Billboard #1 Hits: # 57- “Michael”- The Highwaymen. September 4. 1961. #1 for 2 weeks. Released on United Artists. Written by Tony Saletan. traditional. Genre: Folk. Time: 2:57. B-side: “Santiano” Grade: D

“Michael Row The Boat Ashore” was originally an African-American spiritual that originated from the days of the American Civil War- on St. Helena Island in South Carolina. The Highwaymen [not to be confused with the country supergroup of the same name with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson in the late 80’s} were a folk group formed at Wesleyan College in Connecticut. The Highwaymen had a hit with their follow up single to “Michael”- another slave song “Cotton Fields” #13 before breaking up in 1964. “Michael ” came along at the right time- during the big folk music revival of the late 50’s early 60’s. Interesting note- in 1962 a man named Gil Robbins joined the group – he is the father of actor Tim Robbins. This song was also recorded by Pete Seeger and Harry Bellafonte and in the UK Lonnie Donegan took it to #6 on the UK singles chart in 1961. In the US it has made two other chart appearances- Steve Alaimo #100 in 1963 and Trini Lopez #42 in 1964. I haven’t heard those versions but The HIghwaymen version is music that would put an insomniac to sleep.