Old Sea Songs Live On In Virginia

(CBS)  For a career fisherman, being relegated to opening oysters on dry land, kind of "shucks," or so says 76-year-old James Carter.

Carter says he used to love being out in the open sea, CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports in this week's Assignment America.
He fished Chesapeake Bay for menhaden, a kind of fish. Carter says that 50 years ago, they used to catch them by the thousands, using nothing but nets and songs.

"You can raise more fish by singing than any other way I know," Carter explains.

The songs are called shantys. And the singers are the North Neck Shanty Singers. These men — just like their fathers and their fathers' fathers — used to sing the songs as they hoisted their nets.

Carter says it was "a lot of hard work." It sure wasn't fly fishing they were doing. And because it was such hard work, they would use the rhythm of the songs to help them pull together, literally.

Shanty-singing pretty much went away in the 1960s when automation took over the heavy lifting. Today, just a handful of men still remember. They're determined to keep the music and stories alive — at least as long as they are.

---

If you would like to purchase a CD of the North Neck Shanty Singers, you can contact Lloyd Hill at [e-mail]

[bhgothie]

In Baltimore there is a local pub where folks gathered to sing sea chanteys once a month as recently as last fall. Neighbors gather for about two hours, singing not only African American work chanteys , but ones of the seafaring tall ship crews in the 1800's. Cast your research net farther afield.

[keansburg3]

I was very pleased to be able to hear this group perform in the small town of Keansburg New Jersey. The Arts Council of Keansburg had this group as on of their concerts. They were great! Here is more info on this group and the Arts Council of Keansburg. www.keansburgarts.com

[clf146]

Last week , I voted for the "Shanty Singers" and was looking foward to watching the segment. However, it was very disappointing as I believe there were some errors made. First of all, they are from the Northern Neck of Virginia, not the North Neck. The comment made about not seeing any white folks in the picture, I feel was quite inappropriate and I am white. Maybe more reserach/time needs to go into these segments. I see why CBS evening news is in third place in the ratings. I like Katie Couric, thus the reason I watch teh CBS evening news.

[gladys_over]

RE: "The songs are called shantys. And the singers are the North Neck Shanty Singers."

A most unfortunate typo by whoever wrote this story.

The word is "chantey," a sailors' song, especially one sung in rhythm to work. This is not exclusively or typically Black music. White sailors have been singing sea chanteys for centuries. In the film "Jaws," the character Quint sings some sea chanteys to amuse his crewmates.

A "shanty" is a a crudely built hut, cabin, or house. It also implies low economic status, as in the phrase "Shanty Irish."

[prveye]

i'm sure as news reporters you strive to be correct & politically corect, however there is a
misconception that all black american's like bieng
refered to as african american. that is so wrong.
i enjoyed the artical regarding fisherman, but
they were called colored or negro not afro-american. black "american"'s are what we are. we
are born in this country & in this country is where we will stay. i talk to many young & old
black americans & they agree that this is a misconception gone awry. while i enjoy your articles, i cringe wnen the term "african american" is uttered or used.