William Pint

William Pint performs vocals, guitar and octave mandolin with his partner, Felicia Dale, in Pint & Dale.  Born on December 20th, 1953, he was led astray into the folk world in 1970. William was wooed away from his early rock and roll influences (The Who, The Kinks, and The Beatles) by the folk/rock sounds of Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention. This led to a growing interest in the more traditional, less electric music of such artists as Martin Carthy, John Renbourn, The Chieftains and the eclectic songs of the Incredible String Band.

In 1977 he headed west to escape the cold Wisconsin winters of his native Milwaukee and to pursue music. The salt air of Puget Sound and the rich, seafaring history of the Pacific Northwest soon led him to explore the song and lore of the deep-water sailors. With his band Morrigan he recorded an album of Irish tunes and nautical songs By Land or By Sea, for Folkways Records in 1979. Along with composer Paul Ely Smith and Robert Kotta in the group Ellipsis, he investigated the unusual combination of minimalist, folk and classical music. Flying Fish Records released their 1984 eponymous recording produced by the late Irish music genius Mícheál Ó Dhomhnàill. The same trio also performed and recorded as Copperfield, a popular Northwest band specializing in British Isles and Celtic music. The trio opened concerts for Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy, Silly Wizard, John Renbourn, David Bromberg and others.

In performance, William Pint’s emotionally expressive singing is complemented by his powerful guitar and mandola work with which he can supply settings of great delicacy or wild, driving rhythms.