Dick Stephens

Dick Stephens began singing in the mid-1980s at Cheddar Folk Club, forming the Belfry Boys duo, known for speleological folk parodies. He discovered folk music in the 80s whilst caving in the Mendip Hills and sung in duets, quartets and choirs. He later joined the four-part harmony group Cantoris and sang with Glastonbury Male Voice Choir for 18 years. 

He writes, “In the past few years I have discovered shanties and have successfully combined this with folk songs of the sea to be able to perform a Capella at Teignmouth.”

He was involved in a  musical show entitled “Shantyman,” based on the life of shanty John Short aka Yankee Jack of Watchet. John Short aka Yankee Jack was a shanty singer in the great days of the sailing ships and his songs are among the earliest sea shanties. Written by Phil Underwood and based on sound research, the cast included; Keith Kendrick (Muckram Wakes), Sylvia Needham, Dick Stephens (Cantoris), Denise Dryburgh (The Morning After) and Phil Underwood (DryWood). A preview was performed at Tenterden Folk Festival, October 2023 and the full show toured in 2024.