Charlie Ipcar aka Charley Noble
I was born in mid-coast Maine back in 1942, growing up on a working dairy farm. My parents, former New York City residents, always loved folksongs, and there was many a song party at the house with our neighbors and the folks from across the cove. My brother and I used to sneak out of bed late at night and listen to what they were singing from the stairwell. What we heard were old ballads, music hall songs, sea shanties, lumberjack songs, cowboy songs, and drinking songs. Quite an earful!
When I hit college in 1960 I formed my first folk singing group, learned to play the 5-string banjo, and after four years barely managed to get good enough grades to be accepted to graduate school. I then dropped out of that graduate school and spent three years in the Peace Corps, teaching science and geography to secondary school students in Ethiopia. After the Peace Corps, I was accepted at Michigan State University for graduate work in geography, eventually completing my Ph.D. in 1974. Meanwhile I was continuing to sing folksongs and protest songs with new friends there, and learning how to chase fiddle tunes with the banjo. The Elderly Instruments store extended family and the Ten-Pound Fiddle coffeehouse were major support structures.
In 1982 I returned to Maine, resettling in Portland, and helped reorganize the Portland Folk Club. We had a glorious run for about 12 years putting on concerts, hosting music swaps and organizing special musical events.
In the early 1990's some of us Folk Club members got together for a songs of the sea concert, calling ourselves Roll & Go (in honor of sea music collector Joanna Colcord). We are now a seasoned group of singers who specialize in traditional and contemporary songs of the sea with a strong emphasis on group harmonies and strong leads; some songs are backed up with guitar, banjo, concertina, washtub bass or penny whistle. Our first CD, Roll & Go: Outward Bound, was released in 2002. Our second CD is Rolling Down to Sailortown, 2005. In 2006 we were featured at the MYstic Sea Music Festival. More information about Roll & Go can be accessed from our website: www.rollandgoseasongs.com
Charley Noble, my nickname on the Mudcat Forum, is the name sailors traditionally call the chimney fitted where the galley fires were lit to take the smoke above decks aboard ships. Of course, any greenhorn sailor as part of his initiation rite was soon instructed to carry an important message to Charley, and if he were not immediately found on deck, to ask politely for help from the more experienced sailors. The search then generally led up to the main top, back down and up forward to the chain locker, down the main hatch and into the depths of the hold, a rare and wonderful exercise.
My wife and I now live in Richmond, Maine, a quiet river town some twenty miles up the Kennebec River from the coast. We share our household with two cats.
I was born in mid-coast Maine back in 1942, growing up on a working dairy farm. My parents, former New York City residents, always loved folksongs, and there was many a song party at the house with our neighbors and the folks from across the cove. My brother and I used to sneak out of bed late at night and listen to what they were singing from the stairwell. What we heard were old ballads, music hall songs, sea shanties, lumberjack songs, cowboy songs, and drinking songs. Quite an earful!
When I hit college in 1960 I formed my first folk singing group, learned to play the 5-string banjo, and after four years barely managed to get good enough grades to be accepted to graduate school. I then dropped out of that graduate school and spent three years in the Peace Corps, teaching science and geography to secondary school students in Ethiopia. After the Peace Corps, I was accepted at Michigan State University for graduate work in geography, eventually completing my Ph.D. in 1974. Meanwhile I was continuing to sing folksongs and protest songs with new friends there, and learning how to chase fiddle tunes with the banjo. The Elderly Instruments store extended family and the Ten-Pound Fiddle coffeehouse were major support structures.
In 1982 I returned to Maine, resettling in Portland, and helped reorganize the Portland Folk Club. We had a glorious run for about 12 years putting on concerts, hosting music swaps and organizing special musical events.
In the early 1990's some of us Folk Club members got together for a songs of the sea concert, calling ourselves Roll & Go (in honor of sea music collector Joanna Colcord). We are now a seasoned group of singers who specialize in traditional and contemporary songs of the sea with a strong emphasis on group harmonies and strong leads; some songs are backed up with guitar, banjo, concertina, washtub bass or penny whistle. Our first CD, Roll & Go: Outward Bound, was released in 2002. Our second CD is Rolling Down to Sailortown, 2005. In 2006 we were featured at the MYstic Sea Music Festival. More information about Roll & Go can be accessed from our website: www.rollandgoseasongs.com
Charley Noble, my nickname on the Mudcat Forum, is the name sailors traditionally call the chimney fitted where the galley fires were lit to take the smoke above decks aboard ships. Of course, any greenhorn sailor as part of his initiation rite was soon instructed to carry an important message to Charley, and if he were not immediately found on deck, to ask politely for help from the more experienced sailors. The search then generally led up to the main top, back down and up forward to the chain locker, down the main hatch and into the depths of the hold, a rare and wonderful exercise.
My wife and I now live in Richmond, Maine, a quiet river town some twenty miles up the Kennebec River from the coast. We share our household with two cats.
- Last seen right now. Member since February 7, 2006.
- I am a 65 year old man from Maine (United States)
- When I'm not writing, I'm Consultant.
- Visit my homepage at home.gwi.net/~ipbar/
- I help out as a moderator
- I am in the groups Moderators
- I have 171 comments, 18 poems
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- Thanksgiving (1961) at allpoetry
It is quiet now. - C. Fox Smith at allpoetry
C. Fox Smith was a poet most prolific, She crossed the Atlantic to the Pacific; - Propane Bill at allpoetry
Driving down Stone Bridge Lane,
Just see old Bill running propane –
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on The Listeners by Walter de la Mare, on November 16
The Listeners?
This seems the kind of poem where any one explanation runs the risk of spoiling it. Instead, we have a mystery to mull over.
Charley Noble -
on Dirge Of The Dead Sisters by Rudyard Kipling, on November 16One of the few Kipling poems that pays tribute to the courage and work of women, in this case the Red Cross nurses who worked during the Boer Wars of South Africa.
Charley Noble -
on The Blue Peter by Cicely Fox Smith, on November 13
The Blue Peter by C. Fox Smith
This poem was first adapted for singing by Bob Zentz (US), as recorded on his CD titled CLOSE-HAULED, ON THE WIND OF A DREAM, © 2007, using the traditional sea tune "Farewell and Adieu to You Spanish Ladies."
Charley Noble
Awesome!
Why am I reminded about certain website forums where one makes a brilliant post and no one responds?Charley Noble