Barry Dransfield
Barry Dransfield (born 1947 in Harrogate, West Riding of Yorkshire), was an English folk singer, fiddler, cellist and guitarist. He appeared as a session musician on numerous albums by other artists, and released his own albums as well. The Rout of the Blues (1971) was voted Melody Maker folk album of the year. His 1972 album for Polydor simply called Barry Dransfield was voted the rarest folk album in Record Hunter, worth approximately £400 . Unlike most fiddlers (but like some Appalachian players) he was comfortable playing in the "off the chest" position, instead of under the chin.
Together with his brother Robin, he was a member of a bluegrass/old-time band while still in his teens. Always innovative, he generally avoided electric instruments. The instrumental "Blacksmith", on Fiddler's Dream, is a complex set of variations in Romantic Paganini style, with no obvious relation to the song "Blacksmith", but ending with a double-tracked voice of Dransfield singing the finishing line, "Oh, Witness Have I None, save God Almighty". Fiddler's Dream has been re-issued on Castle with many bonus tracks.
His death was reported on 14 June 2026.
Similar Artists