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APPENDIX C - WHO'S WHO: FAMOUS FILKERS

"I'm an old folksinger,
Just an old folksinger,
I'm an old folksinger
Are you a folksinger, too?" --"I'm an Old Folksinger," Duck's Breath

These are some of the people who have become famous in the filking community for their talent. Some are so good they have had whole musical tapes devoted to their singing/songwriting. They are often referred to by other filkers. By the end of this appendix, you will understand references to "the Cheap Lawyer," "Moonwolf," and why someone wrote a song called "Never Set Frank Hayes on Fire." - J.M.

This is one of the toughest pages to update because I know that there are so many worthy people who are not included on the list below. Also, in some ways, the links page has replaced what this page was meant to do which was to bring filkers together. However, not every Famous Filker has a web site, which means that it's important that this page stays to remind people of some of the great filkers who are not on the internet. - E.G.

- Thanks to Tom Smith for letting me use his write up for some mid-western filker - E.G.

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GARY ANDERSON A songwriter/singer who lives in Pasadena who passed away in 1998, please click on his name to learn more about Gary. He was notorious for his off-key bass singing, his penchant for Dorsai ose songs, his mismatched ** glow-in-the-dark ** socks, his skill with silicon-based life forms, and for drawing frogs. (See Appendix A, KEYS, SILICON-BASED LIFE FORM; Appendix B, "IAN THE GRIM")

ANDERSON, JANET WILSON Master costumer. Was married to Gary Anderson. With Beth Stevens, writes and sings songs with fantasy themes and strong female characters. Her songs include "Eowyn" and "Lady Blade." (See BETH STEVENS for more info.)

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BOARDMAN, JOHN Old time filker from New York. Wrote several "old standards" published in the NESFA Hymnal. Currently the official collator (publisher) of APA- Filk. He is also the official collector of verses to "Old Time Religion". New verses get pubbed in APA-filk about once a year. **

BUCKLIN, NATE The Minneapolis Madman his own bad self, Nate has a thin and pleasant voice, a crazed wit, and divine guidance on a fretboard. Other guitarists simply gape at him as he plays, all the while mentally reviewing their assets to see if they can finance the servomechanisms that Nate has to have surgically implanted in his hands -- how the hell else could he play so fast, so well? Any of his albums will have a wide range of good stuff, but my absolute favorite song of his is a Dr. Demento favorite, I Pop Pills.

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CHERRYH, C.J. Award-winning professional s.f. and fantasy author of, among many other novels, THE PRIDE OF CHANUR, DOWNBELOW STATION, CYTEEN and the MORGAINE series. An enthusiastic filker; writes songs about her worlds and stories, aided and abetted by her graphic illustrator Jane Fancher.

COOK, CATHY Writes and sings many songs, including songs written by her late husband Robert Cook, such as ""68 Chevelle" and "Rosie Dawn Day." Was prominent in San Francisco Bay area filk circles; helped organize the first Bayfilks (Bayfilk 1, in March 1982).

COULSON, JUANITA located in the midwest Juanita is considered the Foremother of Filk, THE original filker. Has written several books and short stories with her husband Buck. Sets Martha Keller poetry to music. best know for trait is her voice; Juanita has literally burned out microphones. Reminiscent of Ethel Merman. (See Appendix B, MARTHE KELLER)

CLEMENT, DECADENT DAVE Dave's got one of those smooth-as-whisky voices and a backlog of folk songs that would daunt Pete Seeger. His solo albums are must-have items, and he's also part of the folk ensemble Dandelion Wine.

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DAVIS, MEG A semi-professional folk singer. Glorious contralto voice reminiscent of Buffy Ste. Marie's. Writes and sings folk songs; best known for "Captain Jack and the Mermaid" and "Monster Lullaby."

DURNO, ALLISON a member of Urban Tapestry a filking trio. Their tape and songbook are way cool, but I'll admit that I prefer them as a multimedia experience (and not merely because they're all really, really cute). You have to see them in concert to appreciate their versions of "Interjections" (from Schoolhouse Rock) and "Yakko's Universe" (from Animaniacs).

-E-

ECKLAR, JULIA An Ohio filker with a beautiful multi-range voice. Writes, plays and sings. Best known for for singing depressing and scary songs (see Appendix A, OSE), but also co-wrote the country-western s.f. comedy epic "An Asteroid Named Rest Stop" with Leslie Fish. Featured in a semi-professional tape, DIVINE INTERVENTION. Harmful or fatal if parodied. Author of the Star Trek novel THE KOBAYASHI MARU, which does not surprise people who have heard her heartbreaking WRATH OF KHAN songs on her tape GENESIS.

ELGIN, SUZETTE HADEN A linguist, a writer of many books (she made her fame with THE GENTLE ART OF VERBAL SELF DEFENSE), including a fantasy trilogy set on a planet called Ozark, and a filker. Sings with fellow Southerner Randy Farran. Many of their songs deal with the effects of kudzu, dogs and ticks on future societies. Tapes include SOON TO BE A MAJOR EMBARRASSMENT and DRAGONS, COWS AND KUDZU.

ELMS, DUANE East coast filker whose work ranges from silly tunes to works honoring his favorite authors to his signature song, the epic s.f. ghost story "Dawson's CHRISTIAN." Often seen in a tie and 3-piece suit, which automatically makes him suspect. DR. JANE (see JANE ROBINSON)

ELLIS, JOE The RoboFilker, madman of MIDI, teacher of children and lizard of lounges, eternally hopeful and of infinite good cheer. Joe's doing a lot of instrumental filk, mostly oriented towards the eventual expansion of the space program, but that doesn't stop him from ripping the walls out with an kick-ass version of Ray Stevens's Eric the Awful.

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FANCHER, JANE (see C.J. CHERRYH)

FARRAN, RANDY Southern filker. Has had several tapes of his songs combined with those of Suzette Haden Elgin.

FISH, LESLIE The Renaissance fan. A prolific songwriter/singer who created many of the most popular filk classics. One of the original filkers. Her creations include "Banned From Argo,"three full tapes of kipples, and "Hope Eyrie." Virtuoso on her 12-string guitars, Monster and Ironballs, and infamous for creating songs only she can chord. A writer best know for for having an anthology inspired and named after a song of hers, "Carmen Miranda's Ghost is Haunting Space Station Three." Noted for her union activities, her anarchistic sympathies, and her opposition to gun control. Leslie cannot be described; she must be EXPERIENCED. (See Appendix A, KIPPLE; see also Appendix B, "BANNED FROM ARGO," "HOPE EYRIE")

FONTANA, D.C. (DOROTHY) Writer for hundreds of television shows; best known for for being writer/story-editor for both of the STAR TREK series. Sings media filks with Lynn Barker and Vincent Chin, often having a mid-afternoon filk panel at conventions to introduce people to the concept of filk music.

FLYNT, CLIF Midwest filker whose creations range from the ** ethereally ** magical ("Fragile Wall") to the tragic ("The Flying D") to the ridiculous ("Unreality Warp"). Famous for his funny songs and parodies as well as his moving and tragic ones. Teamed up with Mary Ellen Wessels for several filk tapes. Wrote "Ian the Grim." (See Appendix B, "IAN THE GRIM")

-G-

GERDS, ERIC Does not sing, play or write songs. "So why is he a filker?" you ask. He organizes filk cons, shows up at filksings, listens attentively, and sells our tapes (through his company, DAG PRODUCTIONS, produces tapes, and songbooks) He also chaired seven Con-Chord conventions. You wanna ask that question again?

GOLD, LEE and BARRY Filkers from before it was called "filk." Lee edits a gaming APA (see Appendix A, APA) and puts out the latest filk magazine fanzine (?), XENOFILKIA. Lee writes filks and Barry sings them.

GUBBS, PETTER Mr. Grubbs and I have an understanding. Every year, we meet at ConFusion in Michigan for an hour or so of wicked jokes, wicked puns, wicked women, Pete's Wicked Ale, wicked witches, Wicket the Ewok, wicked insult comedy, and wicked, wicked music. The reputation of The Tom & Pete Show has grown across the country, and now I guess we're stuck with it, which I guess is a sticky wicket. Pete has a great voice, some nifty tunes, a gorgeous wife, a great bunch of kids, and oh my GOD how that man can play guitar. If you're ever lucky enough to be at a convention with him and Chicago's Howard Harrison ("Howie and the Heathens"), two fair warnings: you probably won't get a song in edgewise, and that's fine, because you won't want to interrupt them.

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HAYES, FRANK Best known for "Never Set the Cat on Fire" and "My Twelve Years at Worldcon." He gave his name to a common, embarrassing filker disorder (see Appendix A, HAYES' DISEASE). Frank was alpha male of the California parodists until Bob Kanefsky discovered the art form.

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JONES, HEATHER ROSE Harpist, medical technician, SCA member. Her repertoire ranges from traditional Irish and Celtic ballads to songs about her work in the medical lab (some of them, such as "Wolves" and "Phlebotomist's Lament," combine fantasy elements with the technical details of the work).

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KANEFSKY, BOB Also known as "The Songworm" or "Kanef." A quiet, shy man from the San Francisco Bay area who writes the wickedest filk parodies of this age. He is not hampered by such limiting factors as taste. If he weren't so darn funny his life wouldn't be work a plugged nickel at a filk con.

KARE, JORDIN A San Francisco Bay Area singer. Ph.D. in Physics who writes many reality-based space songs, such as "Kantrowitz 1972" and "Bloody Bastards." Writes good parodies-most infamous for starting the "Drive" song avalanche with "Fool to Feed the Drive" (see Appendix B, "DRIVE" SONGS). Plays guitar well and has a furry baritone.

KRANGLE, JODI a member of Urban Tapestry a filking trio. Their tape and songbook are way cool, but I'll admit that I prefer them as a multimedia experience (and not merely because they're all really, really cute). You have to see them in concert to appreciate their versions of "Interjections" (from Schoolhouse Rock) and "Yakko's Universe" (from Animaniacs).

-L-

LACKEY, MERCEDES (MISTY) Does not write music; rarely sing; but she writes song lyrics over which the best tunesmith or songwriters in filkdom duel (for the privilege of setting them to music). Leslie Fish usually wins. The combination of Misty Lackey words and Leslie Fish music is called a Leslac, and it is always good. Among the best Leslacs are "Feline American Princess," "Lammas Night" and "Golden Eyes." Lackey has become a professional novelist by selling several book series, as well as contributing short stories to numerous anthologies. She honored her home state with "The Oklahoma Weed Whacker Massacree."

LAURENT, BOB Producer of many filk tapes under his company, Wail Songs, situated in the San Francisco Bay area. Can be seen at most filk cons as the man with the shaggy brown beard behind the table full of recording equipment.

LONG, QUENTIN Self-styled God-Emperor of Filk. Has a very deep, pleasant bass. Can do a good Walter Winchell impression. Also writes a darn funny song every now and then. Mostly harmless.

LONGCOR, MICHAEL (aka MOONWOLF) An SCA filker; a baritone from Hell. When he sings "Bold Marauder," he can incite a ladies' bridge club to storm Iran barehanded. (See Appendix A, SCA)

-M-

MacDONALD, STEVE One of the "young lions," Steve's songs are mostly fantasies and romances, and his great voice and sterling guitar work sells them magnificently. I, on the other hand, love his crazed ballad "Old B-Movies", and the man does a great, great cover of Frank Hayes's "When I Was A Boy".

MAILANDER, JANE The author of this text. Lives in San Francisco area; writes parody filks, the best known of which is known as "Rosie Dawn Day of the Dead" (see CATHY COOK). Master of the ancient Japanese art of "origami." Actress- model, award-winning author and all-around bon vivant; one of the most beloved people in fandom. Writes her own biographical sketches.

MAR, KATHY San Francisco Bay Area filker. Writer of some of the most beloved standards in the genre, including "Little Green Eyes" and "Velveteen," both of which could make Vulcans weep. Parodies her own songs (which means, of course, that she will go blind someday). Peace activist and mother of twins as red-haired as herself. She also started the da ndelion conspiracy, which is trying to promote better condtions for filksingers at conventions.

MARISCHIELLO, BILL Sadly, Bill died in November 1986. But we've got one tape, Magnetic Elixir, filled with Irish traditional music and bawdy tales and at least one pun guaranteed to flatten an entire city block.

MCQUILLIN, CYNTHII A highly prolific songwriter living in the San Francisco Bay area. She specializes in songs about fantasy/horror creatures (vampires, werewolves, witches et al). Wrote "Fuel to Feed the Drive" (see Appendix B, "DRIVE" SONGS). Has sold short stories as well.

MITCHEL, TERA Known as The Ghodmudder of Filking in the Southern California area. Founder of Kushyon's Flyte House, active on most of the Con-Chord ConComs. Has worked with or produced tapes with all of the West Coast filk producers (companies). Best known for singing "Werewolf's Lament" and starting the "Closet" series of sequelitis.

MOONWOLF (see MICHAEL LONGCOR)

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NIVEN, LARRY Professional s.f. writer living in Los Angeles. Not averse to appearing at filk conventions and singing. Snappy dresser and keen dancer.

-O-

OHI, DEBBIE a member of Urban Tapestry a filking trio. Their tape and songbook are way cool, but I'll admit that I prefer them as a multimedia experience (and not merely because they're all really, really cute). You have to see them in concert to appreciate their versions of "Interjections" (from Schoolhouse Rock) and "Yakko's Universe" (from Animaniacs).

-P-

PRATHER, ANN HARLAN An operatic soprano who can blow you out of your seat with her signature song, "The Lady in Red." Best known for for her renditions of C.J. Cherryh songs, and for writing songs about the glories of flight in any form.

PORATH, MURRAY A lawyer filker. Writes many funny songs, including ones about his profession; "Won't See "Miranda'" to "Waltzing Matilda," for instance. He is also known as the "Cheap Lawyer" because sings a song by that name about himself to the tune of the Dorsai song "The Destroyer" . Lives life dangerously; he enjoys parodying Julia Ecklar (see JULIA ECKLAR) while Julia is within the same state.

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ROBINSON, JANE Known as "Dr. Jane." A Ph.D. in paleontology who writes songs about science, the community of scientists, what really goes on behind thesis writing, and dinosaurs. three tapes of her songs are out, "Dr. Jane's Science Notes" and "Wackademia." and Fossil Fever.

ROPER, BILL The "Grim Roper." Writes and sings many ose songs, including "Wind From Rainbow's End" and "The Destroyer", a notorious Dorsai ballad. Does a nice bear for "God's Own Drunk". Being happily married, however, has put a severe crimp in his ose production. (See Appendix A, DORSAI, OSE, RAINBOW'S END.)

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SAVITZKY, STEVE The bard of the computer industry. Writes moving, funny and tragic songs about silicon-based life forms. His songs include "Old Time Computing" and "The World Inside the Crystal."

SMITH, TOM While Tom is best known for his Parodies he can also bring you to tears with some of his serious songs. If you don't think that Tom can be serious we suggest that you listen to "A boy and his Frog".

STEVENS, BETH Plays the autoharp and writes fantasy songs about uppity women. best know for for "The Wrong Stuff" and "Shoot the Moon." With Janet Wilson Anderson, has put out a book of their songs called UNICORN COUNTRY, and a tape called LADY OF LIES. (See JANET WILSON ANDERSON)

SUTTON, BILL Brenda Sinclar Sutton husband. Lives in Georgia. Devastating, earthy sense of humor. Wrote "Stray Dog Man," "Do It Yourself," and "Nine to Five Barbarian" among others.

SUTTON, BRENDA Sinclar Bill Sutton's wife. A costumer. Sings, plays guitar and writes songs. Also possessed of a devastating, earthy brand of humor. Among her songs: "Absolutely Crazy", "In The Blood" and "Dear Writer."

-T-

THIESEN, PETER San Francisco Bay area songwriter and singer. Specializes in children's songs such as "A Bed is the Bed for Me" and "Kittycat Z." Writes many funny songs such as "Vampire's Lament."

THORSEN, CHRYS Head of Thor Records, a company that produces and records filk tapes. She produced some of the best filk tapes around but has since dropped out of the music industry.

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WEBER, CHRIS Featured in one of the first great filk songbooks, FANTASTIC, put out by DAG Productions (see ERIC GERDS), containing songs by him and his wife Karen Willson. Wrote "The Great Science Fiction Religious Revival and Deity Song" and "Beware of the Sentient Chili"; the latter song's lyrics were published in ASIMOV'S. Has also wrtten over 60 ho urs of children's television with his wife. (See KAREN WILLSON; Appendix B, SENTIENT CHILI)

WEISS, RICK Rick put out THE FILKING TIMES and chaired several Con-Chord conventions.

WILLETT, PAUL J. One of the original organizers of Los Angeles Filkers Anonymous (LAFA) and editor of the Philk Fee-Nom-Ee-Non (PFNEN). Writes good songs. He and his wife Janet have three children, which explains their recent gafiation from filk fandom (see Appendix A, GAFIATE).

WILLSON, KAREN Soprano, given to writing songs of magic and dragons. Very high range. Creates music as well as lyrics. Married to Chris Weber; their creative endeavors include writing over 60 hours for Saturday morning programs. Her songs include "Dragonsong" and "Children of the Future." Many of her songs have been published in FAN-Tastic #2 and can be heard on her tape "Children of the Future," which was the first filk tape ever released.

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