Bill Staines performs at the Franklin House Concert Series, Franklin, MA. May 2, 2010. For more articles, videos and photos about folk or bluegrass music, visit: folkbluegrassbl...
SO sorry about Bill's passing but he gave us SO much rich poetry and music to fill a lifetime. Truly life is better with his songs that fill the air.....keep singing them!
One of the all-time great acoustic compositions; unforgettable. It's good to know that you're still out there making music, Bill. Thanks for making our world a more beautiful place.
We were saddened to hear that Bill has left us. He was a personal friend, and when I was traveling on the road playing, he and I played some of the same venues. He's left us with some fantastic tunes! As a guitar player I was always enchanted by his playing. He's left handed, but didn't play a left-handed guitar, but his fingering style was adapted so that he played with the high strings at the top and the low strings on the bottom of the neck. We loved him, and his music, and although I'd seen him seldom in the past few years, we'll miss his presence on this planet! It just made the hard times a little bit right knowing that Bill was out there singing his wonderful tunes. Now we're on our on.
He is sadly overlooked as a more noted contributor to the American Music scene. It has always been a mystery to me why he is not more recognized than he is. His music is simply special.
This is one of the most gentle and most beautiful videos on UA-cam. I keep returning to it and it always calms me. Wonderful. A pity that one another live video of Bill's of the same song has been removed :(
Thank you Bill for your songs, your beautiful soul that is expressed in them. Thank you for the joy, for the remembrance and the sadness of life well lived and well said. Many are the miles I have traveled with just your songs and the roads.
O yeah that's the way he plays. Just takes a standard guitar and turns it over. Doesn't change the stringing pattern at all, so heavies are now on "bottom" and trebles up top. If you really watch him, he's playing "G" shapes with capo on 3rd so he's singing in Bflat. He uses standard tuning with some occasional drop-tuning to D on both Bass and Treble E strings. The only thing I've ever noticed him to alter about the guitar is to add a second pickguard. An elegant and graceful Balladeer.
Bill, you've always been an amazing artist, and an amazing person! You have been a great friend to my Dad (Jerry), and I still remember you playing at the Extempore, and going to a couple of ballgames with us in the early 80's. Keep on inspiring us with your talents! John Rau, Honolulu, (now 43 yrs old).
I known this song Roseville Fair, for as long as I can remember. I learned it at camp when I was about 9 or 10 some where in the mid 1990. Always been one of my favorites. I'm always thought it was written by a old camp director named Neal Woodall. Surprised to be wrong, decided to Google it. It's the same song with the same lyrics.
@whiskeyjack57 I thought I had a solution. I downloaded this video and flipped it horizontally in Vegas. It looks a bit easier to follow but the high strings are still at the bottom, so it is not easy at all... This is a very nice recording and the performance is awesome by the way.
@Zsolto66 You're right, he's got it on the 4th, not third here. At different times, based on recordings, he's played it in a different key. (I think the original recording was in C.) Nanci Griffith does it in Bflat. Oh, and a lovely mis-communication re: Balladeer. I was referring to him!! But you are right and your eyes are dead-on accurate. "Balladeers" were put out, and still are, by Ovation. He's traveling with a Taylor these days it appears. Peace. Hope the old D-18's OK!
@swvacollings290 I think the capo is on the 4th, so is it... B then? And Balladeers are by Ovation while this is a Taylor so I am not sure if you got it right either. Not that I know so much about these things I just noticed.
@@MasonCroneMusic I suspect this is not an open tuning, just the chords reversed for that unusual string order. What Bill is doing here is so amazing, playing the low strings with his index, middle and ring finger and holdling the high strings with his thumb... I shall cherish this video forever. Thanks for the comment Mason 👍
Pete Donaghy I saw him during my 80s college years and he explained that as a lefty he learned to play by just turning it over -- thus he could pick up any guitar and play it without restringing
So odd to see him sitting down, not wearing a hat, not telling the little story about saying by mistake, " .. and the town was burning... " Many will play but few will get people in the crowd singing like Bill does.
Sad to hear, Bill Staines passed away today. My life is better for having heard his music and seen him perform.
I cryed. Another light gone from this world.
Sorry for our collective loss!
Oh my, what a loss. May he rest in peace and my condolences to his family. So sad 😣
I think he's still playing up THERE!
SO sorry about Bill's passing but he gave us SO much rich poetry and music to fill a lifetime. Truly life is better with his songs that fill the air.....keep singing them!
Bill left a legacy that few have equalled. Humble, great guy. Life is good with this kind of music!
RIP Bill. You were a sweet man and a giant of folk music. Happy to have known you.
Rest in peace, Bill...and thanks for all the music.
Learned this song from Nanci Griffith, and I've loved it since the first time I heard it. Great to hear it from the man who wrote it.
BILL STAINES, THE BEST-SO GLAD I MET HIM!!!!!
One of the all-time great acoustic compositions; unforgettable. It's good to know that you're still out there making music, Bill. Thanks for making our world a more beautiful place.
One of the best folk songs ever written
Just beautiful. This is one of the most gentle and most beautiful videos on UA-cam. It heals. What a talent. This is music at its very very best. srr
We were saddened to hear that Bill has left us. He was a personal friend, and when I was traveling on the road playing, he and I played some of the same venues. He's left us with some fantastic tunes! As a guitar player I was always enchanted by his playing. He's left handed, but didn't play a left-handed guitar, but his fingering style was adapted so that he played with the high strings at the top and the low strings on the bottom of the neck.
We loved him, and his music, and although I'd seen him seldom in the past few years, we'll miss his presence on this planet! It just made the hard times a little bit right knowing that Bill was out there singing his wonderful tunes. Now we're on our on.
My music jam song. So GLAD Ernie and I met him at 9th & Walnut for a wondrous concert!!!
he is so missed,,, 10/10/2022
He is sadly overlooked as a more noted contributor to the American Music scene. It has always been a mystery to me why he is not more recognized than he is.
His music is simply special.
This is one of the most gentle and most beautiful videos on UA-cam. I keep returning to it and it always calms me. Wonderful. A pity that one another live video of Bill's of the same song has been removed :(
12-5-2021 RIP Bill and thanks for the great tunes.
Thank you Bill for your songs, your beautiful soul that is expressed in them. Thank you for the joy, for the remembrance and the sadness of life well lived and well said. Many are the miles I have traveled with just your songs and the roads.
O yeah that's the way he plays. Just takes a standard guitar and turns it over. Doesn't change the stringing pattern at all, so heavies are now on "bottom" and trebles up top. If you really watch him, he's playing "G" shapes with capo on 3rd so he's singing in Bflat. He uses standard tuning with some occasional drop-tuning to D on both Bass and Treble E strings. The only thing I've ever noticed him to alter about the guitar is to add a second pickguard. An elegant and graceful Balladeer.
So sad to hear of his passing. He was amazing.
This will always make me smile.
This guy has no clunkers. Wonderful lyricist and tunesmith. Soothed me through some rough days.
Timeless melody evokes endless memories...
What a beautiful song and chord progression.
I've been loving this song for about 30 years, just about as long as I've been married to Linda -
I love this song and songwriter! I have played this with REDWING east and west coasts.
thing of my REDWING partner and love playing with him.
RIP Bill,,, well done, brother in music.
Used to rock my children to sleep to this beautiful tune. God bless you, Bill. Ad multos annos!
Bill, you've always been an amazing artist, and an amazing person! You have been a great friend to my Dad (Jerry), and I still remember you playing at the Extempore, and going to a couple of ballgames with us in the early 80's. Keep on inspiring us with your talents! John Rau, Honolulu, (now 43 yrs old).
I first fell in love with the Clancy-Makem version, but it is great to hear the writer performing it himself.
SO NEEDED I THE PANDEMIC, WHEN WE CAN'T MAKE OUR OWN MUSIC TOGETHER!
Miss you Bill! Peace to your wife, son & family.
Some songs are just so mysteriously deep.
like your style Bill, and love your presentation , your vocals are beillant,cheers Dave
I known this song Roseville Fair, for as long as I can remember. I learned it at camp when I was about 9 or 10 some where in the mid 1990. Always been one of my favorites. I'm always thought it was written by a old camp director named Neal Woodall. Surprised to be wrong, decided to Google it. It's the same song with the same lyrics.
fwwh??? me too!!
Thank you so much, I love this song.
Play on my friend.
♥
What an inspiration you have been for me Bill. Thank you!
Beautiful.
Beautiful
oh wow, this version with soft audience voices is sending chills down my spine.
Yup, it's a treat to see Bill live.
@@nelsonbent7911 since i posted it, i did get to see him live!
Miss hearing the story he used to tell after the song, "and the town was burning..."
@whiskeyjack57 I thought I had a solution. I downloaded this video and flipped it horizontally in Vegas. It looks a bit easier to follow but the high strings are still at the bottom, so it is not easy at all... This is a very nice recording and the performance is awesome by the way.
RIP, old friend.
This is how it's done, kids.
deeply grateful ~
@Zsolto66 You're right, he's got it on the 4th, not third here. At different times, based on recordings, he's played it in a different key. (I think the original recording was in C.) Nanci Griffith does it in Bflat. Oh, and a lovely mis-communication re: Balladeer. I was referring to him!! But you are right and your eyes are dead-on accurate. "Balladeers" were put out, and still are, by Ovation. He's traveling with a Taylor these days it appears. Peace. Hope the old D-18's OK!
Love his feeling
Rest easy with God.
You can tell he gets into it after the other people start singing
He starts like a pro
R.I.P Bill Staines
May you dance all night to the fiddle and banjo 🎻 🪕
@swvacollings290 I think the capo is on the 4th, so is it... B then? And Balladeers are by Ovation while this is a Taylor so I am not sure if you got it right either. Not that I know so much about these things I just noticed.
10 years later... It would be B if it's in open G position. Not sure what the key would be without a capo though.
@@MasonCroneMusic I suspect this is not an open tuning, just the chords reversed for that unusual string order. What Bill is doing here is so amazing, playing the low strings with his index, middle and ring finger and holdling the high strings with his thumb...
I shall cherish this video forever.
Thanks for the comment Mason 👍
@@Zsolto66 Wow, I didn't expect a response ten years later. Pretty cool!
@@MasonCroneMusic Hi buddy. I have been re and re and re and re-watching this video ever since. Happy Holidays!
Zs
Looks like the guitar is upside down. Looks like the wound strings are on the bottom. Wow!
It does look thaat way, and if it is, then he's not the first to play that way - Elizabeth Cotton did, too.
He's a lefty
Gary Tope You got it!
Pete Donaghy I saw him during my 80s college years and he explained that as a lefty he learned to play by just turning it over -- thus he could pick up any guitar and play it without restringing
Aha! Makes sense. Thanks.
So odd to see him sitting down, not wearing a hat, not telling the little story about saying by mistake, " .. and the town was burning... " Many will play but few will get people in the crowd singing like Bill does.
Beautiful song 🎵
Beautiful
Beautiful