Tim Hart

: "Tim Hart is also the name of the original Theory of a Deadman drummer."

Tim Hart (born 9 January 1948, in Lincoln, England) is a retired English folk singer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of electric folk band Steeleye Span.

Early years

Tim Hart's father, Rev. Canon Dennis Hart, was the vicar of St Saviour's in St Albans. Hart began his life as a musician performing with the Rattfinks, St Albans School's second band, the first being The Zombies. In 1966, he began performing with the Blackpool born Maddy Prior, touring English folk clubs. In 1968 and 1969 the duo recorded two albums: "Folk Songs of Olde England", (Volumes One and Two).

Steeleye Span

From 1970 to 1982, Hart and Prior were the backbone of Steeleye Span. In 1971, as well as recording two albums as part of Steeleye Span, they recorded "Summer Solstice" - a much more professional recording than their first two albums, including a string arrangement by Robert Kirby, better known for his work with Nick Drake. Almost every song that Hart sang was traditional. Steeleye Span's commercial success peaked in 1975. They toured in the United States and Australia and used electric instruments more frequently. However, further hits eluded them. They announced that their 1978 tour of the United Kingdom would be their farewell.

The fragmentation

Hart took this opportunity to record a solo album, called simply "Tim Hart" in 1979. The fact that all the songs were his own compositions - apart from the very elaborate stadium rock arrangement of 'Come to my Window' - shows his attempts to diversify away from traditional folk music. Bob Johnson and Peter Knight had recorded a narrative project in 1977. Maddy outdid them all by producing two solo albums in 1978, including her own compositions. Hart appeared on one more Steeleye Span record, "Sails of Silver", before resigning in 1982. The last gig for him was at the Theatre Royal, Norwich.

At this time Hart recorded two albums of nursery rhymes for Music for Pleasure, and for his own children, using most of Steeleye Span, and other musicians who had small children and could take the project seriously. Also, in a bold move, he became a record producer for a rock band, The Monochrome Set. Their album "Eligible Bachelors" was a whimsical cynical view of relations between the sexes. Unfortunately Hart's health seriously declined, and in 1988 he emigrated to La Gomera, a small island in the Canary Islands. Abandoning music altogether, he became full time writer and photographer, married again, built himself a house on the side of a mountain, and restored his health.

"The Journey"

In 1995, Hart was persuaded to return to the United Kingdom for a five-hour marathon performance. It was a concert in aid of the charity "War Child", and featured almost every member of Steeleye Span. A recording of the live concert, "The Journey" did not appear until 1999, but was well received. Since then he has not performed outside of La Gomera. However, Park Records have announced on their website that Tim Hart will perform with Maddy Prior as part of the BBC's Electric Proms on October 23rd, 2008 [Maddy Prior Plays BBC Electric Proms] [http://www.parkrecords.com/tourdates.php] .

Discography

Tim Hart
*"Tim Hart" (1979)

Tim Hart and Maddy Prior
*"Folk Songs of Olde England Vol. 1" (1968)
*"Folk Songs of Olde England Vol. 2" (1968)
*"Summer Solstice" (1971)

Tim Hart and Friends
*"My Very Favourite Nursery Rhymes" (1981)
*"The Drunken Sailor and other Kids Favourites" (1983)

References