Sue Draheim

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Sue Draheim
Draheim in San Francisco, 2011[1]
Draheim in San Francisco, 2011[1]
Background information
Birth nameSusan Ann Draheim
Born(1949-08-17)August 17, 1949
Oakland, California, U.S.
DiedApril 11, 2013(2013-04-11) (aged 63)
Berea, Kentucky, U.S.
GenresFolk rock, Celtic, Old Time, Cajun, Zydeco, Classical
Occupation(s)Fiddler, singer, composer
Instrument(s)Fiddle, violin, viola, voice
Years active1967–2013
LabelsArhoolie, Transatlantic, Island, etc.
Websitesuedraheim.com/music

Sue Draheim (/ˈdrɔːhaɪm/ ⓘ DRAW-hyme; August 17, 1949[2][3] – April 11, 2013)[4][5] was an American fiddler, boasting a more than forty year musical career in the US and the UK. Growing up in North Oakland, Draheim began her first private violin lessons at age eleven, having started public school violin instruction at age eight[6] while attending North Oakland's Peralta Elementary School. She also attended Claremont Jr. High, and graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 1967.[7][8][9]

Originally trained as a classical violinist, Draheim became involved in many other genres and recorded albums with groups representing Cajun, Old Time, country, Zydeco, folk jazz, Irish and British folk music. Early on in her career, Celtic fiddle became Draheim's major focus.

While Draheim was primarily a fiddler, she never lost touch with her classical training, and was a member of the Berkeley

UC Berkeley's University Chamber Chorus;[11] Draheim, along with fiddler Kerry Parker, also "augmented" the harp trio "Trillium".[12] She also played in the US premiere of Frank Zappa's experimental orchestral piece A Zappa Affair.[13] She was described by Gael Alcock, cellist/composer with whom she performed one of Alcock's pieces, as "fiddler extraordinaire".[14]

Late 1960s to early 1970s in the US

In the late 1960s, Draheim moved to a North Oakland house well known in the

fiddler
". In writing her short biography in 1970 to accompany the album notes for Berkeley Farms, Draheim gives us some background on that transition:

I've lived around the Bay Area most of my life. There wasn't much money at home. I had to talk my parents into letting me take fiddle lessons. I started that when I was eight years old. This was public school instruction. After three years of that, I began private lessons. I stopped when I was fourteen, and didn't touch the violin until I was 19. I moved to Colby Street when I was eighteen years old. It was there that I met Jim Bamford. He taught me my first fiddle tunes (as opposed to the classical violin music I'd learned). This was in 1967.[17]

Draheim quickly got involved in American mountain string band music, forming a group called the "Diesel Duck Revue" in 1967 with Mac Benford, Hank Bradley, Sue Rosenberg, and Rick Shubb,[18][19] performing with them at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage in 1968.[20]

At about the same time she started playing with a Colby Street group that, when she performed with them at the Sky River Rock Festival (Tenino, Washington in 1968 and 1969), called themselves "Dr. Humbead's New Tranquility String Band and Medicine Show". The band consisted of Sue Draheim, Jim Bamford, Mac Benford, and Will Spires and owed its name to their manager and sound man Earl Crabb (aka "The Great Humbead"); by the time Mike Seeger arranged for them to be recorded for the Folkways Berkeley Farms album in 1970, they'd shortened the charming but cumbersome name to simply "The New Tranquility String Band".[21][22] Performing with the band, her photograph appeared on the poster for the 1968 Berkeley Folk Music Festival.[23] Draheim and Dr. Humbead's New Tranquility String Band also appeared at the 1969 Third Annual San Diego State Folk Festival;[24] links to recordings of their performance there are provided on folkartsrarerecords.com's website.[25]

Colby Street housed other groups as well, one of them being the "Golden Toad", featuring mandolinist and guitarist Will Spires;

symphony orchestra as well as playing in old timey bands".[32]

In 1970 Draheim also got involved with several musicians at what was known as Sweets Mill Music Camp, about 200 miles east of Oakland on the edge of the

UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive (which misspelled her name as "Drahiem"),[33] and the other, one song (which is not found in UCLA's collection) which was released in CD form in 1999 as part of a Sam Chatmon retrospective.[34]

Early to late 1970s in the UK

From late 1970 to early 1977 Draheim lived in England, where her talents as a fiddler soon became so well recognized that Austrian music journalist Richard Schuberth[35] counted her among the "crème de la crème of the English folk-rock scene".[36][37] She brought with her a background of US genres of folk music which blended well with the British folk-rock scene. In one case at least, her influence on the British music scene rebounded to have an effect on the US music scene: American guitarist and author of several instructional manuals Duck Baker wrote that he had learned the Peacock Rag from John Renbourn "who would have gotten it from Sue Draheim".[38] Draheim had begun her association with John Renbourn in 1971,[39] and joined the John Renbourn Group,[40] cutting the album Faro Annie[41] with John Renbourn, Keshav Sathe, and Jacqui McShee in 1972. Impressed by Draheim's old West Clare style which she'd learned from Joe Cooley, John Renbourn observed: "I found out more about Irish music from Sue than I could ever have imagined."[42] That same year she also performed on Henry the Human Fly, an album by songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson.[43] 1972 was a busy year for her as she and John Renbourn worked together with Wizz Jones to produce Wizz's album Right Now, in addition to recording albums with Scottish folksinger Marc Ellington.[44]

In 1972, Draheim debuted live with the then unknown

Top Gear,[50] which also featured contemporary musicians; the recording was later released in 1994 on Ashley Hutchings's compilation The Guv'nor vol 1. Two tracks on The Guv'nor vol 2 released in 1995 are from that same 1972 broadcast.[51] Also in Albion at this time was Steve Ashley, who later referred to Draheim as "the great American fiddle player".[52] (For a photo of Draheim with the Albion Country Band, see The Peel Sessions: The Albion Band
).

Not confining herself to the folk rock genre, she recorded the album

UK to return to the US in 1977, Draheim recorded again with John Renbourn to produce the album A Maid in Bedlam.[56]

Late 1970s through the 1980s in the US

In late 1977 she returned to Oakland where she joined the all-women group Any Old Time String Band[57][58][59][60] and recorded two albums with them, Any Old Time String Band and Ladies Choice. Both albums were re-released in 1996 by Arhoolie on a single CD titled "I Bid You Goodnight".

One of Draheim's hallmarks was her eclecticism, and the first half of the 80s found her recording with a variety of artists including ethereal, new wave pagan/

wiccan Gwydion Pendderwen,[61] the more solidly traditional Cajun and country Delta Sisters,[62] and Rory McNamara with his blend of Irish and American music.[63]

1990s

Draheim, Jody Stecher (from the Colby Street days), and Kate Brislin (who was with Draheim in the Any Old Time String Band)[64] joined Kathy Kallick and others in 1995 on Kallick's album Use a Napkin (Not Your Mom),[65] a recording which featured Appalachian style songs composed by Kallick, and was especially aimed at children (a group of whom sang along with the musicians).

In 1998 Draheim collaborated with John Cohen, David Grisman, and Jody Stecher on tracks included in Stories the Crow Told Me, Cohen's only album released without the New Lost City Ramblers.[66][67]

Additionally, during the 1990s nearly a dozen retrospective compilation albums (including three by John Renbourn) were released which featured earlier recordings with Draheim, some of them going as far back as the 1970s (see discography).

2000s

In 1999, Draheim joined Golden Bough, a Northern California group which focuses on traditional Celtic folk music. After producing two albums with them which were released in 2000 and 2002, she left the group just two years later in 2001, but still got together to play with them from time to time.[68] Joining Craicmore, a group which describes itself as "a contemporary traditional Celtic band",[69] Draheim released an album with them in 2002.

Teaming up with mandolinist Lief Sorbye,[70] Draheim completed the other half of the duo known as "Caliban"[71] which led to her joining the Oakland-based Celtic rock band Tempest[72] which Lief had founded; she recorded two albums with them on Magna Carta Records (Shapeshifter and the 15th Anniversary Collection). Appraisal of Draheim's work with Tempest included such comments as: "The addition of Sue Draheim (Jon Renbourn Group and Sorbye's other unit, Caliban) has added an extra, deeper and (again) more relaxed dimension to the Tempest sound. Her ultra-fluid fiddle lines and soft harmony vocals lend balance...",[73] "The harmony vocals, courtesy of newcomer Sue Draheim (who also plays fiddle and viola) are more prominent than ever...",[74] "Sue Draheim's fiddle weaves exuberantly wild or exquisitely controlled ...",[75] "Sue Draheim's fiddle has a very warm and rich sound ... that just highlights her beautiful playing. Sue really gets to the heart of the song with her playing and makes the melodies come alive, without overpowering the band"[76] and "Sue Draheim is a revelation on fiddle, bringing years of playing with her, adding texture and tone."[77] One journalist, reviewing a Tempest album released after Draheim had left the group, lamented: "...I miss the blazing elegance of fiddler Sue Draheim...".[78]

Draheim and others were founders of a group known as "Stuart Rosh and the Geniuses",[79] releasing the album Accept No Imitations in 2004. The group was led by Stuart Rojstaczer scientist, writer,[80] and musician performing under the name of "Stuart Rosh".[81] Referring to her "flowing fiddle lines and backup vocals", Rojstaczer wrote that "Sue's lessons will set you on the path to musical bliss".[79]

Later in 2004 she worked with the young singer Michael Bannett[82] to produce an album featuring a collection of British Isles songs from the 17th to the early 20th centuries. Draheim got together with Golden Bough again in 2006 for a 25th anniversary reunion concert, which resulted in an album release of traditional British folk music. Moving into a different genre altogether, Draheim joined "Hiss Golden Messenger", which has been described as "alternative country" and "country rock", to produce an album in 2009. An Arhoolie Records retrospective was released in 2013, including some of Draheim's earlier recordings with them, but Draheim's last new release was in 2011, a live recording with Southern country blues singer and guitarist Wayde Blair[83] at Berkeley's Art House.

In her later years Draheim settled in Berea, Kentucky,[84] with her partner Wayde Blair, whom she had known and performed with in Berkeley,[85] and quickly got involved in the music scene there, performing at Berea's Center for the Arts as well as with a small contra dance group known as "Sea Change" at Berea's Main Street Café.[86][87]

When she was diagnosed with cancer in March 2013, Berkeley's Freight & Salvage (long a Bay Area center of folk music and a favorite of Draheim's, having performed there many times over the years from the beginnings of her career with Dr. Humbead's New Tranquility String Band and Medicine Show[88] and as recently as 2010)[89][90] held a special concert to show support for and honor her on April 1, 2013.[91] Among those performing in recognition of her contributions to music were musicians Eric & Suzy Thompson, Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, and Will Spires (who had played with Draheim in the early years of her career),[92] Tempest, Golden Bough, and Kathy Kallick, (who had played with Draheim when her career had been firmly established), as well as Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Tony Marcus & Patrice Haan, Paul Hale String Quartet, Live Oak Ceili Band with the Patricia Kennelly Irish Step Dancers, Don Burnham & the Bolos, Johnny Harper, Delilah Lewis & Karen Leigh, Harry & Cindy Liedstrand, and Gerry Tenney & the Hard Times Orchestra.

Sue Draheim died on April 11, 2013, in Berea, Kentucky, at the age of 63.[4]

Discography

References

  1. ^ photo courtesy of Earl Crabb (aka "The Great Humbead"), long time friend of Sue Draheim.
  2. ISBN 1561592374
  3. ^ see also californiabirthindex.org and old time birthdays for August for verification of birthdate
  4. ^ a b The Mudcat Café, R.I.P. fiddler Sue Draheim
  5. Madrid (see "...ese gran sonido al violín de Sue Draheim. Descanse en Paz."
    ).
  6. ^ "Berkeley Farms liner notes, page 4" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  7. ^ "Peralta, Claremont, and Oakland Tech attendance dates (classmates.com)". Classmates.com. 2000-09-17. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2013-06-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ "Notable Alumni". Oaklandtech.com. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Susan Draheim '67". Oaklandtech.com. April 9, 2015.
  10. ^ Young Fogies Gazette, Sue Draheim biography (scan courtesy of Susie Goehring, Field Recorders Collective)
  11. ^ UC Berkeley, Dept. of Music - Past Performances, University Chamber Chorus
  12. ^ San Francisco Early Music Society - Three Harps and Two Fiddles...
  13. ^ Berkeley Symphony Orchestra - A Zappa Affair
  14. ^ gaelalcock.com - "Minor Excursions"
  15. ^ Hayatti, Zoharr A. "The huge house on Colby Street was wonderful ... there were musicians everywhere: upstairs, downstairs, on the lawn ...". Zaharr's Memoir- Part 3(& 4).
  16. ^ Cohen, John. "The musicians of Colby Street . . . ". (album notes for "Berkeley in the 1960s") (scroll to bottom).
  17. ^ Smithsonian Folkways - liner notes for BERKELEY FARMS Archived 2013-07-03 at the Wayback Machine p.4
  18. ISBN 978-0-252-09588-7
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  19. ^ Smithsonian Folkways - liner notes for BERKELEY FARMS Archived 2013-07-03 at the Wayback Machine, p.5
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  22. ISBN 0807835102
  23. ^ "Sue Draheim at the 1968 Berkeley Folk Music Festival". Archived from the original on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2016-07-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  24. ^ "Dr, Humbead's New Tranquility String Band at the 1969 SD State Folk Festival". Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  25. ^ folkartsrarerecords.com - (links to 1969 recordings of Dr, Humbead's New Tranquility String Band): Sally in the Garden, Goodbye Liza Jane, Flying Clouds, and Bully of the Town.
  26. ^ "Golden Toad". Chickenonaunicycle.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  27. ^ "The Grace Cathedral Gig". Larkcamp.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  28. ^ "The Joe Cooley Tapes". Joecooleytapes.org. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  29. ^ "Harrington Bar". Harringtonsbarandgrill.com. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  30. ^ Will Spires p.4 Archived 2013-07-03 at the Wayback Machine, see also Sue Draheim pp. 4-5 Archived 2013-07-03 at the Wayback Machine
  31. Modern ceilidhs and The Ceili Bands of the 60's and before ). A gráinneog (hedgehog) is a much maligned creature in Ireland (see The Folklore and Traditions of The Irish Hedgerow) and has a reputation for being dirty and unkempt; Joe Cooley may have had the somewhat ragged appearance of the Colby Street people in mind when the name was suggested but, having a friendly little joke at their expense, admitted only that the hedgehog was "just the warmest, furriest little creature" (see The Joe Cooley Tapes
    ). (Special thanks to Jody Stecher for the story behind the name).
  32. ^ "Mudcat Café Message". Mudcat.org. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  33. San Diego Folk Festival Collection 1962-1987) - Box 3, Item 2007.04sdff070: Sweets Mill Music Camp - The original musical meeting of "The California Sheiks" 1970
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  35. ^ de:Richard Schuberth
  36. ^ (original: "die Crème de la Crème der englischen Folk-Rock-Szene")
  37. ISBN 3935943008
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  38. ISBN 9781610656849
  39. ISBN 9781903464458
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  40. ISBN 9780198038986
    .
  41. ^ sample of Draheim's work on Faro Annie (track № 4) "Little Sadie...con ese gran sonido al violín de Sue Draheim. Descanse en Paz."
  42. ^ Collaborators (Sue Draheim), Johnrenbourn.co.uk
  43. ^ "Richard Thompson's homepage". Richardthompson-music.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  44. ^ "Marc Ellington | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic.
  45. ^ "The Albion Country Bands". Thealbionchronicles2.tripod.com. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
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  49. ^ "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 19/06/1972 Albion Country Band". Bbc.co.uk.
  50. ^ mainlynorfolk.info - Ashley Hutchings: The Guv'nor Vol 1
  51. ^ mainlynorfolk.info - Ashley Hutchings: The Guv'nor Vol 2
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  53. ^ johnmartyn.com - John Martyn's Obituary
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  55. ISBN 1857431618
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  87. ^ At the Main Street Café, msc-berea.com
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  92. ISBN 9780814771389
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  105. ^ Young Fogies Gazette (liner notes from Heritage 056) (courtesy of Susie Goehring, Field Recorders Collective)
  106. ^ "Ashley Hutchings: The Guv'nor". Mainlynorfolk.info.
  107. ^ "The Guv'nor, Vol. 2 by Ashley Hutchings". Rateyourmusic.com.
  108. ^ "I Bid You Goodnight - Any Old Time String Band | Credits". AllMusic.
  109. ^ "album info". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  110. ^ "Grateful Dead Family Discography: Acoustic Disc 100% Handmade Music, Vol. 5". Deaddisc.com.
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  112. ^ "Songs of Scotland". Goldenboughmusic.com.
  113. ^ special thanks to Craicmore's John MacAdams for supplying release date and other detailed information about this album
  114. ^ "Live". Goldenboughmusic.com.
  115. ^ "Lief Sorbye". 2 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  116. ^ "Tempest Prime Cuts". Magnacarta.net. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  117. ^ "album info". Archived from the original on 2013-11-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  118. ^ special thanks to Field Recorders Collective's Susie Goehring for tracking down this album
  119. ^ "50 Years: Where Do You Come From? Where Do You Go?". Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
  120. ^ "Hiss Golden Messenger - Country Hai East Cotton". Discogs. 2009.
  121. ^ "Rory McNamara, Discography". Rorymcnamara.com.
  122. ^ "Walking on a Wire: 1968-2009 - Richard Thompson | Credits". AllMusic.
  123. ^ "Meet on the Ledge: An Island Records Folk-Rock Anthology - John Martyn | Release Credits". AllMusic.
  124. ^ "album info". Deaddisc.com. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  125. ^ "Wayde Blair - Live At The Art House CD Album". Cduniverse.com.
  126. ^ Noble, Barnes &. "They All Played for Us: Arhoolie Records 50th Anniversary Celebration". Barnes & Noble.

External links

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