Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?

Subject: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Fiddlegrrl
Date: 27 Jun 06 - 11:38 PM

Hi, everybody --

I'm relatively new to the world of storytelling and wanted to invest in some decent recordings by good storytellers. Any suggestions?

Off the beaten path is perfectly fine; my only request is that the recordings be in print and easily available (ie, I can buy them from a website or by sending someone a check). :)

I have a preference for spooky stories, folk and fairy tales, and ballads.

Thanks very much,
Elizabeth

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Jun 06 - 11:42 PM

Jackie Torrance, Dan Keding.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: CeltArctic
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 12:05 AM

My favourite storytellers...

I have to say my father was my favourite storyteller and balladeer but sadly, he made no recordings(he is deceased). I've carried on his tradition, although I mostly sing ballads. See CeltArctic-Moira

Dan Yashinsky, from Toronto, is very good. He helped found the Toronto Storytelling School and 1001 Friday Nights of Storytelling, a regular storytelling club that has been going on for about 2 decades. Dan has published several books on traditional stories. He has also come out with a video. Find out more about him at Toronto Storytelling School or The Tellery

The Canadian organization, Storyteller's of Canada, has a non-profit program called "StorySave" which is dedicated to archiving stories of long term tellers. They have three recordings of produced and available for sale. To find out more, go to their website SC/CC

Another great teller is Duncan Williamson. He has also come out with several books. Duncan is an excellent ballad singer too. find out more about him at Scottish Storytelling Centre

When I was learning to tell stories, I learned mostly from my father and Dan Yashinsky, but I was also influenced by the great US storytelling duo, The Folktellers . They told many scary ghost stories, sometimes in tandem.

Hope that gives you some ideas, Elizabeth.

Good luck, Moira

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 12:06 AM

Kendall Morse

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST,Val
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 12:30 AM

Patrick Ball

Most of his recordings are just Celtic harp, but he also has recordings of a few of his story-with-music performances.

Patrick Ball discography

You might also poke around CDBaby - a distribution site for independant recordings, searchable.

CDBaby

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: alanabit
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 01:12 AM

I generally prefer storytellers, who tell about real events or things that could have happened. Mudcat's own Jed Marum and Alaska Mike both do this very well. Seamus Kennedy is also an excellent singer and presenter of stories.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 03:48 AM

Depends on where you're from and what accents you can cope with.
The School of Scottish Studies has produced an excellent double CD of Scots Traveller storytellers (Greentrax Records) and Pavee Point in Ireland have recently done one.
The best American examples I have found, Richard Chase and Ray Hicks, were issued on vinyl years ago by Folk Legacy Records and are probably now unavailable, but may be still found in libraries.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Cats
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 02:59 PM

MIke O'Connor... and me of course. We both have CD's of stories available via Mike's website - Lyngham House Music.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 03:06 PM

Hugh Lupton

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: kendall
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 04:11 PM

Contact Folk Legacy records in Sharon CT. They know many fine storytellers.

Thanks Sorcha.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Arne
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 10:45 PM

Bruce "Utah" Phillips. Though he generally wraps the tatters of a song around them ... maybe that disqualifies him.

Art Thieme ain't bad either.

Then there's "Bert and I"'s Marshall Dodge and Bob Bryan.

Cheers,

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Northerner
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 06:57 AM

Don't know where you are situated geographically. If in the States I would agree with Dan Keding - a beautiful voice. Scottish storytellers Duncan Willian and Stanley Robertson are awesome. English storytellers Mike O' Connor, Taffy Thomas and Hugh Lupton.

You can get recordings from the Society for Storytelling.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 07:24 PM

Should be Duncan Williamson - excellent
Don't forget the great John Campbell from Armagh
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 09:56 PM

Nancy Schimmel (Malvina Reynolds' daughter) has recordings & books, including a handbook on storytelling, available from sisterschoice.com

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Fiddlegrrl
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 10:55 PM

Oh, this is lovely. Thank you all, very much. Looks like I have a lot of exploring to do.

Feel free to keep 'em coming!

best,
Elizabeth

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: mrdux
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 11:31 PM

I've always been fond of John Henry Faulk, although recordings are hard to come by.

michael

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 11:38 PM

Jay O'Callahan has been a favorite of mine for some time. But between he, Kendall Morse or Gordon Bok I'd hate to have to bet on the margin.
\

Don

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 04:08 AM

The Stewarts of Blairgowrie (Aberdeenshire) never recorded an album of stories, but they rank among the best storytellers in Scotland.
MacColl and Seeger's - 'Till Doomsday in the Afternoon', a collection of their songs and stories plus an account of their lives as Travellers is probably out-of-print, but it was remaindered at one time and is probably findable on the web.

Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 06:27 AM

Through the letterbox this morning has come a flyer advertising a double CD by Stanley Robertson. It's called Rum Scum Scoosh and is published by the Elphinstone Institute of Aberdeen University at £16-00. www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone .

Disc one is made up of children's songs and disc two consists entirely of stories.

While I'm at it, I've no idea what the state of Séamus Ennis's discography is these days. However, as well as being a master piper and whistle player, he was also an accomplished storyteller. At least two of his LPs contain a good portion of storytelling and are worth checking on Ebay for secondhand copies.

Féilim Tonn Rí's Castle (Or the King of Ireland's Son). Claddagh. CC 19        
Seamus Ennis. Leader. LEA 2003

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 07:13 AM

One of the best voices ever was David Davies [Davis?] on BBC 'Children's Hour' (the Home Service, not Radio 4) back in the 1950s. If ever a voice said 'All's right with the world', his did.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 08:54 AM

Sheila Kay Adams
http://jimandsheila.com/SheilasPages/SheilaRecording.html

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 09:03 AM

Sheila Stewart of Blair
Doesn't seem to have her own website.

http://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/storytellers/teller_display.asp?id=68

http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart599.htm

http://www.footstompin.com/artists/sheila_stewart

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 10:17 AM

How about Steven Wade? A great performer, storyteller, and banyo picker!

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:35 PM

Two favorites of mine:

DC-area's Bill Mayhew, whose stories include humorous folktales, Beowulf, and ethnic stories. Bill can be found just about everywhere in the DC area, including the Washington Folk Festival, the Potomac Celtic Festival, the Maryland Faerie Festival, and SF-lit convention Balticon.

Michigander Mark Bernstein, who I know from the SF filk community and is both an excellent songwriter and storyteller. He has an audio tape of storytelling and poetry, "Tusks Are Optional". According to the one weblink I found, it's available for $10 plus $2 shipping/handling, from Thegamut Publishing, P.O. Box 2742, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.

-- Gary

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:53 PM

I'm surprised the following haven't been mentioned:

The great Seamus Ennis (piper, collector, broadcaster, singer) told many stories to set up performances of music. There are nice short examples on his "Forty Years of Irish Piping." There is also an old out-of-print (Topic?) LP called Feidlim Ton Ri's castle which is a full 40 minutes long.

The equally great Robin Williamson (singer, songwriter, poet) has built his post-Incredible String Band career around solo performances in which storytelling is central, both folkloric and mythic.

Both are great; Williamson in particular is Patrick Ball's principle influence.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Bettynh
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 12:18 PM

Since the National Storytelling Festival is next weekend, I thought I'd bump this thread. It's a 16 hour drive for us to get there, and then stories from 10 AM Friday thru 4 PM Sunday, a total overload.
We're going specifically to see:
John McCutcheon, who mixes song and story. He had the entire audience in tears when he told just before the first Gulf war. (Really, that was a good thing.)
Bill Harley, who also sings and gets the audience singing.
Syd Lieberman, with either historical or Biblical stories.
Donald Davis, who introduced us to the North Carolina
Barbara McBride Smith, who gave us the Greek myths in Texan, and I see she's working on the Bible.
Kathryn Windom, who whisks us off to the alien world of Alabama.

There are more we know, and I'm sure we'll find more to love when we go.

Sadly, we won't be seeing:
Jackie Torrence, who's warm presence comforted my children
J.J. Renaux, with many spooky and funny stories
Rosalie Sorrels, who had my niece jumping up in the audience shrieking "She's talking about ME!" I hope Rosalie is happy in her retirement.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST,Elmore
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 03:18 PM

Attn: bettynh Rosalie Sorrels is still working. She's playing at Cafe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY tomorrow night.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Bettynh
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 04:09 PM

I'm really glad to hear that. Maybe we'll get to see her again. I wish her recordings were more easily available.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: kendall
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 08:17 PM

For those who can make it there's the storytelling at the Getaway next weekend.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 11:43 PM

Richard Chase! I followed him around the first University Of Chicago Folk Festival in February of 1961. Several of his tales were adapted by me and are on some CDs even today.

Art

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: CupOfTea
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 04:11 PM

Speaking of storytellers...Art 'imself is a very fine one, particularly in the art of tall tall tales. I think of him first as a storyteller, even though much of the time he's singing the story.

Dan Kedding is a wonderful storyteller and superb singer. I enjoy his weaving together of the two. It's years ago, but I can still recall his voice telling the tale of the lad who charmed snakes... and levitating out of my seat at the critical part of the story!

Mike Mazur in Cleveland is my favorite local storyteller. He does superb accents & some great mimic. He carries on the tradition of recitations that the late Tom McCaffrey, fiddler extraordinaire, used to do. When Mike opens his mouth, you could swear it was Tom talking to you.

I wonder, is telling a good joke well just "short story telling?" I think of Kate Early telling Ole and Lena jokes one after another getting you as hooked as something with an edge-of-the seat plot.


Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Bettynh
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 11:20 AM

Sure, Joannne, good jokes are the core of many stories. When you have established characters like Ole and Lena, Jack, Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, etc., half the story's already told, so you can be really quick to the punch line. That's where the folklore part kicks in.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 12:59 PM

Then of course there's Shonaleigh, Amy douglas and of course Taffy Thomas.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: GUEST,Gavin Atkin
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 01:06 PM

Don't forget Pat Ryan, who is now Dr Pat Ryan.

http://www.storytellersofireland.org/index.php/886

Gav

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 01:07 PM

Shonaleigh is brilliant; Taffy likewise. As are Jim Eldon, Raymond Greenoaken, Pascale Koneyn, Chris Bostock, Malcolm Green, Pat Renton, and Sally Greenaway. Not forgetting Sir Hugh of Luptonshire.

For crucial inspiration & seminal influence: Seamus Ennis; Duncan Williamson; Stanley Robertson; Robin Williamson.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Favorite Storytellers?
From: Rog Peek
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 02:09 PM

Eamon Kelly, from Gneeveguilla, Co. Kerry. 1914 - 2001.

How to tell a story - The Seanachai.

Coughed up the red shirt and flagged down the train.

Story telling, music and dancing


Rog