Happy! – Dec 20 (Enoch Kent)

Subject: Happy! – Dec 20 (Enoch Kent)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 20 Dec 05 - 08:08 AM


Happy Birthday!

December 20, 2001

Enoch Kent's 70th Birthday Tribute
at the Flying Cloud Folk Club in Toronto

(ie, born 12/20/1931)

And his first live (but non-commercial) CD.
Happily, he's recorded four (I think) more now (Check with Camsco) but he still "owes" the world about 25 more.

Seems Enoch left Edinburgh just shortly before we arrived in 1966. I've never been in the same room, or, perhaps, country, as the man. But I did get a nice sampler LP with a few Edinburgh friends on it and a bare four tracks of Kent's. One was the "Gaberlunyie Man." It was to me (but not so much to Scotland) a completely new and exciting and satisfying tack in which to sing ballads – especially for one which had already been and remains my faforite.

I've been a frustrated fan since. As have perhaps 100,000 others. In spite of much urging, Enoch refused to record or gig, feeling, he says, that he could not bring himself to commercialize his tradition.

As I get the story, Enoch re-started his career, apparently, when Tam Kearney and another ex-Scot were in a store in Toronto and heard this voice order something. They realized who it was and Tam went straight up and said that Enoch was booked at Fiddlers' Green and no refusal possible.

At the above Birthday Tribute you might be stunned (well, I was!) to hear a joyous audience loudly singing along on the chorus of "McGinty's Meal and Ale." No small task, I assure you.

                        [much thanx to Rana Sodhi of the Flying Cloud Folk Club, Toronto]

ALSO:
Fine sea song singer William Pint born 12/20/1953 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Copyright © 2005, Abby Sale - all rights reserved
What are Happy's all about? See Clicky

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 20 (Enoch Kent)
From: Scotus
Date: 20 Dec 05 - 09:49 AM

Total agreement Abby - He was a great singing 'hero' of mine back in the early 60s. He is actually a Glasgow man, though, who moved to London and helped start the 'Critics Group' with Ewan and Peggy. Of course, he got together there with Bobby Campbell and Gordon McCulloch to form 'The Exiles'- they made three very influential albums. I have the 45 rpm EP of Enoch which has Gaberlunzie Man, Butcher's Boy etc. I've never heard anyone else with that husky depth in their voice, except possibly Ian Manuel.

Jack Beck

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 20 (Enoch Kent)
From: JohnB
Date: 20 Dec 05 - 01:03 PM

And we are ALL very gratefull to have him over here in Canada.
He's a really nice guy too.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 20 (Enoch Kent)
From: cptsnapper
Date: 20 Dec 05 - 01:59 PM

He was also in the Rievers with Josh McRae & Rena Swankie

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 20 (Enoch Kent)
From: BK Lick
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 05:35 AM

Happy to refresh this thread, I saw this lovely man for the first time last night
at Bill's Blues Bar in Evanston, IL. It was grand. The following is from the concert
advert, which was lifted from his website.

Canadian Folk Music Award winner: Traditional Singer of the Year
OCFF Songs From the Heart Award winner

Scotland born and now Canada-based, this legendary interpreter and songsmith's
love of traditional music was first inspired by his family. His father played
the concertina, and popular songs, Scottish songs and old-time favourites were
often sung at home. After graduating from the Glasgow School of Art in sculpture
and ceramics, In the 1950s, Enoch formed the traditional Scottish group, The
Reivers. The group researched the history, lyrics and music of Scottish folk
songs, which were published by The Scotsman. Scottish Television then signed the
young band to perform these old songs weekly to a new and ever-widening
audience. Later. Together, these live shows, wide television exposure and their
steadfast commitment to promote traditional music were instrumental in the
Scottish folk music revival that took place in the 1950s and 1960s.

At 70 years young, Enoch made up for lost time with his return to the studio and
the release of four outstanding CDs on the Canadian indie label Second Avenue
Records: "I'm A Workin' Chap" (2002), "Love, Lust & Loathing" (2003), "For The
Women" (2005), and "I'm A Rover" (2006). Enoch just released his 5th CD, "One
More Round" on Borealis Records. These albums garnered rave reviews, extensive
airplay, a Canadian Folk Music Award, Ontario Council of Folk Festivals' Songs
From the Heart Award, and tour opportunities across Canada, the US, and UK.

A very special concert!

I could only stay for the first hour and I can't remember everything he sang (I'm older
than Enoch, for heaven's sake) but I know for sure he did these:

Tales Of A Favourite Lass
Itches In Me Britches (I Wish They'd Do It Now)
Green Eyes
The Licht Bob's Lassie (I Know Where I'm Going)
Finnegan's Wake
A Wee Drappie O't
The Dancing Fool
Christmas Comes But Once a Year (parody of Mary's Boy Child)

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 20 (Enoch Kent)
From: The Doctor
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 10:38 AM

The Exiles used to do regular concerts at Borough Road College when I was there in the late '60s, and were one of my early introductions to folk music. They don't come much better than that. I've got Freedom Come All Ye and The Hale and the Hanged. What was the third LP?

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 20 (Enoch Kent)
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 02:45 PM

Possibly "New Voices from Scotland" which pre-dated the other two, and which they shared with Gordeanna McCulloch and Norman Kennedy. Cover and track-list
here at http://www.theballadeers.com/fc_1965_new_voices.htm

Ross

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 20 (Enoch Kent)
From: The Doctor
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 08:03 AM

Thank you for that. Now I know what to look out for.