Norman Blake (born March 10, 1938, Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States) is an American instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter. In a career spanning more than 60 years Blake has played in a number of folk and country groups. He is considered one of the leading figures in the bluegrass revival of the 1970s and is still active today, playing concert dates and making albums with his wife Nancy Blake.
Biography
When he was one year old, his family moved to Sulphur Springs, Georgia where he was raised.
Norman Blake quit school at age 16 to play mandolin in a band. His first band, The Dixie Drifters, played the Tennessee Barndance on WNOX Radio in Knoxville, TN. Later, they went to WDOD Radio, and from there to WROM-TV in Rome, GA where they stayed until 1956. Norman then worked with banjoist Bob Johnson as The Lonesome Travellers. They joined with Walter Forbes in making two records for RCA. In 1959, Norman left those groups to go with Hylo Brown and the Timberliners, although he continued as a duet with Bob Johnson in making several guest appearances on WSM's Grand Ole Opry.
Blake and Sean Dickson (The Soup Dragons) were in The Faith Healers together, which also contained various members at different times Stevie Gray, Hugh McLaughlin, Brian Carson and Colin Murray to name but a few.
Blake and Carson were also in another Bellshill band Finding Faust which also had Paul Quinn and John & Bobby Nailen.
Blake was a member of the Glasgow group, The Pretty Flowers, with school friend Duglas T. Stewart, Frances McKee, Janice Cochrane and Sean Dickson. After the group split Blake formed the Boy Hairdressers in 1986, the original lineup being really just Blake assisted by Dickson and Stewart. Later Blake was joined by Joe McAlinden, Jim Lambie and three future members of Teenage Fanclub Raymond McGinley, Francis Macdonald and Paul Quinn (after Macdonald's departure). The group recorded one EP for 53rd and 3rd Records featuring three of Blake's compositions.
Strathdon (/stræθˈdɒn/; Gaelic: Srath Dheathain) is an area in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is situated in the strath of the River Don, 45 miles west of Aberdeen in the Highlands. The main village in the strath is also called Strathdon, although it was originally called Invernochty due to its location at the confluence of the River Don and the River Nochty.
Strathdon is an informal geographical area, this means there are no precise boundaries in terms of where it begins or ends. It is the founding place of the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society, and the Lonach Highland Gathering. This is a traditional Highland Gathering with the heavy events such as tossing the caber, hammer etc., and also hosts a competition of Highland dancing. Dances include the noted 'Highland Fling', 'Sword Dance', 'Seann Truibhas' and 'Reel of Tulloch'.
Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) - Everything Flows.mp4
Performing Teenage Fanclub and Jonny tracks, as well as some choice covers, one of Scotland's most gifted songwriters is captured performing an exclusive acoustic set at Modern Lovers Blaest Trondheim residency in April 2012.
published: 11 Aug 2012
Norman Blake - Alcoholiday - Live at the Carleton
Norman Blake w/ the Halifax All-Stars, Live at the Carleton, HUFF 2015
published: 09 Sep 2015
Norman Blake - The Banks of Strathdon
Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub, with The Beep Seals. Live in Glasgow at Nice n Sleazys 15th August 2008.
published: 17 Aug 2008
Norman Blake and David Scott - Baby Lee
Norman Blake and David Scott - Dunfermline Carnegie Hall 16th May 2008. Playing Baby Lee as part of Tigerfest.
published: 19 May 2008
Darling Will You Marry Me Twice - Duglas T Stewart, Norman Blake & National Jazz Trio of Scotland
Duglas T Stewart of BMX Bandits and Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub join the National Jazz Trio of Scotland to perform Ivor Cutler's 'Darling Will You Marry Me Twice?'
published: 29 Jan 2011
Yellow Fly by Ivor - Duglas T Stewart, Norman Blake & National Jazz Trio of Scotland
Duglas T Stewart of BMX Bandits and Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub join The National Jazz Trio of Scotland to perform Ivor Cutler's 'Yellow Fly'
published: 29 Jan 2011
Norman Blake and the Beep Seals The Concept
Norman and the Beep Seals play Nice n, Sleazy in Glasgow.
published: 17 Aug 2008
Flim Flam Flum (Ivor Cutler) - Duglas T Stewart, Norman Blake and National Jazz Trio of Scotland
Performing Teenage Fanclub and Jonny tracks, as well as some choice covers, one of Scotland's most gifted songwriters is captured performing an exclusive acoust...
Performing Teenage Fanclub and Jonny tracks, as well as some choice covers, one of Scotland's most gifted songwriters is captured performing an exclusive acoustic set at Modern Lovers Blaest Trondheim residency in April 2012.
Performing Teenage Fanclub and Jonny tracks, as well as some choice covers, one of Scotland's most gifted songwriters is captured performing an exclusive acoustic set at Modern Lovers Blaest Trondheim residency in April 2012.
Duglas T Stewart of BMX Bandits and Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub join the National Jazz Trio of Scotland to perform Ivor Cutler's 'Darling Will You Marry Me ...
Duglas T Stewart of BMX Bandits and Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub join the National Jazz Trio of Scotland to perform Ivor Cutler's 'Darling Will You Marry Me Twice?'
Duglas T Stewart of BMX Bandits and Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub join the National Jazz Trio of Scotland to perform Ivor Cutler's 'Darling Will You Marry Me Twice?'
Performing Teenage Fanclub and Jonny tracks, as well as some choice covers, one of Scotland's most gifted songwriters is captured performing an exclusive acoustic set at Modern Lovers Blaest Trondheim residency in April 2012.
Duglas T Stewart of BMX Bandits and Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub join the National Jazz Trio of Scotland to perform Ivor Cutler's 'Darling Will You Marry Me Twice?'
The other night dear, as I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken So I hung my head and I cried You are my sunshine, my only sunshine You make me happy when skies are gray You'll never know dear, how much I love you Please don't take my sunshine away I'll always love you and make you happy If you will only say the same But if you leave me and love another You'll regret it all some day You are my sunshine, my only sunshine You make me happy when skies are gray You'll never know dear, how much I love you Please don't take my sunshine away You told me once, dear, you really loved me And no one else could come between But not you've left me and love another You have shattered all of my dreams You are my sunshine, my only sunshine You make me happy when skies are gray You'll never know dear, how much I love you Please don't take my sunshine away In all my dreams, dear, you seem to leave me When I awake my poor heart pains So when you come back and make me happy I'll forgive you dear, I'll take all the blame You are my sunshine, my only sunshine You make me happy when skies are gray You'll never know dear, how much I love you