Anyone have any suggestions for singers of American trad music? I’ve recently discovered Connie Dover, whom I can’t get enough of. She mixes American music with British Isles, so it provides variety. I also like early Ry Cooder and Joan Baez, both of whom mixed American folk with other stuff. I’m looking for singers like these three.
Unfortunately, I only like bluegrass in small doses, and am really not crazy about vocals in trad jazz.
Tanx, Charlie
There are lots of good singers. For really trad stuff there’s Jean Ritchie. She’s getting to be fairly elderly. I haven’t heard her for a long time. Sheila Kay Adams sings old ballads. There are a lot of singers associated with old time music. Ginny Hawker and Kay Justice. Ginny is now performing with Tracy Schwartz, who was once a member of the New Lost City Ramblers. Mike Seeger, also of the NLCR sings a lot. that’s just scratching the surface with a few names that come immediately to mind. I agree about early Joan Baez. What a voice!. I also like Emmy Lou Harris although she’s more country than trad.
Steve
There are lots of good singers. For really trad stuff there’s Jean Ritchie. She’s getting to be fairly elderly.
That made me laugh so hard.
I started a thread asking about female trad singers over on the ITM forum-- you might find a few good suggestions over there (not all of them are American, though):
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=6631
Best,
Andrea
My absolute favorite old-time singer is Clarence “Tom” Ashley. He was a country recording star in the late 20’s, and was rediscovered by the folk revival in the 60’s. He is also my favorite banjo player. If you can, get the set that Folkways puts out called “The Original Folkways Recordings of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley: 1960-1962”. This also features another of my favorites, Doc Watson. There is also a CD put out by County Records called “Greenback Dollar - The Music of Clarence Ashley” that features his solo and ensemble work from the 20’s 78rpm records. His solo banjo songs are the best there are, in my opinion. They include some Appalachian versions of British isles ballads such as the Coo Coo Bird and the House Carpenter, along with more American ballads such as Little Sadie, Ommie Wise, and then some blues-influenced things.
Like I said, Doc Watson has a great deep voice, and is also my favorite guitar picker.
If you count bluegrass, I love Bill Monroe’s voice. And the Stanley Brothers have some really great harmony singing.