Leon Bibb

Leon Bibb (February 7, 1922 – October 23, 2015) was an American-Canadian actor and folk singer born in Louisville, Kentucky. His vocal style drew on classical, spiritual, and blues influences, and his career spanned Broadway, television, film, radio, and recording across several decades.

Bibb's early musical development took shape in Louisville, where he became a featured soloist in the Louisville Municipal College glee club. He subsequently studied voice in New York City, which led to his work on Broadway. His stage career extended from 1946 to 1966 and included productions such as Annie Get Your Gun, Sandhog, Flight Into Egypt, Lost in the Stars, and A Hand Is on the Gate. His Broadway work earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 1967.

Beyond the stage, Bibb built a substantial presence in American folk music. He was among the performers at the inaugural Newport Folk Festival in 1959, and he hosted his own talk show on NBC television. He provided vocals for the soundtrack to Luis Buñuel's 1960 film The Young One. In October 1963, he discussed folk music and his live album Encore! Leon Bibb in Concert on Folk Music Worldwide, an international shortwave radio station broadcasting from New York City. Around 1963 and 1964, he appeared on the national television program Hootenanny and on The Ed Sullivan Show, and he toured with Bill Cosby during that period.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Bibb was blacklisted for alleged ties to left-wing groups, a circumstance he shared with his friend Paul Robeson and a number of other American entertainers of the era. Despite the blacklist, he continued performing. In 1963, he traveled to Mississippi alongside Dick Gregory and others to participate in efforts against racial segregation. He appeared on an episode of Sesame Street in November 1970.

Bibb recorded prolifically across multiple labels. His studio discography includes Leon Bibb Sings Folk Songs (Vanguard, 1959), Tol' My Captain (Vanguard, 1960), Leon Bibb Sings Love Songs (Vanguard, 1960), Leon Bibb Sings (Columbia, 1961), Oh Freedom and Other Spirituals (Washington, 1962), Cherries & Plums (Liberty, 1964), The Now Composers (Phillips, 1967), Foment, Ferment, Free... Free (RCA, 1969), This Is Leon Bibb (RCA, 1970), Shenandoah (Leon Bibb Productions, 1997), and Lift Every Voice and Sing (2003). His live recording Encore! was released on Liberty in 1963. He also recorded collaboratively, including The Skifflers: Goin' Down To Town (Epic, 1957), A Family Affair (Manhaton, 2002) and Praising Peace: A Tribute to Paul Robeson (Stony Plain, 2006), both made with his son Eric Bibb.

After 1969, Bibb relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where he remained based for the rest of his life. In 2009, he was appointed a Member of the Order of British Columbia, at which time he was still an active performer. He is the father of acoustic blues singer and songwriter Eric Bibb and the grandfather of Swedish dancer and performer Rennie Mirro.