Chris Foster (folk singer)
Encyclopedia
Chris Foster born 1948, is an English singer and guitarist known for his interpretations of traditional and contemporary songs.
He was born in Somerset
, a county in the west country
of England. It is there that he first heard and started singing traditional songs. He trained as an artist at the Norwich, and Chelsea
Schools of Art. His professional "break" came in the early 1970s when a music agent spotted him singing at Dingles Folk Club in London. This led to eight years as a professional solo folk singer/guitarist.
He recorded two, highly-regarded albums in the late 1970s: "Layers" (1977) and "All Things in Common" (1979). Both featured mainly traditional songs with often complex fingerstyle accompaniments (some in open tunings) on a Fylde
acoustic guitar.
He stopped full-time touring in the 1980s to work on various arts-based projects including appearing in several "mixed media" shows. Since September 1999 he has been the Co-ordinator of the Baring-Gould
Heritage Project. However He has continued to produce solo albums, tour (both in the UK and abroad), and collaborate with other artists, including his current partner, the Icelandic Folk singer Bára Grímsdóttir
Chris Foster also appeared on the following recordings:
He was born in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, a county in the west country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
of England. It is there that he first heard and started singing traditional songs. He trained as an artist at the Norwich, and Chelsea
Chelsea College of Art and Design
Chelsea College of Art and Design, the erstwhile Chelsea School of Art, is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, and is a leading British art and design institution with an international reputation...
Schools of Art. His professional "break" came in the early 1970s when a music agent spotted him singing at Dingles Folk Club in London. This led to eight years as a professional solo folk singer/guitarist.
He recorded two, highly-regarded albums in the late 1970s: "Layers" (1977) and "All Things in Common" (1979). Both featured mainly traditional songs with often complex fingerstyle accompaniments (some in open tunings) on a Fylde
Fylde Guitars
Fylde Guitars is an English manufacturer of hand-made fretted musical instruments.The company was founded in 1973 by luthier Roger Bucknall, and remains under his personal control. Originally located in The Fylde, in 1996 the workshop moved to the Lake District, and is today located in Penrith,...
acoustic guitar.
He stopped full-time touring in the 1980s to work on various arts-based projects including appearing in several "mixed media" shows. Since September 1999 he has been the Co-ordinator of the Baring-Gould
Sabine Baring-Gould
The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould was an English hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar. His bibliography consists of more than 1240 publications, though this list continues to grow. His family home, Lew Trenchard Manor near Okehampton, Devon, has been preserved as he had it...
Heritage Project. However He has continued to produce solo albums, tour (both in the UK and abroad), and collaborate with other artists, including his current partner, the Icelandic Folk singer Bára Grímsdóttir
Discography
- Layers (1977) Topic records
- All Things in Common (1979) Topic Records
- Sting in the Tale (1994) Green Man Productions
- Traces (1999) Green Man Productions
- Jewels (2004) Tradition Bearers
- Outsiders (2008) Green Man Traditions
Chris Foster also appeared on the following recordings:
- Fylde Acoustic (1977) Trailer LER 2105 ("Georgie")
- Nuclear Power No Thanks (1981) The Plane Label.
- Questions (1994) Fuse records.
- Intruders (1995) Fuse records.
- Rolling Down the Road (1998) Duke records.
- Dead Maid's Land (1998) Wild Goose.
- As We Walked Out (2001) Meersbrook Recordings.
- Plotters (2003) Meersbrook Recordings.
- Funi (2004) Green Man productions (with Bára Grímsdóttir).
External links
- Chris Foster (MySpace page)
- Chris Foster (Official Website)
- Georgie (Chris Foster performs the well-known folk ballad on YouTube)
- Folk Song Lyrics to traditional songs covered by Chris Foster.