Your favourite American folksingers

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: mg
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 10:01 AM

why would we say Emmy Lou and Dolly aren't folk singers? Sure sound like it to me. mg

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 12:03 PM

If you are a Folk fan and have any doubt that an artist or group is Folk, just accept the people you like. Therefore Dolly Parton, Emmy Lou Harris and The Band are Folk..........works for me.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 12:43 PM

I think I heard once that Sam Hinton was the first person to bill himself as a folk singer. It was when he was on the vaudeville circuit after winning on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour   True?

Chris in Wheaton

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: GUEST,Jaze
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 12:56 PM

Guest James, Barnes and Noble usually has Eric Andersen's "Blue River"

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From:
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 04:06 PM

BLIND WILLIE MCTELL
RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT
NORMAN BLAKE

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Midchuck
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 04:43 PM

Canadians are Americans.
United Statesians (?) are Americans.
Mexicans are Americans.

And that's just North America...

Peter.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: allanwill
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 05:43 PM

Never see any mention of a 60's duo Dick and Deedee, but as far as "commercial" 60's folk music goes, they were as good as any (IMHO).

Allan

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 05:51 PM

Goin' way back...Bob Dylan, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Joan Baez.

Movin' forward a little...Emmie Lou Harris and Shawn Colvin.

Best I've seen lately...Chris Smither. He is superb.

- LH

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 06:00 PM

Geez...forgot Gordon Lightfoot! Talk about a fine songwriter. He's Canadian, which is included in North America. Also Tish Hinojosa, who is Mexican-American.

Favourite British folksingers: Al Stewart and Maddy Prior.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 09:21 PM

Might as well as which one is my favorite child.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: squeezeldy
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 10:45 PM

This is probably going to enrage many people, but Peter, Paul and Mary made a huge impact on the revival of folk music in America in the 60's. I realized later in life (being of a certain age) that many of the folk songs I know were learned from my older sister's albums, which I filched and listened to on the sly.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Peace
Date: 05 Nov 03 - 10:58 PM

The Kingston Trio did the same for me. But the capper was Dylan. Made me go folkie instead of regular army.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: GUEST,Strollin' Johnny
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 03:33 AM

Mary et al - why do you insist on confusing Country with Folk? Seems to be something you USA-folks do a lot, judging by some of the names that have cropped up in this thread. Dolly and Emmylou are superlative Country Artistes, not Folksingers. You'll be telling me next that Meatloaf and Eminem are Folk Singers. (I dare you!):-)

Just to add a perverse comment, and probably damning myself in the process - someone (I reckon it was Martin Carthy - who IS a British FOLKSINGER and guitarist extraordinaire - but I may be wrong) once said that "All songs are sung by folks, therefore all songs are Folk Songs". Perhaps by the same token ALL singers are Folk Singers? Just a thought.

And re the Canada business, the subject of the thread is 'Your favourite American folksingers' - correct me if I'm wrong but isn't America the Continent which encompasses the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile etc. etc. etc.? Therefore Stan Rogers, Gordon Lightfoot and the others mentioned earlier are Americans from Canada. QED. They are also jolly fine singers and writers.

Peace Brothers and Sister
Johnny

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Santa
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 05:59 AM

American is the term used in standard English (and American English, as far as I can tell) to distinguish the inhabitants of the USA from inhabitants of other nations on the North American continent.

If "American" is used in a more general term then we would lack a specific term for the inhabitants of the USA - I'm told that "Yanks" is unacceptable.

Similarly, if Country music is the same as Folk music, then why do we need a specific term to describe it?

I can see how an American could find it difficult to understand why Country, or indeed blues or bluegrass, shouldn't be described as folk music. For a British (ok, English!) folk music enthusiast it seems clear enough. Accepting that all musical boundaries are fuzzy.

I should have added to my earlier post that I have seen Kristina Olsen (some years ago) and Mike Agranoff gave a very entertaining show a few weeks ago. But the US folk singers don't tour the UK they way they used too. (Fings ain't what they used to be! Aaahhh..)

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: GUEST,jim clark london england
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 06:26 AM

If I had to select an all time great of the folk/blues genre, I'd say

Mississippi Big Joe Williams that guy lived for over 50 years the life of the rambling bluesman and nobody I ever heard could speak to me through his songs or guitar with such intense profound elequence about lifes angst as he did.

Of living folk performers I'd select Ritchie Havens,Like Big Joe his songs seem to just spill out his heart. He conjures from commonplace expression and sometimes biblical text the most beautiful passionate musical commentary about lifes realities. His performance just transfixes me..

Regards.

Jim Clark...

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 08:23 AM

Maybe I should start a thread "Who Are Your Favorite Singers of Any Kind Of Music In North And South America." Has everyone forgotten John9?, by the way? Ya Shoulda Been More Specific John-O. :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: kendall
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 08:48 AM

In that case Jerry, Paul Robeson.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: GUEST,Strollin' Johnny
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 09:21 AM

Hey Santa! I can think of quite a few specific terms for inhabitants of the USA, most of which are much more offensive than 'Yanks'. (NO, PUT IT DOWN, I'M ONLY KIDDING!) :-)

I still don't understand how a genre of music propagated and generated in the main by the Nashville Machine can be lumped together with Folk. There's a lot of great 'traditional' music in the USA which does fall into the Folk category, but Dolly and Emmylou don't seem, to me at any rate, to be exponents of it (wonderful though they are). Nor do they seem to be of the same ilk as the 'contemporary' North-American (there, that OK?) folk artistes such as the aforementioned Stan and Gordie, Paxton, Bobby The Zee, and many, many more.

As an English lover of Folk AND Country (and any other Quality Music for that matter) I don't need to have the difference explained to me - it's gob-smackingly obvious when you listen to them. I just wonder why Americans don't seem able to hear it?

Just my point of view, I know lots of people will tell me I'm talking out of the back of my neck!

Merry Christmas to all our readers. :-)

Johnny

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Midchuck
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 09:22 AM

First place, singer-songwriter: Tom Russell

First place, guitarist/singer/multi-instrumentalist: Norman Blake

Tied for second overall (alphabetical listing):

the very young Joan Baez
Guy Clark
Dylan, as a songwriter only, provided that someone (anyone!) else sings his stuff
Utah Phillips
Jim Ringer (RIP)
Stan Rogers (RIP)
the Seldom Scene, until Duffey died
Ian Tyson
Doc Watson


First place, funny stuff: Tom Lehrer

Tied for second, funny stuff (alpha listing):

Austin Lounge Lizards
Les Barker
Lou & Peter Berryman
Kendall Morse

You can decide which of these are "folk," which "country," and which "popular." I abstain.

P.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Melani
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 12:47 PM

Bok, Muir and Trickett--finest musical and vocal combination ever recorded!

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Noreen
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 03:14 PM

Hey Midchuck, how did Les Barker creep into your list? He's from this side of the pond :0)

Interesting to hear all these opinions, I'm sure jOhn will have his work cut out listening to them all!

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Midchuck
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 03:36 PM

Hey Midchuck, how did Les Barker creep into your list? He's from this side of the pond :0)

You're right, I had a brain fart and forgot the topic was limited to Americans.

I hope it's all right if I like his stuff anyway.

Dachshunds With Erections....Ow! Ow! Ow!

Peter.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Noreen
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 03:53 PM

Oh, OK then....

The more people who know and love Mr Barker's work the better! I like Spot the Zebra :0)

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 05:48 PM

our very own Kendall
our very own Jed Marum
John Prine
Guy Clark
Tom Russell
John Hiatt
Jean Ritchie

And my pard Howard, who has never recorded anything, but he's a damn fine singer and picker.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Peace
Date: 07 Nov 03 - 12:03 PM

Len Chandler, Dick Glass, Richie Havens--some others to mention.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Nov 03 - 03:05 PM

Len Chandler! Wow! I haven't heard that name in a long time. Len used to sing regularly at the Gaslight Cafe in the early 60's, in Greenwich Village. The thing I remember most about him was his guerilla-warfare approach to sing alongs. When he'd do a song with a chorus, and he'd notice that someone wasn't singing along, he'd leave the stage and walk over to the table and make the person sing.
And, he didn't look like someone you'd want to mess with, in those days. A "Sing, Dammit" approach to group participation.

I split an evening at the Fat Black Pussycat in the Village one night, alternating sets with Richie Havens, mostly accompanying himself on bongo drums (you've never heard The House Carpenter, until you've heard it on bongo drums) and Tiny Tim. Meanwhile, I was doing my best to sound like an old-worn out 78 of some old toothless geezer recorded on the front porch of his ramsackle shack in Caroline.

Len moved out to the West Coast, I know, and I haven't heard him since then... he sure was (and maybe still is, as far as I know) a fine singer..

And I ALWAYS sang along on the choruses.

Not taking any chances..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: mg
Date: 07 Nov 03 - 03:30 PM

about dolly and emmy lou..

1. If you know what the clear cut distinctions are between folk and country, by all means please illuminate us
2. You can sing both, even if they are separated distinctly
3. If anyone has roots in the Appalachina type of FOLK music, I would guess it would be Dolly Parton.
4. I like them lots..

mg

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: GUEST,Brien
Date: 07 Nov 03 - 04:05 PM

Well, as far as writing some of those definitive songs about "folk" and their lives Stan Rogers (and his brother Garnet as well) has to be one of the best of the 20th century.

Stan wrote with feeling and truth about fishermen, farmers ("Field Behind the Plow"), farmer's wives ("Lies"), the life of the singer (folk music groupies: "You Can't Stay Here"), love ("45 Years"), ballads ("Harris and the Mare", "Witch of the Westmoreland"- via Archie Fisher (Scotland).)

Stan's sudden and tragic death in an airplane fire (age 33) more than a decade ago was so terrible I still cannot listen to more than a song or two before I become so saddened at the loss of all the things he could have yet seen and sung about.

Thankfully Garnet Rogers has soldiered on afterward on the same path. His many miles driven in his Volvo (no airplanes for him!) going about the nomadic music life has presented most of North America to him and he continues to sing about the land and the people, as Stan did.

Brien
Toronto

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Peace
Date: 07 Nov 03 - 04:18 PM

Jerry,

Do you recall Bert Mason? He was darn good, too.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Nov 03 - 06:05 PM

Dachshunds don't get erections...they're like horses, they get extensions.

The reason that Emmy Lou Harris can be classified as a folksinger is because of the particular lyrical quality of a great many of the songs she does...which totally transcends the average country genre, in my opinion, and the musical quality as well.

Hank Williams also rates as a seminal early folksinger, and was in fact CALLED a "folksinger" at the time in many publications. His reach was so broad that again, it surpassed merely a "country" designation.

Same goes for Willie Nelson.

Folk music is a genre in which the lyrics tend to be far more serious, far more poetic, and far more imaginative than the standard formulas usually heard in most country music or most rock n' roll or rock music ( I said MOST...okay?). It's also a genre where the audience tends to listen closely to the words...and you can't say that about most musical genres, can you?

Basically, if you take almost any musical style and wed it to truly good lyrics you may very well have as a result...folk music. That's why I love it.

Gershwin's "Summertime" is a good example of a very well written song that is much favoured by folksingers, and at this point IS a folksong, as far as I'm concerned.

- LH

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Nov 03 - 07:28 PM

Sorry, Brucie... don't remember the name Bert Mason. But I remember Cousin Brucie..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Peace
Date: 07 Nov 03 - 09:26 PM

Jerry, do you recall the ZigZag Cafe or The Four Winds? Some real talent went through those basket houses. There was a banjo player named Chin (Charlie?). Recall him at all? That's the last of the catch up, but I had to ask.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Candyman(inactive)
Date: 07 Nov 03 - 10:02 PM

Hey Brucie,

I knew Charlie Chin. He played in Cat Mother and The All Night News Boys with Larry Packer, my old fiddle player.

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Nov 03 - 11:24 PM

Beat me to it, Candyman... I have both of the Cat Mother albums... Jay Unger played fiddle on the Albion Doowop album..

I don't recall the ZigZag coffee house or the two other people/groups you mentioned. No surprise as the Pass The Hat Coffee Houses came and went. I heard Reverend Gary Davis and Peter Stampfell, among many others, at Pass The Hat places.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Your favourite american folksingers
From: jaze
Date: 08 Nov 03 - 08:40 PM

Thanks for clearing that up, Little Hawk. The habit of pidgeon-holing artists is what makes some people think of them in one light. Emmylou and Dolly, while generally regarded as "country" ,both frequently do tradiional and folk music as well. And they do it as well as anyone else. IMHO.

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: Little Robyn
Date: 09 Nov 03 - 03:11 AM

My favourites of all time have to be Pete Seeger and the Weavers - all of them, ever since I heard them on NZ radio about 1952!
Robyn

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: Peace
Date: 09 Nov 03 - 02:59 PM

Seeger's "We Shall Overcome" recording (from the concert at Carnegie Hall) is one of my all-time favourite albums.

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: Big Tim
Date: 09 Nov 03 - 03:35 PM

From between the old and the new:

Dave Van Ronk,
Bascom Lamar Lunsford,
Cisco Houston,

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: GUEST,Chris/Darwin at work
Date: 09 Nov 03 - 11:02 PM

Wow! If this thread tried to cover any more ground it would land on the moon!

The following is a list of some USA folkies who have influenced me enough to want to learn their songs, or at least moved me.

Leadbelly, whose rythmic sense will stay with me until the day I die.

John Hurt, he of gentle soul and wonderful picking.

Doc Watson, another gentle soul with so much to say musically.

Pete Seeger, who opened my eyes to a new world of songs that commented on the state of the world.

Joan Baez, just because she had a beautiful voice did not mean she wasn't singing in the tradition.

Judy Collins, also a beautiful voice but branching into more contemporary material.

Dylan of course, you do not have to have a perfect voice to move people, I know the words to dozens of his songs because of the emotional impact they had.

Byron Berline, Dan Crary, John Hickman, I do not consider these guys commercial pop, their music seems to me to come straight from the tradition, unlike many modern "bluegrass" groups.

Earl Scruggs, who for better or worse got me playing traditional songs on the banjo!



Of the more modern performers, I like Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, who appeal to something raw in me. Kate MacLeod and Kat Eggleston are both contemporary musicians who write a range of songs about life and experience. Keb' Mo' is a blues singer in the Delta tradition who is just as much at home singing Robert Johnston or contemporary material. Chris Smither is another blues singer I also like a lot, although I have only heard him singing contemporary material.

All this is only scratching the surface. Like others I really like many performers on the fringe of folk, like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Emmy Lou, Dixie Chicks, Nickel Creek, etc., although it is hard for me to classify them as folk. I play them on my radio folk show, and I usually get a good response. Without starting a war, I would express the humble opinion that composing a song with the sole purpose of making money automatically rules it out of the definition, at least for 50 years.

Chris

(Ducking for cover!!)

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: cetmst
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 08:34 AM

Groups:
Voices - Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills, Cindy Mangsen
The Weavers
The Carter Family
New Christy Minstrels
The Beers Family
Mill Run Dulcimer Band
Roberts and Barand - imports from England
Bok, Muir, Trickett
New Lost City Ramblers
Baltimore Consort
Solstice Assembly
Schooner Fare
Ceiltori
The Revels
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Golden Ring and New Golden Ring
Some of The Kingston Trio and The Limeliters

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 10:27 AM

From this comprehensive list jOhn should be able to find a few state-side recordings to purchase and enjoy!

SRS

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 12:48 PM

Canadians are from Canada, Mexicans are grom Mexico, Brazilians are fromBrazil. If one were to ask for a list of favourite french folksingers, you would not list Italians simple because they are also European. It really does bother some people to be referred to as Americans when they do have very distint nationalities of their own.
As a matter of fact and as a matter of courtesy, Canadians are not Americans. I think it is very obvious that by Americans we mean those people who live in the US.

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: Peace
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 01:44 PM

GUEST: Does that mean who live in the US or are US citizens living in the US, and would that exclude US citizens living abroad?

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 02:51 PM

I think you know what I mean...Americans are people from..living in..or citizens of the USA. That is what I meant. I think it is clear that us citizens would be americans, no matter where they live..wouldn't you , or are you just being contetious ?

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: Peace
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 03:10 PM

Contentious. Would Joni Mitchell qualify?

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: Benjamin
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 04:22 PM

James, Eric Andersen's Blue River album has been released on CD (by Columbia I believe) and should be relatively cheap. It's been a while since I've bought it though.

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 04:54 PM

No order that I know of....

Bob Gibson
Bob Camp
Dave Van Ronk
Doc Watson
Schooner Fare
PP&M
Huddie Ledbetter
Odetta
Joan Baez
Tom Paxton
Stan Rogers (and don't give me any crap!)
Tommy Makem (and his sons)
Arlo and Woody Guthrie
Kendall Morse
Art Thieme
Phil Ochs
SOME of Bob Dylan
Judy Collins
Chad Mitchell Trio
John Denver
Pete Seeger
Buffy Ste. Marie
Big Mama Thornton
Billy Holliday
Patsy Cline
and a whole lot of other people.

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: GUEST,Rapaire's Secret Santa
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 05:13 PM

taking notes here.

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: GUEST,Ely
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 05:22 PM

Well, these are mostly musicians, not necessarily singers, but:

the original Carters
Arlo Guthrie
Norman Blake
David Bromberg
. . . a guy named Bob White who put out his own record 25+ years ago
Paul Geramia
Dwight Lamb
Kate Wolf
Bob Dylan
the Beers Family
Sam Hinton
Elizabeth Cotten
Etta Baker
Steve Earle
Swallowtail
Hazel Dickens
Robert Johnson
Phyllis Boyens
Creedence Clearwater Revival (OK, it's a stretch)
D.L. Menard
the Lost Bayou Ramblers (don't forget the Cajuns!)
Scott Biram
Woody Guthrie
the Red Clay Ramblers
the Freighthoppers
Allen Street String Band
High Woods String Band
. . . all those other great little old-time revival bands
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Mance Lipscomb
Mississippi John Hurt
Brownie McGhee
Tom Paxton
Townes Van Zandt

and a friend of mine named Lane who passed away recently. He wrote his own novelty songs and played on a homemade folding guitar.

Subject: RE: Your favourite American folksingers
From: PoppaGator
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 05:31 PM

Joni Mitchell -- Canadian-born, but has lived in LA for longer than many of your have been alive. (Joni turned 60 last week, by the way.)

Canadian or USAian?