Background

Dyer-Bennet, Richard was born on October 6, 1913 in Leicester, England. Came to the United States, 1925, naturalized, 1935. Son of Richard Stewart and Miriam Wolcott (Clapp) D.-B.

Education

Student, University California, 1932-1935;vocal studies with Gertrude Beckman, 1934-1941;vocal studies with Gertrude Beckman, Cornelius L. Reid, from 1968;guitar instruction with Jose Rey De La Torre, 1943-1946.

Career

During his peak performance years, he gave 50 concerts a year. He recorded extensively for many labels, and eventually founded his own, Dyer-Bennet Records, and recorded in his own living room. The albums he recorded on his own label have been re-released on CD by Smithsonian Folkways.

The CD Richard Dyer-Bennet 1 includes a biographical essay written by Dyer-Bennet's daughter, Bonnie, which highlights his progressive politics and his battle with a debilitating stroke in later life (he taught himself to play harp one-handed so that he could continue to perform and teach). A biography - Richard Dyer-Bennet: The Last Minstrel - by Paul O Jenkins was published in December 2009 by the University Press of Mississippi. 1980: The Odyssey on YouTube.

Works

• Other Work

  • Appeared as 20th century minstrel Village Vanguard and other clubs, New York City, early 1940's. Composed and broadcast propaganda songs Office of War Information, 1942-1943. Solo concert Town Hall, New York City, 1944, Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1944.
    
    Had repertory of 600 songs. Performed on radio. Recorded almost 24 albums, including Schubert's The Lovely Milleress, 1968.
    
    Studies, performed Robert Fitzgerald translation Homer's Odyssey, 1981-1991.

Connections

Married Elizabeth Hoar Pepper, June 1936 (divorced). Children: Ellen, Eunice. Married Melvene Ipcar, June 1942.

Children: Bonnie, Brooke.

father:

Richard Stewart D.-B.

mother:

Miriam Wolcott (Clapp) D.-B.

spouses:

Elizabeth Hoar Pepper

Melvene Ipcar

children:

Ellen Dyer-Bennet

Eunice Dyer-Bennet

Bonnie Dyer-Bennet

Brooke Dyer-Bennet