I wrote him a letter in 1968 when I was overseas in the Air Force. I had all his albums and learned fingerpicking by listening to his albums. Time went by and a few years later I married a girl who learned to love "My Lady's a Wild Flyin' Dove." Then in the mid-'80s I learned he was playing a gig in Durham, NC, where I lived, and I bought tickets for me and my wife. Before the show I went backstage and showed him the letter he wrote me in 1968 in response to my letter. He couldn't believe I still had it. I told him I had put it in my guitar case and it stayed there for nearly 20 years. I requested that he sing "My Lady's a Wild Flyin' Dove" and dedicate it to my wife, which he did. What a great night.
Great interview from a wonderful songwriter and performer. He's not quite right Appalachian music though. Don't read on if you're easily bored by musical pedantry. Appalachia was populated by immigrants from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and the music of that region comes from ALL of these inter-related traditions, and not just 'Scots-Irish' as Tom says (Scottish people HATE being referred to as 'Scotch', by the way). Most of the traditional ballads sung in that part of the USA came from England, Wales and Scotland (and not Ireland). Much of the dance music (jigs and reels) came from Ireland. Well known Appalachian ballads, such as "Pretty Saro", "Barbara Allen", "The Cuckoo", "Wayfaring Stranger" and "House Carpenter", are all rooted in the English ballad tradition. This has been well researched and documented by folklorists and musicologists. Americans often seem confused about folk music from the British Isles, and many songs that Americans think are Irish are actually Scottish, English or Welsh. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem are inadvertently to blame for some of this, since Americans have assumed that all of the songs this iconic Irish group sang and popularised must be Irish. Traditional Irish and Scottish music is great, but please don't write English and Welsh folk music out of history.
Reply from pedant to pedant. I’m Irish; grew up there in the 50s and 60s. To many Irishmen, the term “British Isles” is an insult. “United Kingdom and Ireland” is more correct, because the British never succeeded in completely making Ireland British. Other than that I enjoyed your comments very much.
60's folk music was the greatest ever. I've always loved Tom Paxton, Pete Seegar, and all the other greats of the era. I'm diametrically opposed to their politics, but I love the music and the satire, even when directed against my side. Wish we still had the incredible musical talent in popular music now.
I wrote him a letter in 1968 when I was overseas in the Air Force. I had all his albums and learned fingerpicking by listening to his albums. Time went by and a few years later I married a girl who learned to love "My Lady's a Wild Flyin' Dove." Then in the mid-'80s I learned he was playing a gig in Durham, NC, where I lived, and I bought tickets for me and my wife. Before the show I went backstage and showed him the letter he wrote me in 1968 in response to my letter. He couldn't believe I still had it. I told him I had put it in my guitar case and it stayed there for nearly 20 years. I requested that he sing "My Lady's a Wild Flyin' Dove" and dedicate it to my wife, which he did. What a great night.
Been listening to him for half a century!!! So great!
My wife Nancy and three friends of ours can't wait to see Tom and the Donjuans perform at the Spanish Ballroom in Tacoma November 15, 2024.
My favorite musical era, although I was just a young boy at the time. Thanks for posting this clip!
I love to play classic folk on my guitar, also...loved to play it before I even knew what it was called also, Mr. Paxton...
I can't remember not knowing Tom Paxton's music. My parents were big folk music fans and his were some of the first records I ever heard.
One of the greatest folk singers.
Lordy Lordy, an icon of my life and times.
Tom you are a real human , when best.
Great interview from a wonderful songwriter and performer. He's not quite right Appalachian music though. Don't read on if you're easily bored by musical pedantry.
Appalachia was populated by immigrants from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and the music of that region comes from ALL of these inter-related traditions, and not just 'Scots-Irish' as Tom says (Scottish people HATE being referred to as 'Scotch', by the way). Most of the traditional ballads sung in that part of the USA came from England, Wales and Scotland (and not Ireland). Much of the dance music (jigs and reels) came from Ireland. Well known Appalachian ballads, such as "Pretty Saro", "Barbara Allen", "The Cuckoo", "Wayfaring Stranger" and "House Carpenter", are all rooted in the English ballad tradition. This has been well researched and documented by folklorists and musicologists.
Americans often seem confused about folk music from the British Isles, and many songs that Americans think are Irish are actually Scottish, English or Welsh. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem are inadvertently to blame for some of this, since Americans have assumed that all of the songs this iconic Irish group sang and popularised must be Irish. Traditional Irish and Scottish music is great, but please don't write English and Welsh folk music out of history.
Reply from pedant to pedant. I’m Irish; grew up there in the 50s and 60s. To many Irishmen, the term “British Isles” is an insult. “United Kingdom and Ireland” is more correct, because the British never succeeded in completely making Ireland British. Other than that I enjoyed your comments very much.
A joy to listen to...
60's folk music was the greatest ever. I've always loved Tom Paxton, Pete Seegar, and all the other greats of the era. I'm diametrically opposed to their politics, but I love the music and the satire, even when directed against my side. Wish we still had the incredible musical talent in popular music now.
As good a person as he is a folksinger.
A joy to listen to...