Glenn Yarbrough was a famous American folk singer and guitarist who had a successful solo career and was the lead singer of the popular trio the Limeliters in the early 1960s. He was known for his songs such as “Baby the Rain Must Fall”, “It’s Gonna Be Fine”, and “San Francisco Bay Blues”. He was also a sailor and a philanthropist who founded a school for orphans in Mexico. He died on August 11, 2016, at the age of 86, from complications of dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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The Life and Career of Glenn Yarbrough
Glenn Yarbrough was born on January 12, 1930, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up in New York City, where he sang in the church choir as a boy soprano. He attended St. Paul’s School in Maryland and St. John’s College in Annapolis, where he became interested in folk music after hearing Woody Guthrie perform. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he worked as a code breaker and an entertainer.
After the war, he moved to Aspen, Colorado, where he bought a ski lodge with his friend Alex Hassilev, who would later become his bandmate in the Limeliters. The lodge, called the Limelite, was a venue for folk music and attracted many performers and fans. Yarbrough also recorded his first solo album, Here We Go Baby, in 1957, for Elektra Records, which was founded by his college roommate Jac Holzman.
In 1959, Yarbrough joined Hassilev and Lou Gottlieb to form the Limeliters, a folk group that blended humor, harmony, and social commentary. The Limeliters became one of the most popular acts of the folk revival, recording several albums and appearing on TV shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show. Yarbrough was the lead singer and guitarist of the group, and his distinctive tenor voice was a key element of their sound.
Yarbrough left the Limeliters in 1963 to pursue a solo career. He signed with RCA Victor and recorded several albums and singles, including his biggest hit, “Baby the Rain Must Fall”, which was the title song of a 1965 movie starring Steve McQueen and Lee Remick. He also sang the vocals for the 1977 animated version of The Hobbit, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. He collaborated with other artists such as Rod McKuen, Marilyn and Alan Bergman, and Fred Neil.
The Restlessness and Philanthropy of Glenn Yarbrough
Yarbrough was not satisfied with the music industry and often felt restless and unhappy. He once said, “I never made an album I liked”. He also had a passion for sailing and spent much of his time and money on his sailboats. He had three different boats, named Jubilee, Brass Dolphin, and Ragtime. He sailed around the world, visiting places such as Tahiti, Australia, and South Africa.
Yarbrough also had a humanitarian side and was involved in various charitable causes. He founded a school for orphans in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, called the Glenn Yarbrough School. He donated money and equipment to the school and visited it regularly. He also supported environmental and anti-war movements and performed at benefit concerts for various causes.
Yarbrough was married four times and had five children. His marriages were to Mary Ann Jenkins, Annie Graves, Margaret Ellen Harrell, and Kathleen Pommer. His children were Holly, Stephanie, Sean, Michael, and Erica. He had several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The Death and Legacy of Glenn Yarbrough
Yarbrough suffered from dementia and COPD in his later years. He had trouble remembering his songs and his friends. He also had difficulty breathing and needed oxygen. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he lived with his daughter Holly and her husband. He died on August 11, 2016, at their home, surrounded by his family and friends. He was listening to his song “Baby the Rain Must Fall” when he passed away.
Yarbrough was remembered as a talented and versatile singer, a witty and charming performer, a generous and compassionate person, and a free-spirited and adventurous soul. He influenced many other musicians and inspired many fans. He was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2017, along with the Limeliters. His music lives on in his recordings and in the hearts of his listeners.
According to Wikipedia, Glenn Yarbrough was an American folk singer and guitarist. He was the lead singer (tenor) with the Limeliters from 1959 to 1963 and also had a prolific solo career. He recorded “Baby, the Rain Must Fall” and sang vocals in the 1977 animated version of The Hobbit. He was also a sailor and had three different sailboats. He was married four times and had five children. He died on August 11, 2016, from complications of dementia and COPD.
