Renowned English folksinger Bob Davenport has been a leading voice in the revival since appearing with his Balladeers in the early '60s at Southampton's famed Fo'c'sle Folk Club. He spent the majority of his career with the Rakes, a quartet consisting of Paul Gross (fiddle), Michael Plunkett (fiddle and whistle), and Reg Hall (melodeon), with whom he spent 40 years. He has appeared on numerous compilations throughout his career, including Topic Records' excellent nautical compilation Blow the Man Down and the mining anthology The Iron Muse. He released Common Stone in 2005, a wonderful collection of traditional and contemporary folk songs with guests that include Richard & Linda Thompson, Norma Waterson, and Chumbawamba. ~ James Christopher Monger