Gil Robbins, Folk Singer With the Highwaymen, Dies at 80

[Hissyspit]

Source: New York Times

Gil Robbins, Folk Singer With the Highwaymen, Dies at 80
By WILLIAM GRIMES
Published: April 9, 2011

Gil Robbins, a singer, guitarist and songwriter with the folk group the Highwaymen and a fixture on the folk-music scene, died on Tuesday at his home in Esteban Cantú, Mexico. He was 80. The cause was prostate cancer, his wife Mary said.

Mr. Robbins, who was a singer and bass guitarist with the Cumberland Three and the Belafonte Singers and a performing partner with Tom Paxton, joined the Highwaymen in 1962. The group, formed in 1958 at Wesleyan College in Connecticut, had become one of the top collegiate-style folk groups, scoring hits with “Michael” (“Michael, Row the Boat Ashore”) and the Leadbelly song “Cotton Fields.”

- snip -

Gilbert Lee Robbins, the father of the actor Tim Robbins, was born on April 3, 1931, in Spokane, Wash., and grew up in Los Angeles.

- snip -

After the Highwaymen broke up, Mr. Robbins managed the Gaslight Club, on Macdougal Street, in the late 1960s. He directed the choir at the Church of St. Joseph in Greenwich Village and founded a choral group, the Occasional Singers, that performed avant-garde works.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/arts/music/10robbins.html?smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto

[dipsydoodle]

1. Its odd that.

When I think of the Highwaymen I think of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. That's not age related cos I'm 67 and English come to that. I'd shut out the late '50s/early '60s folk syrupy la la music from groups like the original Highwaymen , the Kingston Trio and the Weavers years ago.

Out of curiosity - from the those that do remember the group which is subject of the OP how many remember the New Lost City Ramblers ?

Anyway : RIP Mr Robbins.

[SpiralHawk]

2. A Mighty Wind

is the name of a great flik on DVD affectionately parodying the whole 50s-60s folk music scene...

R.I.P. Mr. Highwayman

[dipsydoodle]

3. I've got it

somewhere or other. That followed on from the Spinal Tap Films.

I'd mentioned The New Lost City Ramblers because in their absence things might have progressed somewhat differently. They were some of the guys who resurrected the authentic late twenties early thirties playing styles by sheer devotion to the music. There's a story about Tom Paley who determined to
copy an Uncle Dave Macon track on an old 78 locked himself away for 24 hours until he'd cracked it perfectly. Quite miraculous really - later turned out their were two banjos on that track. :) It was Robert Stuart "Stu" Jamieson, another hero of the past, who told that story - he was there when it happened.

Off topic but if you really want to have laugh watch Best In Show which has many of the same cast as Mighty Wind - its mentioned on the DVD cover you posted.

Back to gardening - its in the seventies here

:hi:

[CBHagman]

4. I had no idea he was the father of Tim Robbins.

How did I miss that over the years?

So sad to see the folk scene lose another major figure.

A bit off-topic, but I'll mention the following:

Someone referenced A Mighty Wind above, which is a wonderful movie, and I'd also highly recommend the documentary The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time!. It covers the rise and eventual blacklisting of the folk group the Weavers (Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, Fred Hellerman, Lee Hays) and their reunion concert at Carnegie Hall. It also provides some sense of their cultural influence, as well as the inspiration they provided generations of singer/songwriters. And you will LOVE Lee Hays.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084894/

Look for clips on YouTube.