Posted on 09/18/2023 4:00:46 PM PDT by Kartographer
Folk singer Roger Whittaker, famous for his 1969 hit song Durham Town and expert whistling, has died at the age of 87.
His other hits included The Last Farewell and New World in the Morning, and he sold nearly 50 million records around the world, his website said.
After starting in folk clubs, he went on to success with the Skye Boat Song, a duet with Des O'Connor in 1986.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
One of my favorite ballads.
I thought he’d already passed.
RIP.
Weird. I was listening to his music a week or so ago.
I had a Christmas album by him with all his original songs on it. "Darcy the Dragon" was the most memorable......
We were in a restaurant just last Thursday & they were playing some of his songs- he’s a favorite of mine. We were surprised to hear his music & I actually looked him up to see if he was still alive. Aside from his great voice, the guy could do the most beautiful whistling I have ever heard.
RIP, Roger.
I remember buying The Last Farewell.
I Don’t Believe In If Anymore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0YxwsFhv74
Not popular Christmas song but one of my favorites is his version of The Holly and the Ivy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kLwXM0iTeI
For some reason I thought he was Australian but see was a Kenyan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RPj8N0TKw0
Song about life’s goodbyes. “The First Hello, The Last Goodbye.”
Rich, beautiful voice. Rest in peace.
> The world has lost a great and wonderful . <
I totally agree. Many, many years ago I wandered into an Irish pub on the Chesapeake Bay. I ordered a beer (nonalcoholic, of course) and sat back to enjoy the atmosphere.
And by golly, Roger Whittaker came on stage. I certainly did not expect that! He played all evening, and took requests. I know my Irish music, even though I’ve got no Irish blood in me. I asked for, and got, “Whiskey in the Jar”.
Here’s Roger singing that song (not on that evening, unfortunately).
https://youtu.be/YEwb2FdnFSQ?si=au94oBGbAZI-L6gz
RIP.
He was a wonderful talent.
Would have loved to hear him sing a duet with Judith Durham.
“nonalcoholic, of course”
You must have found the only Irish bar in the universe with nonalcoholic beer.
Yes he was, now why couldn’t we had him as President? ;>)
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