With music being subjective, making recommendations to strangers over a blog is usually pointless. But I am going out on a limb and recommending Stan Rogers because he is worth it. You will not likely be disappointed.

Stan was a Canadian folk singer of significant talent. His lovely baritone voice worked perfectly with his Celtic sound and songs that explored the plight of common working men (often fishermen and seamen).

Stan’s life ended short at the age of 33. He was in a commercial plane that had to make a forced landing due to a fire. He had made it safely out, but instead of moving to safety stood at the exit and yelled to people to follow his voice in order for them to more easily find their way out of the dense smoke filled cabin. He died of smoke inhalation.

Just earlier that same year, Robert Cusisk, a ship’s chief mate was caught in a horrible storm. He made it out of the boat but was succumbing to the icy waters. As each wave washed over him he didn’t know if he’d have the strength to swim back to the surface again. But then he remembered one of Stan’s songs, Mary Ellen Carter.

And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.

Rise again, rise again – though your heart it be broken
Or life about to end.
No matter what you’ve lost, be it a home, a love, a friend,
Be like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.

He was soon alternating “Rise again, rise again!” and holding his breath as each wave washed over him. That morning the coast guard pulled him to safety.

Cusick wrote a letter to Rogers and was invited what turned out to be his second to last concert before the plane crash.