Bill Leader passed away 💫🌸💫

 

From Joe Boyd:

“ Very sad to learn of the passing of Bill Leader. 

Bill was responsible for so many of the great recordings of British folk music, from Martin Carthy to the Watersons to Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and a conrnucopia of traditional singers and instrumentalists from across the British Isles. 

He was a wonderful teacher from whom I learned so much, a generous spirit beloved by all he touched. 

May he rest in peace.”

I add my humble condolences to his family and close friends with an heartfelt thank you for all the care and love for music: he made to folk music as much as Rudy Van Gelder made to jazz… in his early years, he made more with a ReVox G36 tube-recorder in his kitchen recording “Bert and John” than many pro studios.

Bill Leader (26 December 1929 – 31 March 2026), legendary British-American producer that worked intensely with big names such as Martin Carthy, Bert Jansch, Pentangle, John Renbourn, Anne Briggs, Dick Gaughan, Davey Graham, The Watersons, The Dubliners, Tír na nÓg, Christy Moore, The Boys Of The Lough, Peter Bellamy, The Young Tradition, Peggy Seeger, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Ian Campbell, Shirley Collins, Dave Swarbrick and so many more. Rest in Topic and Transatlantic glory…

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