John Roberts Retiring from Performing

[David Barnert]

John Roberts, anglo concertina player extraordinaire, has sent an email to “Dear friends” announcing that due to declining health he is “retiring as a performing musician, and I feel I must also withdraw from outside responsibilities, including my Old Songs commitments.” He requests no phone calls, “For the time being, should you wish to get in touch, please email first and we’ll get back to you as we are able.”

 

But please, do not bombard him with emails either.

 

For those who may not know, Sunday, May 5th was John’s 80th birthday and he gave a sold-out performance for the occasion at Old Songs in Voorheesvile, NY (near Albany).

 

The concert was streamed live and is now available for on-demand viewing:

 

 

That’s my bald head visible in the audience through the whole thing, right, 2nd row, on the aisle, with my much shorter wife, Julie, to my right. Note me blotting a tear at 2:12:37 and 2:13:14 as he finally sings the song I was hoping to hear all evening.

[Jim Besser]

Sad news.  He and Tony were mainstays of our community. I took a terrific Anglo workshop with John at the Button Box many years ago. Noel Sing We Clear was a big part of the holiday season for at least 40 years.

 

And, of course, he and Tony encouraged so many to eat bertha's mussels.

[Dan Worrall]

Oh my, how sad to see that man retire! I only heard him in person on one occasion - we brought him to East Texas a decade ago for one of our annual concertina workshops at Palestine - but he was a fixture at our house every Christmas for several decades, as the Nowell Sing We Clear series of recordings were always getting air time, and his voice always soared on the old carols. And such beautiful concertina playing! Thanks for posting this; very best wishes to John in his retirement.

Dan

[David Barnert]

Here he is in happier days.

 

 

[Mike Franch]

And, sadly, Bertha's Mussels (the restaurant) closed in October 2023.