Denise Norton O’Sullivan

Denise Norton O’Sullivan may not be well-known among traditional folkies—even fans of the traditional ballad and unaccompanied singing—but her musical heritage and credentials are as deep as the soil of western North Carolina. A ninth-generation ballad singer, Denise comes from a family making and singing traditional music in Madison County, North Carolina. Listening to Denise is like being taken to another place and time, placed in the hands of a spell-binding storyteller. The majority of her songs are narrative ballads that have been in her family for centuries.As someone fortunate enough to have heard Denise Norton O’Sullivan close up, I KNOW she will be heard from again. Denise amply proves that the old songs are still the best songs. If you like the unaccompanied ballad as rendered by a master, this recording is just what the musical doctor ordered.Comment courtesy of: San Franscisco Folk Music ClubRobert Rodriquez, March 2007