Bob Louisell

Artist Information

Biography

Bob Louisell descended from French Canadian and Irish immigrants on his father’s side and Jewish Lituanians on his mother's side. He grew up in Duluth, Minnesota on Lake Superior. He resides in the Minneapolis area. He has also lived in El Paso, Texas; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Urbana, Illinois; and Richmond, Virginia. For the past 35 years, has performed for outdoor concert venues. coffee houses, pubs, and folk radio shows. His musical sources range from artists like Stan Rogers and Jimmy McCarthy to John Prine, John Denver, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Bob Dylan. He also does many traditional Celtic and American songs. Bob’s version of City of New Orleans is better than the train ride! For 33 years, Bob was an elementary teacher and a professor of education. He booked concerts, radio shows, and gigs during his vacations. His music was a respite from his busy and challenging work. At 57 years of age, he is now retired and ready to share his musical talents more frequently. During his spare time, he spends time outdoors, hiking with his white labrador, Denver, in northern woods and lakes. His wife, Marie, is also descended from French Canadians. They have two grown daughters, and
Sarah Louisell is one of them. Her voice is currently taking Minneapolis by storm! If you think Judy Collins cut the definitive version of Wild Mountain Thyme, then you haven’t heard Sarah’s version on From Across the Years: A Collection, a CD recently produced by Bob Louisell (To hear Sarah Louisell's recording of this song, go to the Sonicbids Audio Files provided with this EPK). Her musical interests include folk, country, bluegrass, and jazz. She also writes and performs her original songs. She has sung with Renaissance Chorales and other choral groups. Sarah speaks French and English fluently and she sings in three languages. Bob and Sarah have recently begun performing together. Their mix of harmonies is a lovely thing to hear--especially in their versions of Cool Water, The Dutchman, Turning Towards the Morning, and Down To the River to Pray. Their most recent gig was at the Lake Harriet bandshell in Minneapolis for a crowd of over 300.

Instrumentation

Bob Louisell: Vocals, Guitar
Sarah Louisell: Vocals, Guitar, Tin Whistle

Discography

CD available at CDBaby (www.cdbaby.com); individual tunes available at most digital downloading sites, including itunes.

The Dutchman (Michael Smith)
Fiddler's Green (Traditional)
Cool Water (Bob Nolan)
City of New Orleans (Steve Goodman) ``````
Mr. Bojangles (Jerry Jeff Walker)
No Frontiers (Jimmy McCarthy)
Forty-Fiver Years (Stan Rogers)
Vincent (Starry Starry Night-Don McClean)
Rocky Mountain High (John Denver & Mike Taylor)
Turning Towards the Morning (Gordon Bok)
Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door (Bob Dylan)
One Red Rose (John Prine)
Shifting, Whispering Sands (V.C. Gilbert & Mary M. Hadler)
Minnesota Lullaby (Bob Louisell)
Wild Mountain Thyme (tune, traditoinal Scottish; words by Francis McPeake)

Official Website

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/louisell

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace

Audio

• The Dutchman
  Listen  
• Wild Mountain Thyme
  Listen  
• 45 Years
  Listen  
• Cool Water
  Listen  
• Turning Towards the Morning
  Listen  
• Minnesota Lullaby
  Listen  

Lyrics

• The Dutchman
• Minnesota Lullaby

Video

MVI_0008.MOV

Mr. Bojangles

Starry, Starry Night

Photo Gallery

Press

• Press release for Bob Louisell: From Across the Years [+ Show ]
  

  There’s a new voice in the acoustic scene. It’s uniquely original, fresh, and yet mature. The singe... There’s a new voice in the acoustic scene. It’s uniquely original, fresh, and yet mature. The singer is Bob Louisell, whose velvety voice belies its power, drawing notes of wisdom out of little known songs and lending inspiration to more familiar tunes. He accompanies himself on guitar and his daughter, Sarah, sings crisp, clear harmonies in a soprano from the beyond! Lead guitarist John Roth picks delicate guitar strains that counterpoint Bob’s guitar and vocals. This compilation is eclectic. It is comprised of traditional and contemporary folk music as well as some popular songs from the 60s and 70s that hark to the garden we left behind--songs like Rocky Mountain High, City of New Orleans, Mr. Bojangles, and Vincent (Starry, Starry Night). Sarah and Bob alternate in singing each of 5 verses in an especially lovely rendition of Turning Towards the Morning. Sarah finishes the album with a solo version of Wild Mountain Thyme.
  Taken together, these 15 songs convey a longing for a simpler life than the one most of us lead today. But, while the sentiment of these songs looks backward, their emotions carry you forward! British Disc Jockey “Gozzer” had this to say: "When a song starts and grabs me by the bollocks that means it is going to be on our playlist... The CD was brilliant and, boy I had a lousy day today, and it cheered me up!" (godzicz@btopenworld.com)

• Boy, I had a lousy day and this really cheered me up! [+ Show ]
  

  i nicked this copy becuase i am radio station manager and listerned to it. when a song starts and gr...i nicked this copy becuase i am radio station manager and listerned to it. when a song starts and grabs me by the bollocks that means the song is going to be on our playlist. this cd is going to be on our play list I do not want to offend bob but this a male version of eva grahem, i would reccomend him bombarding bbc radio2 here in the uk and also radio caroline with cd's , bob we had a singer here inthe uk called Ralph Mc Tell and he used the same techinque in his singinging as you have to bring a message home the cd was brillant and boy i had lousey today and it cheared me up gozzer godzicz@btopenworld.com

• Labour of Love [+ Show ]
  

  This is what folk music was like in the old days. Just singing and picking your way through songs yo...This is what folk music was like in the old days. Just singing and picking your way through songs you love. Discredited these days where everything has to have a greater purpose, but there is something oddly affecting about this CD. Maybe it’s because I remember listening to lots of those songs on the old steam radio in the kitchen, back when I was a nipper. Perhaps it’s because I hate hearing classic songs being despoiled by everyman and his songbook. You’ll know most of these songs, and you probably like most of them, deep down, but let your sense of cool get in the way. Well don’t. It’s silly. Instead let “City of New Orleans”, “Mr. Bojangles”, “Rocky Mountain High” and “11. Trying To Get To Heaven Before They Close the Door” wash over you. If there is one fault, it’s that a lot of the arrangements are similar, but you can forgive that when you read the liner notes, and realise what a labour of love this is.
  

• "One Genuine Guy" [+ Show ]
  

  Reviewer: Smother.net (click for website) Genuine folks in music are sometimes as difficult to fi...Reviewer: Smother.net (click for website)
  Genuine folks in music are sometimes as difficult to find as genuine music. That’s why I’m proud to hold in my hand one damn find album compiled by one genuine guy, Bob Louisell. Comprised of a wild eclectic mix of folk music ranging from traditional folk to 60’s/70’s folk pop to even Irish and Scottish folk tunes. “Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door” by Bob Dylan is covered with a nod to the great songwriter that he’d be proud of. Bob employs his daughter Sarah to join him in vocals and it’s amazing how well they harmonize together. Not often will you find a cover album of this variety so when you do you have to hold it close for the vulture of CD borrowers may not give it back! - J-Sin

Setlist

The Dutchman (Michael Smith)
Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound (T. Paxton)
Last Thing On My Mind (Tom Paxton)
Cool Water
Wild Mountain Thyme (Traditional)
Turning Towards the Morning (Gordon Bok)
Down to the River to Pray
Me and My Uncle
Someday Soon
Today
45 Years (Stan Rogers)
Rocky Mountain High (John Denver & Mike Taylor)
Eres Tu
Fiddler’s Green (Traditional)
Streets of El Paso (Marty Robbins)
No Frontiers (Jimmy McCarthy)
Ballad of Dan Moody (Michael Smith)
Cockles and Mussels (Traditional)
Minnesota Lullaby (Bob Louisell)
City of New Orleans (Steve Goodman)
Down By the Sally Garden
Starry, Starry Night (Don Maclean)
Jamaica Farewell
One Red Rose (John Prine)
Hello In There (John Prine)
Broom of the Goween K
Shifting, Whispering Sands
Boulder to Birmingham (Emmylou Harris)
House Carpenter (Traditional)
Leavin’ On a Jet Plane (John Denver)
Brand New Key
Peggy and the Soldier (Traditional)
Teardrops Will Kiss the Morning Dew (A. Krauss band)
Sweet Surrender (John Denver)
Girl of the North Country (Bob Dylan)
I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash)
Matthew (John Denver)
Home to Me Is Anywhere You Are (Tom Paxton)
Wonder Child (Jimmy McCarthy)
Sal (Sarah Louisell)
The Old Playground (Bob Louisell)
Mr. Bojangles
This City Life (David Mallett)
Something in the Rain (Tish Hinajosa)
Help Me Make It Through the Night (Kris Kristofferson)
Island in the Sun
Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues (Waylon Jennings)
Yellowstone (John Denver)
Song for All Lovers (John Denver)
Sea of Heartbreaks (Johnny Cash)
Hello Trouble (Johnny Cash)
I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash)
Suzanne (Leonard Cohen)
Tom Thumb's Blues (Dylan)
Universal Soldier (Donovan)
Ettrick (Robert Burns)
Chicaquita (Abba)
Guantanamera
Wildfire (Michael Martin Murphy)
10 Degrees and Gettin' Colder (Gordon Lightfoot)
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (Eric Bogle)
The First Cut Is the Deepest (Cat Stevens)
You Ain't Going Nowhere (Bob Dylan)
Late for Your Life (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
Boy from the Country Michael Martin Murphy)

Basic Requirements

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