Cathy LeSurf

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

Cathy LeSurf (have I written her name correctly?) has been mentioned in another thread..

Yestrday a bloke rang me re the Fairport gig tonight and kept on and on about how lucky he was to have seen FC with Sandy and when Cathy was with the band.  He was implying that Cathy was as much to Fairport as Sandy had been.

It's my understanding the Cathy supported FC for a while, but in no way as much as Chirs While or Vikki Clayton.

It seems to be a common myth in this area that Cathy was a member.

Can anyone add anything to this please?

[Jim]

well i didnt know that it was any sort of myth, common or uncommon.
she was never a member of FC although she has had a fair few stabs at the guest female vocalist at cropredy and may have guested at some gigs

[jude]

According to Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairport_Convention

She appeared on the Glady's Leap album and guested at some of the Festivals, (I remember her being there at the 25th Anniversary) but she's not listed as a 'former member'

Although Wikipedia isn't completely accurate, it's much better than most people think it is

[Barry]

Cathy was, of course, the fist one to recreaate the Liege and Lief stuff.  Very good it was, too.  Much better than some who have followed her.

There never was any myth that she had joined the band although I do believe that she is the only female singer to record lead vocals in the studio with Fairport since Sandy.

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

Thanks all.. the common myth I referred to is local to this area (Notts) where on a few occasions I've either seen it written or heard it said.

I don't mean any insult to Cathy.. but it does irk a bit when hyped up...

[Dan O.]

Cathy was a longtime member of The Albion Band, not FC...maybe where the confusion lies.

[koho (Koen)]

Few Cropredy guest spots in the mid-80s and indeed that lead vocal -as guest- on a Gladys' Leap track (the least FC-ish sounding track up to that point, I guess), that's about it. And then years later she did 2(?) songs at Cropredy 1997 with FC. I don't think she ever appeared since?

Another myth is right there in Wikipedia - that Marc Ellington was a proper FC member (in 1970 no less)!

[jude]

Few Cropredy guest spots in the mid-80s and indeed that lead vocal -as guest- on a Gladys' Leap track (the least FC-ish sounding track up to that point, I guess), that's about it. And then years later she did 2(?) songs at Cropredy 1997 with FC. I don't think she ever appeared since?

Another myth is right there in Wikipedia - that Marc Ellington was a proper FC member (in 1970 no less)!

anybody can make corrections to Wikipedia you don't even have to register, but it is preferred if you do

[Neil Morrell]

Wasn't Cathy in originally in Fiddlers Dram long long ago?  Somewhat a Pre-cursor to Oysterband.

[frogcrutches]

Wasn't Cathy in originally in Fiddlers Dram long long ago?  Somewhat a Pre-cursor to Oysterband.

Yes.

[Angela]

yes, this was the line up way back in 1979,


Cathy Lesurf - vocals, bodhran
Alan Prosser - guitar, fiddle, bowed psaltery, bones
Chris Taylor - bouzouki, harmonica, appalachian dulcimer, mandola, tenor banjo
Ian Telfer - fiddle, bowed psaltery, viola

Will Ward - Bassoon, Crumhorn
Dave Arbus, violinist with East of Eden, was a founder member but left before the band achieved success.
They met at the University of Kent at Canterbury and were residents at Duke’s Folk Club in Whitstable. With other club members including John Jones and Ian Kearey, they formed the Oyster Ceilidh Band c.1976, with Cathy Lesurf singing and later assuming the role of caller at dances.

Bassoon-player Will Ward had joined the Oyster Ceilidh Band by 1978, and became the fifth member of Fiddler’s Dram on their eponymous second LP, recorded hurriedly to follow up on their unexpected success in the singles chart. The band were unable to achieve subsequent success however - in the words of Ian Telfer Day Trip To Bangor was “the kind of success you don’t easily recover from. Fiddler’s Dram did one more tour then gratefully took the money (and the gold discs) and ran”.

[Neil Morrell]

I only have one Oysterband Album (and like it a lot) and don't really know that much about them, but have always wondered how they got from "Day Trip to Bangor" (which is awful) to that.  

Mind you, I've taken people to see Fairport and played the first album in the car on the way home, usually with the same reaction...

[Angela]

Fiddlers Dram 1979.  

Don't you just love the hair



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[Tony H]

Day Trip to Bangor.
I remember at the time argueing whether she sang "on the way back, we had a quick shag" - we we younger and punker in those days.

[Barry]

I do remember her singing it with Fairport at Cropredy ..... the song, that is, not that particular line  

[Neil Morrell]

Maybe she did sing that,...................

If you have ever been to Bangor, it would kind of make the day worthwhile.

[Malcolm]

Thanks all.. the common myth I referred to is local to this area (Notts) where on a few occasions I've either seen it written or heard it said.

I think she lives at Bridgford, Jen. Perhaps local info has got on the wrong track.

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

Yes you are right there Malcolm, West Bridgford Nottingham.. where I lived as a student.

Angela.. who is the one with the hair in that photo?

[Barry]

That's Alan Prosser, Amy .....

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

Thanks Barry