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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBAILEY, Roy(b 20 Oct. '35, London) British folk revival performer with a penchant for political song and songs of social awareness. From '64 he was member of the 3 City 4, one of the London folk scene's important collusions of talent: Martin Carthy, Leon Rosselson and others passing through. He left '67 to pursue an academic career (later Dean of Faculty at Sheffield Polytechnic); collaborated late '60s with Val Bailey on EP Cobweb of Dreams and LP Oats And Beans And Kangaroos. the latter songs for younger folkies such as "Upon Paul's Steeple', "Old King Cole' and "I Saw Three Ships'; Val and Roy Bailey, John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris would collaborate on another album of children's songs Why Does It Have To Be Me? '89. Bailey is well known for his interpretations of Rosselson's songs, with whom he worked live and recorded for many years, making albums under his or Rosselson's name. He formed acoustic quintet Band of Hope with Carthy, Steafan Hannigan, Kirkpatrick and Dave Swarbrick; Rhythm and Reds on Musikfolk '94 incl. covers of Tom Robinson's "Blood Brother', Rosselson's "Who Reaps The Profit, Who Pays The Price', Si Kahn's "Send Me Back To Georgia' and Swarbrick's "Carthy's March'/ "The Lemon Tree'. With Chris Parkinson of the House Band replacing Kirkpatrick, the group toured '95 but then split; Swarbrick had emigrated to Australia '94. Bailey has been an able song editor and a champion of diverse songwriters; his understated academic approach to song introductions are often occasions for historical cameos laced with wit, whether on a potentially dry subject from the 17th century or the aftermath of Thatcherism. Self-prod. New Directions In The Old '97 on Fuse saw him in good form. |