Bob Coltman (born November 17, 1937, New Rochelle, New York, United States) is an American singer of traditional songs, songwriter, guitarist and banjoist, and author.
[1] In 1959 Bob traveled in the US west, southwest, and Mexico with skier-climber-singer Bill Briggs, influencing a number of singers who would take part in the folk song revival of the 1960s.
College concerts, coffeehouse, folk festival and other appearances in the US northeast and Middle Atlantic states led to Coltman’s three solo LPs issued on the Minstrel label.
He is credited with developing unique guitar and banjo styles influential within the folksong revival, and has appeared as sideman on recordings by Ed Trickett, Bob Zentz, and Joe Hickerson.
As a songwriter in the traditional mold, Coltman is credited with a number of contemporary folk standards including “Web of Birdsong (If You Will Weave Me),” “Death of John Kennedy,” “Lonesome Robin,” “Before They Close the Minstrel Show,” and the widely praised Christmas song “Make My Present Small.”