{{Short description|British folk singer and impresario (1934–96)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Roy Guest | image = | caption = | birth_name = Roy Norman Guest | birth_date = {{Birth date|1934|03|13|df=y}} | birth_place = İzmir, Turkey | death_date = {{Death date and age|1996|09|23|1934|03|13|df=y}} | death_place = Faversham, Kent, England | other_names = | occupation = Musician, promoter | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }} '''Roy Norman Guest''' (13 March 1934 – 23 September 1996) was a British folk singer and music promoter.
==Life and career== Born in İzmir, Turkey, to a British father and Ukrainian Greek mother, he grew up in Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire. He trained as an actor, and began singing and playing guitar when a teacher at Summerhill School. After moving to Edinburgh to study anthropology and psychology, he met Jim Haynes of the Traverse Theatre, and the pair collaborated on producing a series of "Howffs" or folk nights.<ref name=indy>[https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/roy-guest-obituary-5594960.html Karl Dallas, "Obituary", ''The Independent'', 23 October 1996]. Retrieved 31 January 2024</ref> Notably, Bert Jansch started his career at the club which became a meeting place for folk musicians including Archie Fisher and Owen Hand, and the folk duo of Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor.<ref name="howff">{{cite web | url=http://news.scotsman.com/obituaries/Obituary-Bert-Jansch-musician.6848398.jp | title=Obituary: Bert Jansch, musician | publisher=News.scotsman.com | date=October 6, 2011 | accessdate=October 9, 2011 | author=Steven, Alasdair}}</ref>
He came to wider prominence in the 1960s as a promoter with Harold Davison, and with Brian Epstein's NEMS enterprises. He oversaw the London concert debuts of Simon and Garfunkel,<ref name="sandg">{{cite web | url=http://www.bradfordtimeline.co.uk/mindex67f.htm | title=Concerts & Package Tours : 1967 (March - April) | publisher=www.bradfordtimeline.co.uk | accessdate=October 9, 2011}}</ref> the Incredible String Band and Fairport Convention. Other concerts he promoted included those by Benny Goodman, Joan Baez, The Who, and Led Zeppelin.<ref name=indy/> He was also an agent during the early careers of Al Stewart and Sandy Denny.<ref name="guest1">{{cite web | url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/roy-guest-1.429550 | title=Roy Guest | publisher=www.heraldscotsman.com | accessdate=October 9, 2011 | author=Adams, Rob}}</ref>
He later set up an agency and information service for the English Folk Dance and Song Society; established his own agency, Folk Directions; and organised folk festivals in the 1980s at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon. After moving to Faversham, Kent, he stood as an independent candidate in local elections, and chaired a local theatre group.<ref name=indy/>
He died in Faversham in September, 1996, at the age of 62.<ref name=guest1/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://howff.wordpress.com/howff-tae-hip-hop/ The Howff to Hip Hop by Dave Irving (2013) pp28-30]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Guest, Roy}} Category:1934 births Category:1996 deaths Category:British folk singers Category:Musicians from İzmir Category:People from Ebbw Vale Category:20th-century British male singers