Sandy Paton (1929-2009)
(Singer, Collector, Scholar, Folklorist and Recording Engineer)
High integrity, good humour, natural warmth and a life-time commitment to promotion of the best in Anglo-American tradition were all aspects of Sandy’s character and work. Born in Florida, he travelled widely within the USA. It was while studying drama in Seattle that his interest in folk music took root, via people such as Burl Ives, Carl Sandbury and Leadbelly.
In the 1950’s, with guitar in hand, he toured the country and in 1957 met his wife-to-be Caroline. They formed a singing duo and recorded on vinyl and toured extensively as performers over the years. They also field-recorded in Appalachia and Canada as well as crossing to Britain for a year on similar song quests. In Scotland they formed enduring friendships with, amongst others, Hamish Henderson, Jeannie Robertson and her daughter Lizzie Higgins.
In the early sixties, Sandy and Caroline with their two young sons, moved to Sharon, Connecticut where, with the late Lee Haggerty, they founded and launched Folk-Legacy Records in 1961. To quote Mark Moss, editor of Sing Out ‘... his love dedication and vision for traditional music was unwavering ... Each Folk-Legacy release exuded that passion’. Here is a sample of these quality recordings from this classic label, which include: Frank Profitt, Sarah Cleveland, Gordon Bok, Sarah Grey, Archie Fisher, Michael Cooney, Jean Redpath, The Johnson Girls, Dan Milner, Bob Conroy – and not forgetting Jeannie Robertson and Lizzie Higgins.
Sarah Grey, now Scottish-based, made her first recording with the label in 1970 and she remembers vividly how ‘Sandy was a delight to work with’. Her admiration and respect for Sandy, and Caroline, as well as the Folk-Legacy philosophy, is unstinting. Another lifelong friendship was forged...
Ed Cray writes. ‘Collectively the Paton’s and Haggerty may be the most prodigious collectors of Anglo-American balladry since Alan Lomax’. Sandy’s individual contribution was, by any measure, exceptional. He was, without doubt, a true gentleman-of-song. Our condolences to Caroline and family at this most difficult of times.
Geordie McIntyre
3 September 2009