They also performed and recorded fare such as sea shanties of the North Atlantic, and an album of traditional drinking songs.

The duo was also half of the related act Nowell Sing We Clear—which in addition to a number of albums—performs an annual yuletide concert series.

Born in Worcestershire, England, of Welsh ancestry, Roberts moved to the United States to study graduate level psychology at Cornell University, where he formed his longtime music partnership with Tony Barrand in 1968.

Roberts also had a solo career, was a member of the trio Ye Mariners All (with John Rockwell and Larry Young), and performed regularly with upstate New York's Broken String Band.

In recent years he had performed with his partner Lisa Preston, as well as folksinger Debra Cowen.