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 up with 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 & Scottish dance music and singing mainly traditional songs primarily from their native North East, TOM on fiddle and BOB on guitar and piano.
BOB was vaunted as one of the best new singers on the scene and when the duo with TOM dissolved after 2 very successful years BOB formed a highly acclaimed partnership with ex-Hedgehog Pie man STU LUCKLEY.
BOB FOX & STU LUCKLEY amazed the folk clubs, festivals, reviewers and music press alike with their unique and innovative approach to arranging folk songs old and new, their first album
“NOWT SO GOOD’LL PASS” was voted FOLK ALBUM OF THE YEAR by Melody Maker on release in 1978 and remains a classic album.
BOB & STU were in great demand and played almost every folk club & festival in the UK and were support artists on major British tours for both RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON and RALPH McTELL. The duo also toured Germany, Holland, Australia and New Zealand and released a second album “WISH WE NEVER HAD PARTED” in 1982 before breaking up to pursue individual projects.
Since that time BOB has worked on developing his SOLO career and has also created a songs and slide show “HOW ARE YOU OFF FOR COALS” with BENNY GRAHAM depicting and celebrating the rich and varied culture of the coal mining communities of Durham & Northumberland.
In 1996 BOB & BENNY recorded the mining songs from the show and a few extras on a CD with Fellside Recordings of Cumbria “HOW ARE YOU OFF FOR COALS?” – FECD111 and the following year re-recorded a selection of 14 songs from his previous albums with STU on the CD
“BOX OF GOLD” – FECD 124. These two CDs come highly recommended by reviewers who once again place BOB at the top of the singer’s tree!
“FOX always was one of the scenes superior singers and his voice is as confident and ebullient as it ever was!” Colin Irwin - FOLK ROOTS
In the year 2000 BOB celebrated 25 years of singing folk songs professionally and was invited to appear as “special guest” on the FAIRPORT CONVENTION “Wood and the Wire” UK tour in February. His first ever solo CD “DREAMS NEVER LEAVE YOU” - WRCD 035 was subsequently recorded 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.
In May/June 2001 BOB had a great reception on his first tour of US/Canada and in Sept/Oct Bob made the same impression on audiences in Australia and New Zealand.
Bob completed a Round the World tour in Sept/Oct/Nov 2002 and released a brand new CD “DARK TO THE SKY” recorded in the North East with new band THE HUSH.
The album has 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 which included 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 continues with appearances at some of the most prestigious Folk Festivals in England throughout the Spring/Summer. He has also signed a 3 CD deal with TOPIC RECORDS, the first one entitled “BORROWED MOMENTS” was released on 3rd Sept and is already receiving 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.
For info visit Bob’s website www.bobfoxmusic.com or the agency website www.iconicmusic.com
“BOB FOX, surely one of the great voices of the whole of the Folk Revival…”
John Muirhead – LIVING TRADITION
“…possibly the most complete male artist in English folk, his quietly impressive “Dreams Never Leave You” is my album of 2000.” Colin Randall – THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Bob's second TOPIC album released on16th October 2006 already getting rave reviews and his "Special Autumn Tour" with Billy Mitchell has also been going great with a "Live" CD available by end of November.
CONTACT BOB FOX by tel/fax 0191 388 6505 (24hr) mobile 07885 213691
E mail bob@bobfoxmusic.com website www.bobfoxmusic.com
McKenZie are playing at the Hemnall Club at 7.30pm in Hemnall Street, Epping, Essex this Sunday April 27th, it would be great to see you there. They are also talking to Ken McLeod at Tay AM Radio (www. tayam. co. uk) on Wednesday April 30th at 8pm on his country music show. Tune in on the net or at 1161/1584 AM. thanks for the add! Zoe & Kenny
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Thanks for the add. Looking forward to welcoming you back to the centre soon. In the meantime, do check out our latest season - we have some great stuff coming up
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Hi Bob, Any man that stands 5 years on a floor singing deserves my admiration. Did you notify the book of records? In the mean while I enjoyed listening to your unique style. Great stuff... Tom
Hey Bob, thanks for the add. Saw you a few years back in Brantford, Ontario and just this past August at Cropredy with Billy. How about the two of you crossing the Atlantic? Slainte, Michael
