not to let emphysema restrict him from things he really wanted to do. He still took a role with a dancing routine. He would deftly disappear behind a pillar where he would get a whiff of oxygen and emerge on the next beat on the other side of the pillar and no one was the wiser. Ellen can share more of his extensive theatrical participation in the Hawaii era before his final return to the Northwest like a homing pigeon. Speak up, Ellen. |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Lonesome EJ Date: 15 Feb 01 - 02:50 PM Funny how you guys said Walt was the type to walk into a room and become the immediate center of attention. Seems to me his thread has done the same thing. My guess is he might have liked that. Thanks to all who joined in |
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Subject: RE: Tales of Walt Robertson From: Peter T. Date: 15 Feb 01 - 02:34 PM Thanks for the wise words. I think I could speak for others and say that while this is a big audience, it would be nice to synthesize some of this into a reminiscence for publication, with pictures, and discography, etc. Not that you aren't busy. yours, Peter T. |
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