Don't Pick a Flower

Don't Pick a Flower c1971

I can't tell you a lot about this duo except that it was based around the work of Singer songwriter John Leopold who had been involved with various poetry and folk events at the Coventry Arts Umbrella in the very early 70's and although John often played in the Umbrella coffee bar as conversation raged on every subject - often to the wee hours, there's not much more to say except that around 1971 they played at the Umbrella Poetryand folk nights with a full presentation in May 1971. They performed both contemporary folk and their own songs. I seem to remember being impressed with their sound and their songs.

John Leopold had performed with the Umbrella Poets in the 1970 presentation of Geoff Pegg's Knotted Sheets (launch of his poetry chapbook for Outposts) at the Belgrade Theatre. He performed one of his songs called Dinosaurs Lament. I seem to think John play at other venues with the Umbrella poets during this period as well as folk clubs.

A short bio of John Leopold exists in the Knotted Sheets programme that reads -

John Leopold
The writer of the other song, Dinosaurs Lament. A talented songwriter and guitarist who takes personal preference to the 12-string variety. His songs are apart from anything produced by other writers and they use some excellent chord sequences.

All a bit vague now but if anyone can elaborate on John or Don't Pick a Flower - please do so! Roger Williamson played the next week's Poetry and Folk.