In
1975, after spending 5 years as a floor singer around the many folk clubs
in the North East of
England as well as being a resident singer at the famous Davylamp Folk
Club in Washington, Bob Fox met fellow North Easterner Tom McConville and
his career as a professional folk singer/musician began.
In
the duo with TOM he toured the vibrant folk club scene of mid 70's Britain
playing a mixture of Irish and Scottish dance music and singing mainly
traditional songs primarily from their native North East, Tom on fiddle
and Bob playing guitar and piano.
After
2 very successful years Bob and Tom parted company and the duo with ex
Hedgehog Pie man Stu Luckley was formed
This
proved to be one of the most innovative and highly acclaimed collaborations
ever seen on the folkscene and led to Bob Fox and Stu Luckley releasing
their first album ‘Nowt So Good’ll Pass ’ which was voted folk album
of the year and remains a unique and classic album.
In 1978 Colin Irwin wrote an article in Melody Maker entitled ‘ A Meeting
of Two Minds’ in which he described them as ‘the progressive dynamic
duo’ and went on ‘Great White Hopes of Folk are such a rarity you’ll
forgive us for making an excessive fuss when we encounter one, two even!’
Following
the success of this L.P. Bob and Stu were in great demand and played almost
every folk club and festival in the U.K. including Cambridge, Cropredy,
Edinburgh, Fylde, Cornwall, and were support artists on major British tours
for Richard and Linda Thompson and Ralph Mctell.
The
duo also toured Germany, Holland, Australia and New Zealand in their own
right and released a second album 'Wish We Never Had Parted ' in
1982 before breaking up to pursue individual projects.
Since
that time Bob has continued to work as a solo artist. He has also been
singer/keyboard player in Celtic Band The Rub and in the short lived
Vin
Garbutt Band.
He
has been Folk Artist in Residence for the District of Blyth Valley and
Music Development Worker for Easington District Council during which time
he was inspired by the discovery of a photographic archive to produce a
songs/slide show with Benny Graham celebrating the rich and varied culture
of the coal mining communities of Durham and Northumberland 'How Are
You Of For Coals? '
This
project brought Bob back to recording after almost 15 years when he and
Benny produced a CD collection of mining songs 'How Are You Off For Coals?'
FECD 111 and the following year re-recorded 14 songs from his albums with
Stu Luckley on the CD 'Box of Gold' FECD 124 (Fellside Recordings,
Cumbria.)
These
two CDs come highly recommended by reviewers who once again place Bob at
the top of the singers tree, Colin Irwin this time writing for Folk Roots
some 20 years after his article in Melody Maker makes this declaration:'Fox
always was one of the scene's superiour singers and his voice is as confident
and ebullient as it ever was!'In the year
2000 Bob celebrated 25 years of singing folk songs professionally with
a number of tours both in the UK and abroad, starting with an appearance
as 'special guest' on the Fairport Convention tour and continuing
with folk club tours in Britain, Holland and Canada.
Bob also recorded
his first ever solo CD
“DREAMS NEVER
LEAVE YOU” - WRCD 035 at DAVE PEGG’S Woodworm Studio with various
members of FAIRPORT playing on it.
The CD delighted
both the folk press and BOB’s growing legion of fans, he also performed
an impressive set at the CROPREDY FESTIVAL in August 2000.
Bob
with Fairport 'Wood and the Wire' tour 2000
click
here for the review
In
May/June 2001 BOB had a great reception on his first tour of US/Canada
and in Sept/Oct made the same impression on audiences in Australia and
New Zealand, his first return to those countries since touring there with
Stu in 1980!
Bob completed
a "Round the World Tour" in Sept/Oct/Nov 2002 and shortly
after his return the CD
“DARK TO THE SKY” was recorded in
the North East with new band
THE HUSH.
The album
received rave reviews with ”Here’s the tender coming” being nominated Best
Traditional Track and Bob nominated Best Folk Singer in the BBC Radio 2
Folk Awards 2003.
Bob started
2003 with a busy schedule including extensive tours in the UK, a third
US tour, a return to Australia to perform at the National Festival in Canberra
and Fairbridge Festival in W.A. and continued with appearances at some
of the most prestigious Folk Festivals in England throughout the Spring
and Summer.
He also signed
a 3 CD deal with TOPIC RECORDS, the first one entitled
“BORROWED MOMENTS”
released
on 3rd Sept 2003 immediately received ecstatic reviews.
Bob was nominated
Best Folk Singer once again in the 2004 Folk Awards and his version of
the Chris Leslie song My Love is in America, recorded on “BORROWED MOMENTS”,
gained a nomination for Best Original Song.
Throughout
2005 Bob toured UK, USA, Australia and The Netherlands as well as appearing
at many UK Folk Festivals in celebration of 30 years “on the road”.
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Bob started 2003 with a busy schedule
including extensive tours in the UK,
a third US tour, a return to Australia to
perform at the National Festival in
Canberra and Fairbridge Festival in W.A.
and continued with appearances at some
of the most prestigious Folk Festivals in
England throughout the Spring and Summer.
He also signed a 3 CD deal with
TOPIC RECORDS, the first one entitled
"BORROWED MOMENTS" released on
Sept 2003 immediately received
ecstatic reviews.
Bob was nominated Best Folk Singer once
again in the 2004 Folk Awards and his version
of the Chris Leslie song My Love is in America,
recorded on "BORROWED MOMENTS", gained
a nomination for Best Original Song.
Throughout 2005 Bob toured UK, USA, Australia
and The Netherlands as well as appearing at many
UK Folk Festivals in celebration of 30 years
"on the road".
Early in 2006 Bob was invited to join an elite group
of folk singers, writers and musicians to record 6 new
Radio Ballads commissioned by the BBC and produced
and recorded by John Tams and John Leonard.
Bob can be heard on all but the first of these and
the series of six receBob started 2003 with a busy schedule
including extensive tours in the UK,
a third US tour, a return to Australia to
perform at the National Festival in
Canberra and Fairbridge Festival in W.A.
and continued with appearances at some
of the most prestigious Folk Festivals in
England throughout the Spring and Summer.
He also signed a 3 CD deal with
TOPIC RECORDS, the first one entitled
"BORROWED MOMENTS" released on
Sept 2003 immediately received
ecstatic reviews.
Bob was nominated Best Folk Singer once
again in the 2004 Folk Awards and his version
of the Chris Leslie song My Love is in America,
recorded on "BORROWED MOMENTS", gained
a nomination for Best Original Song.
Throughout 2005 Bob toured UK, USA, Australia
and The Netherlands as well as appearing at many
UK Folk Festivals in celebration of 30 years
"on the road".
Early in 2006 Bob was invited to join an elite group
of folk singers, writers and musicians to record 6 new
Radio Ballads commissioned by the BBC and produced
and recorded by John Tams and John Leonard.
Bob can be heard on all but the first of these and
the series of six received great critical acclaim.
His working relationship with John Tams was so
successful that when Bob recorded his most
recent CD "THE BLAST" he asked John to produce it.
Together they worked on the material and format of
the album, mostly traditional songs with Bob's
superb voice accompanied only by his equally
wonderful guitar playing.
"At last, the record we've been waiting for from Bob,
it's the sound we hear in live performance, that
astonishing guitar technique coupled with one of
England's finest voices." - Ralph McTell
Apart from the usual grueling round of solo touring
Bob teamed up with old mate Billy Mitchell
ex-Lindisfarne front man for a very sBob started 2003 with a busy schedule
including extensive tours in the UK,
a third US tour, a return to Australia to
perform at the National Festival in
Canberra and Fairbridge Festival in W.A.
and continued with appearances at some
of the most prestigious Folk Festivals in
England throughout the Spring and Summer.
He also signed a 3 CD deal with
TOPIC RECORDS, the first one entitled
"BORROWED MOMENTS" released on
Sept 2003 immediately received
ecstatic reviews.
Bob was nominated Best Folk Singer once
again in the 2004 Folk Awards and his version
of the Chris Leslie song My Love is in America,
recorded on "BORROWED MOMENTS", gained
a nomination for Best Original Song.
Throughout 2005 Bob toured UK, USA, Australia
and The Netherlands as well as appearing at many
UK Folk Festivals in celebration of 30 years
"on the road".
Early in 2006 Bob was invited to join an elite group
of folk singers, writers and musicians to record 6 new
Radio Ballads commissioned by the BBC and produced
and recorded by John Tams and John Leonard.
Bob can be heard on all but the first of these and
the series of six received great critical acclaim.
His working relationship with John Tams was so
successful that when Bob recorded his most
recent CD "THE BLAST" he asked John to produce it.
Together they worked on the material and format of
the album, mostly traditional songs with Bob's
superb voice accompanied only by his equally
wonderful guitar playing.
"At last, the record we've been waiting for from Bob,
it's the sound we hear in live performance, that
astonishing guitar technique coupled with one of
England's finest voices." - Ralph McTell
Apart from the usual grueling round of solo touring
Bob teamed up with old mate Billy Mitchell
ex-Lindisfarne front man for a very special duo tour
in the Autumn of 2006 which resulteBob started 2003 with a busy schedule
including extensive tours in the UK,
a third US tour, a return to Australia to
perform at the National Festival in
Canberra and Fairbridge Festival in W.A.
and continued with appearances at some
of the most prestigious Folk Festivals in
England throughout the Spring and Summer.
He also signed a 3 CD deal with
TOPIC RECORDS, the first one entitled
"BORROWED MOMENTS" released on
Sept 2003 immediately received
ecstatic reviews.
Bob was nominated Best Folk Singer once
again in the 2004 Folk Awards and his version
of the Chris Leslie song My Love is in America,
recorded on "BORROWED MOMENTS", gained
a nomination for Best Original Song.
Throughout 2005 Bob toured UK, USA, Australia
and The Netherlands as well as appearing at many
UK Folk Festivals in celebration of 30 years
"on the road".
Early in 2006 Bob was invited to join an elite group
of folk singers, writers and musicians to record 6 new
Radio Ballads commissioned by the BBC and produced
and recorded by John Tams and John Leonard.
Bob can be heard on all but the first of these and
the series of six received great critical acclaim.
His working relationship with John Tams was so
successful that when Bob recorded his most
recent CD "THE BLAST" he asked John to produce it.
Together they worked on the material and format of
the album, mostly traditional songs with Bob's
superb voice accompanied only by his equally
wonderful guitar playing.
"At last, the record we've been waiting for from Bob,
it's the sound we hear in live performance, that
astonishing guitar technique coupled with one of
England's finest voices." - Ralph McTell
Apart from the usual grueling round of solo touring
Bob teamed up with old mate Billy Mitchell
ex-Lindisfarne front man for a very sBob started 2003 with a busy schedule
including extensive tours in the UK,
a third US tour, a return to Australia to
perform at the National Festival in
Canberra and Fairbridge Festival in W.A.
and continued with appearances at some
of the most prestigious Folk Festivals in
England throughout the Spring and Summer.
He also signed a 3 CD deal with
TOPIC RECORDS, the first one entitled
"BORROWED MOMENTS" released on
Sept 2003 immediately received
ecstatic reviews.
Bob was nominated Best Folk Singer once
again in the 2004 Folk Awards and his version
of the Chris Leslie song My Love is in America,
recorded on "BORROWED MOMENTS", gained
a nomination for Best Original Song.
Throughout 2005 Bob toured UK, USA, Australia
and The Netherlands as well as appearing at many
UK Folk Festivals in celebration of 30 years
"on the road".
Early in 2006 Bob was invited to join an elite group
of folk singers, writers and musicians to record 6 new
Radio Ballads commissioned by the BBC and produced
and recorded by John Tams and John Leonard.
Bob can be heard on all but the first of these and
the series of six received great critical acclaim.
His working relationship with John Tams was so
successful that when Bob recorded his most
recent CD "THE BLAST" he asked John to produce it.
Together they worked on the material and format of
the album, mostly traditional songs with Bob's
superb voice accompanied only by his equally
wonderful guitar playing.
"At last, the record we've been waiting for from Bob,
it's the sound we hear in live performance, that
astonishing guitar technique coupled with one of
England's finest voices." - Ralph McTell
Apart from the usual grueling round of solo touring
Bob teamed up with old mate Billy Mitchell
ex-Lindisfarne front man for a very special duo tour
in the Autumn of 2006 which resulted in a great live
CD being produced called "5 Star B & B."
(Bob thought of that!) pecial duo tour
in the Autumn of 2006 which resulted in a great live
CD being produced called "5 Star B & B."
(Bob thought of that!) d in a great live
CD being produced called "5 Star B & B."
(Bob thought of that!) pecial duo tour
in the Autumn of 2006 which resulted in a great live
CD being produced called "5 Star B & B."
(Bob thought of that!) ived great critical acclaim.
His working relationship with John Tams was so
successful that when Bob recorded his most
recent CD "THE BLAST" he asked John to produce it.
Together they worked on the material and format of
the album, mostly traditional songs with Bob's
superb voice accompanied only by his equally
wonderful guitar playing.
"At last, the record we've been waiting for from Bob,
it's the sound we hear in live performance, that
astonishing guitar technique coupled with one of
England's finest voices." - Ralph McTell
Apart from the usual grueling round of solo touring
Bob teamed up with old mate Billy Mitchell
ex-Lindisfarne front man for a very special duo tour
in the Autumn of 2006 which resulted in a great live
CD being produced called "5 Star B & B."
(Bob thought of that!) |
Early in 2006
Bob was invited to join an elite group of folk singers, writers and musicians
to record 6 new Radio Ballads commissioned by the BBC and produced and
recorded by John Tams and John Leonard.
Bob can be
heard on all but the first of these and the series of six received great
critical acclaim.
His working
relationship with John Tams was so successful that when Bob recorded his
most recent CD “THE BLAST” he asked John to produce it.
Together they
worked on the material and format of the album, mostly traditional songs
with Bob’s superb voice accompanied only by his equally wonderful guitar
playing.
"At last, the
record we've been waiting for from Bob, it's the sound we hear in live
performance, that astonishing guitar technique coupled with one of
England's finest voices." - Ralph McTell
Apart from
the usual grueling round of solo touring Bob teamed up with old mate Billy
Mitchell ex-Lindisfarne front man for a very special duo tour in the Autumn
of 2006 which resulted in a great live CD being produced called “5 Star
B & B."
(Bob thought of that!)
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