Ray’s chat 37

Hi Folks
RAYS CHAT THIRTY SEVEN.

In our previous chats I have said how the American Folk Group
THE WEAVERS were part of the Main steam of the 50’s
FOLK REVIVAL.
Probably THE most important Folk Group Ever!. They were
formed in 1948 and consisted of: Ronnie Gilbert. Lee Hayes,
Fred Hellerman, and Pete Seeger.
Ronnie Gilbert, the Lady of the Group had a superb contralto
voice, She died in 2015 age 88.
I have found a wonderful recording of their getting
The Alliance Folk Lifetime achievement:
It tells the history of The Weavers. and lots more..
This really is worth watching. YES, You Got to watch this:
THE WEAVERS – FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
LIFETIME AWARD 2013
Well worth watching: Yes I told you it was good:
So now you know a lot about Folk in the early days.
And another GEM I have found.. You’ll love this!!
YES it really is worth watching.

WEAVERS – RE-UNION CONCERT – GET UP AND
GO. I bet you never saw THAT before; Did you Laugh?
Well I did and I will watch that again and again. GREAT Find.

And now another GREAT Group
THE BROTHERS FOUR.
Nice group that sang some great songs. With a nice Gentle style;
Similar STYLE TO Kingston trio
Try:
FIVE HUNDRED MILES BY THE BROTHERS FOUR
Good version. And there are some Great songs by them on
You Tube: Here are just a few:
TRY TO REMEMBER. FOUR STRONG WINDS.
THE GREEN GRASS OF HOME, And a song I had
NEVER heard before: I really like this: Yes a new find for me:
put in:
BROTHERS FOUR – SEVEN DAFFODILS 2.44
Some real nice harmonies there… Yes nice new find for me.
Yes Great Group. I like what they do.
Try: BROWN EYES This is another song I had never heard
before. Oh Yes I really like these guys, Real nice harmonies.
And I see they have recorded that Very Famous Song by
Pete Seeger:
WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE
Just listen to their version..
And do you know I think it is the BEST version I
Have EVER HEARD: Yes They are good.
THE BROTHERS FOUR. If you don’t know them!! Well you have
a treat in store if you start listening to them.

Another guy from the early days you never hear mentioned now
Was JOSH WHITE. He was a Blues Singer: But got into the
Protest Movement with Peter Seeger, and the rest;
Listen to this:
JOSH WHITE FREEDOM ROAD
Very Strong protest song.
And if you look at the list of the Singers; you will see Pete Seeger
and Others of that period.

The 1930s Great Depression was subject of many songs of that
Time. BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME was written in 1931
And was recorded by many People. THE WEAVERS sang it;
Bing Crosby, Al Jolson, even Tom Jones.
Very important song of that period; telling of Very Difficult times.

So it was in the 50’s that Folk started to take off.
Even mainstream singers were singing Folk Songs;
Joe Stafford was one of the TOP American Singers of the time
and She had a record of
AMERICAN FOLK SONGS in the 50’s.
Which included a lovely rendering of SHENANDOAH and
JOHNNY HAS GONE FOR A SOLDIER.

And new Kids on the block were starting to make NEW Music
People like Bob Dylan who was making Great Music with songs like
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING
They certainly were: It was NOT just the Old Songs
anymore The new guys were making NEW Music.
Lenard Cohen was making his mark with his songs like
ALLELUJAH. And new guys like Willie Nelson sang
ALWAYS ON MY MIND.
The Great PETER, PAUL AND MARY were singing songs like
EARLY MORNING RAIN. And IT AIN’T ME BABE
YES: Folk Singing was changing.

New guys: Like Simon and Garfunkle Were like no one before,
and the Folk World was amazed when they hit the World with their
new sound with
THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE, and; OH the GREAT
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER.
Then New young Joni Mitchel wrote songs like THE CIRCLE
GAME, and the great thing was She not only sang it; She WROTE
It. Yes New Young Folk was here:
Times really were a Changing:

New guys were coming on the scene all the time.
And The English Folk Scene was really taking off.
New guys like Harvey Andrews writing all their own material.
Great New material. People like Martin Carthy were making their
Mark: Ralph Mctell wrote THE STREETS OF LONDON
Spin offs like FAIRPORT CONVENTION were changing our
Music World:
and at times it is difficult to know where FOLK ends
and Country begins and guys like STING, IS he Folk?.
But does it matter??.
Well I JUST ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL MIX that we
call Folk. Long may it reign!!
So I have come to the end
Of Another RAYS CHAT.
I hope I made you THINK
Nice chatting to You
​ RAY