Kevin Maynor, bass- The Ballad of Joe Hill (Robinson-Hayes)

Kevin Maynor, bass

In my uploads I have generally chosen to concentrate on great singers of the past, but I do make some exceptions. Having been enthralled a few years ago by the dark and richly sonorous bass voice of Kevin Maynor, I thought it a shame that no recording of his has been available on Youtube. Time to change that situation!

The Ballad of "Joe Hill" comes from Kevin Maynor's 1998 album of songs associated with Paul Robeson. The subject of the abovementioned song, Joe Hill, was a Swedish immigrant to the US at the turn of the 20th century. He was a songwriter, member of the IWW(Industrial Workers of the World), and labor activist who eventually ended up in Utah, where he was convicted of murder and executed in 1915. Some people believed that Joe Hill had been framed, and he was memorialized in a poem by Alfred Hayes about a dozen years after his death. The text was then set to song by Earl Robinson in 1936:

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you and me.
Says I "But Joe, you're ten years dead"
"I never died" said he,
"I never died" said he.

"In Salt Lake City, Joe," says I,
him standing by my bed,
"They framed you on a murder charge,"
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead,"
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead."

"The Copper Bosses killed you Joe,
they shot you Joe" says I.
"Takes more than guns to kill a man"
Says Joe "I didn't die"
Says Joe "I didn't die"

And standing there as big as life
and smiling with his eyes.
Says Joe "What they can never kill
went on to organize,
went on to organize"

From San Diego up to Maine,
in every mine and mill,
where workers strike and organize,
That's where you'll find Joe Hill,
it's there you'll find Joe Hill!

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
alive as you and me.
Says I "But Joe, you're ten years dead"
"I never died" said he,
"I never died" said he.

Kevin Maynor, a Fullbright Award winner and recipient of both the George London award and a Richard Tucker Career Grant, sings with a beautifully refined sound and much sensitivity. Although the song is not difficult from a technical standpoint, there is no doubt this is a major voice. I have only one question then: why isn't this man at the MET?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kevin
• Maynor
• bass
• Paul
• Robeson
• song
• Ballad
• of
• Joe
• Hill
• Earl
• Robinson
• Alfred
• Hayes

[redovisningar1]

All power to the working class!

[flimpkin4]

Beautifully sung, and what a great song about the US establishment's corruption & violence 100 years ago.

[christiecheung]

Uuuuuuiku

[MiserableOldFart]

Stop Walker! Stop Christie! Stop the galloping fascism sweeping over the USA, for the love of your children and for those who died to make this country free!

[187ichiban]

To Arms against Fascism!

[biglhot75]

Power in the voice with one of the most beautiful timbre i've ever heard. Bravo

[LindsayCurran]

Ordered Paul Robeson Remembered last night! Listened to everything I could find Kevin Maynor singing: Maynor's voice equals Paul Robeson, my humble opinion

[LindsayCurran]

many many thanks for this: First I have heard Kevin Maynor. superb voice!! He follows Robeson version, and his voice almost approaches Robesons! Thank you!!

[andjack]

And there is still death scentenses...

[TAOC24]

to my thousands of fans. please do not by this disc from fleurdeson classics . they have never paid me royalties !!!!!

paul robeson remembered