Fun Trivia : Gibson, Bob

Structure Sub-topic of: Music D-G Quizzes Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 15 general entries. Special Topics Anatomy Of A Song: Super Skier's Last Race

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

Gibson, Bob

During his career, Bob Gibson collaborated on songs with a number of other musicians, including Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs and Bob (Hamilton) Camp. Another collaborator was the writer responsible for "A Boy Named Sue", "Queen Of The Silver Dollar", "Sylvia's Mother" and "Put Another Log on the Fire". Who was this Chicago-born Grammy award winner?

I Come For To Sing: The Bob Gibson story


Shel Silverstein. Silverstein received a Grammy for "A Boy Named Sue", the Johnny Cash hit, in 1970. Sheldon Silverstein was born on September 25th, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, and died on May 9th, 1999 in Key West, Florida. The multitalented Silverstein was an author, poet, cartoonist, songwriter, playwright and screenwriter. He was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for "I'm Checkin' Out" a song on the film "Postcards From the Edge" (1990). (In fact all four choices were Grammy winners). "Wastin' Your Time" "The Waves Roll Out", "What You Gonna Do?", "If I'm There", "Come on Back Baby (Lovesick Blues)" and "Baby, If You Don't Know Now" where all written by Gibson and Silverstein during their 35 years' collaboration.



In 1963, a country singer took the Bob Gibson song "Abilene" to the top of the US country charts. Who was that singer?

I Come For To Sing: The Bob Gibson story


George Hamilton IV. "Abilene, Abilene, prettiest town I've ever seen Women there don't treat you mean, in Abilene, my Abilene." Written with John D. Loudermilk, the song also reached number 15 in the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Gibson always declined to say whether the song was about Abilene, Texas or Abilene, Kansas.



Early in his career, Bob Gibson had a hit with a song with a South African link. What was it called?

I Come For To Sing: The Bob Gibson story


Marching To Pretoria. "I'm with you and you're with me and So we are all together, So we are all together, So we are all together. Sing with me, I'll sing with you and So we will sing together As we march along. Chorus We are marching to Pretoria, Pretoria, Pretoria, We are marching to Pretoria, Pretoria, Hurrah. It's interesting to note the similarities between the opening words of this song and that of John Lennon's "I Am The Walrus". "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together." It is said that Lennon was one of those influenced by Bob Gibson. ("Wimoweh" was popularised by Pete Seeger; "The Death of Steven Biko" was written and performed by Tom Paxton and "Bwatue" was written and performed by Phil Ochs.)



In 1957, the singer Bob Gibson landed a slot on a successful television talent show. What was it called?

I Come For To Sing: The Bob Gibson story


Arthur Godfrey and His Friends. "Arthur Godfrey and His Friends" was broadcast between 1949 and 1957 on CBS television. Others to appear on the live show included Pat Boone, Frank Parker, Carmel Quinn, Marion Marlowe, Janette Davis, The McGuire Sisters, and The Chordettes.



The folksinger Bob Gibson was noted for the breadth of a repertoire that included many children's songs. What was the name of his Emmy-nominated children's TV show?

I Come For To Sing: The Bob Gibson story


Flying Whales and Peacock's Tales. The show aired on NBC and was nominated for an award in 1991. "Funky In The Country" and "Uptown Saturday Night" were the names of two of Gibson's later albums, in 1975 and 1984 respectively.



The best of friends: With whom did the folksinger Bob Gibson form a trio in the later years of his life?

I Come For To Sing: The Bob Gibson story


Tom Paxton and Anne Hills. After years in and out of jail and rehab for his alcohol and drugs dependency, Gibson finally got straight and although he never regained his leading place in the folk music world, he successfully toured with Tom Paxton and the young Anne Hills as "The Best of Friends". An album of the same name was released in 2004. Earlier, Gibson produced several of Paxton's best LPs. Ironically, Gibson and his friend Bob Camp had many years before rebuffed efforts of the promoter Albert Grossman for them to work with a female singer as a trio. Grossman went on to find and promote Peter, Paul & Mary.



In 1959, Bob Gibson was one of the busiest and best known singers on the folk music scene. In that year he introduced a new young singer at the Newport Folk Festival. What was the name of this songbird?

I Come For To Sing: The Bob Gibson story


Joan Baez. Baez was one of the singers that Gibson picked to open for him in performances at the Gate of Horn club in Chicago. Odetta and Judy Collins also appeared at the club with Gibson. (Please do not think I am being rude or demeaning to Joan Baez by calling her a Songbird, that was the title of one of her own very lovely songs.)



What was the name of the Chicago folk club where Bob Gibson was one of the earliest headliners?

I Come For To Sing: The Bob Gibson story


Gate of Horn. The Gate of Horn was founded by Albert Grossman and opened in 1956. Gibson had an early 11-month residency. During his time there, he introduced many aspiring singers as his opening acts, among them Joan Baez.



But for a chance meeting, the world of folk music might have been denied the talent that was Bob Gibson. He was destined for a career in business until he met a famous folkie and everything changed. Who was that inspiration?

I Come For To Sing: The Bob Gibson story


Pete Seeger. Gibson had traveled throughout much of the USA after leaving school and was set for a career in a company that promoted speed-reading classes. Then, in 1953, he met Seeger and used money set aside for rent to buy a banjo.



Bob Gibson was an influential figure in the world of folk music in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Then he lost his way through booze and drugs, only to enjoy a swansong 20 years later. Where was he born?

I Come For To Sing: The Bob Gibson story


New York City. Gibson was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on November 16th 1931. He was influential in folk music in the late 1950s and 1960s, then lost his way through a dependency on alcohol and drugs before reappearing - clean and dry - in the 1980s. In the late 1980s he began to show the first signs of an illness that was to be diagnosed as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and died on September 28th 1996 in Portland, Oregon. His daughter, Meridian Green, followed him into the music business.