Hedy West has Died
According to a report by Paul Stamler on the Folk-Dj email list. Hedy West has died. A singer, banjoest and guitar player she brought the songs she learned from her west Georga family to a wide audience through a series of records for Vangard and performances at many festivals. During the mid 1960’s she lived in England and recorded for Topic Records. She was perhaps best known as the composer/arranger of “500 Miles“.
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Sieffe July 8th, 2005 at 10:16 pm #
Man, I cry for Hedy . . . I have been singing her stuff for years, like Fair Rosamund, and I will keep singing it in her memory.
Play on, dear woman . . .play on, and keep those angels in tune too . . .
Yvonne July 10th, 2005 at 9:02 am #
Hedy’s father and mother, Don and Connie West, established the Appalachian South Folklife Center in Pipestem, W.Va. Many WV people knew the family and were saddened to hear about Hedy. If someone would post her obituary when it appears, it would be much appreciated.
David July 10th, 2005 at 5:13 pm #
I met Hedy West in 1972 and held her in the highest regard. A wonderful talent indeed. I’m saddened to hear of her passing. As Yvonne mentioned in an earlier post, I would like to see her obituary.
Ken July 10th, 2005 at 9:07 pm #
I’ll certainly post anything else that I find.
-Ken
Ike N. Presson February 5th, 2006 at 11:59 am #
I would like to see her obituary, also. I was a college friend of hers.
John Doe November 8th, 2006 at 8:39 am #
i didnt know her or listen to her music, but im doing a report on her.
Josh Shirey November 9th, 2006 at 8:36 am #
I am learning about her in my class at clay county high school. She was appreciated for her works.
Cindy Walthers December 5th, 2006 at 3:28 pm #
I just learned that she recorded The Lament of Barney Graham. My grandmother, Della Mae, wrote that poem about her father when she was only 12 years of age. I also learned that Hedy’s father, Don, knew my grandma, at that time. I would have loved to have known her. I have written more about Barney, the disputes that led to his death on my website, My Appalachian Heritage.