march 2014 in the spotlight…rod...
TRANSCRIPT
Membership Renewal/App 14
In the spotlight…Rod Deacey
From the President 2
Open Mics 2
Songwriters’ SONGFEST 3
Songwriters’ SHOWCASE 3
Gear of the Month 4
Poetry with John Holly 5
Music Variety Showcase 5
Inside this issue:
Board of Directors 14
Pete Seeger Tribute Info 13
Pull up a chair 6
Comfortable Concert Series 8
Hill Chapel Concert Series 9
In the Spotlight 10
Scholarship Info 11
Traditional Folk Song Circle 12
The Songs We Sing 12
PS:A tribute to Pete Seeger — Come celebrate
his life and music March 2. Details on page 13. March 2014
A familiar
face in the
music scene
in and
around
Frederick,
Rod Deacey
is an
intriguing
character
that goes
beyond his
English
accent, the
twinkle in
his eye, and
his keen
sense of
humor.
See story on
page 10. Photo by Todd C Walker
Open Mics
Page 2
Frederick Coffee Company & Café, 100 N. East Street, Frederick:
Every Tuesday night 7-10 PM, Todd C Walker hosts. This open mic
welcomes all “family friendly” talent. Generally, performers receive the
equivalent of time for two songs each. Enjoy good food from the
enhanced menu in a welcoming and warm, inclusive atmosphere. Sign-
up list fills quickly, so come early if you can.
Beans in the Belfry, 122 W. Potomac Street,
Brunswick, Maryland: Third Thursday of each
month 7-9 PM, Tomy “One M” Wright hosts this cozy venue with great acoustics, as it
is an old church reclaimed as a coffeehouse with a friendly, relaxing atmosphere. This is a
SAW- and FAME-endorsed open mic which draws performers from both groups, as well
as the local area. Format is a first-come, first-served sign-up list with usually 2 or 3 songs
each. Percussion available upon request.
Staff photo
From the President Hi folks,
Peace,
Rick Hill
The mission of F.A.M.E. is to promote, preserve and nurture acoustic music in and
around Frederick County. We have a variety of ways that we do those things including
endorsing Open Mics and concert series. I think it is good that F.A.M.E. is gaining some
respect for being that kind of a resource. So, when people ask, I refer them to our
members' page (http://frederickacoustic.org/members-sites). If you are interested in
being listed on that page, please send me your contact information along with a sentence
or two that describes the kind of music you perform. If you have a website, that can go
in as well. If you don't have a website that is fine, just send a phone number where you
can be fairly easily reached. It would also be nice to have a picture of you or your group.
Together we can make F.A.M.E. an organization that really does promote acoustic music!
Keep listening, keep playing, keep living! ♪♪
NEW OPEN MIC VENUE !
!
The Reunion, 207 W. Patrick Street, Frederick, Wednesdays, 7:30 PM, hosted by Once In A Blue Moon
How It All Started
After spending nearly 16 years with Pargo’s and
the past four and a half years as the successful
owner of South Street Subs in New Market, Andy
Gorman is now bringing back some of Pargo’s
classics. He has teamed up with Cecilia Nuessle to
pursue his lifelong dream.
A new place where old friends meet: The
Reunion is now open for business! We serve a
variety of delicious food and seasonal beverages at
great prices. Our large menu is designed to provide
you with choices that promise to meet the needs of
everyone in your party.
Page 3
Monday Songwriters’ Showcase Brewer’s Alley, 2nd Floor, 124 N. Market Street, Frederick, MD, Shows begin at 7:30 PM
Photo courtesy of Todd C Walker
Sunday Songwriters’ Songfest Frederick Coffee Company and Café
100 N. East Street, Frederick, MD
Every other Sunday at 4 PM Todd C Walker puts together an
afternoon of local, regional, and sometimes national talent.
Songwriters perform 30-40 minute sets.
Performers are not paid, so please tip generously.
3rd Basswood
10th Brad Yoder
17th Andrew McKnight
24th Tony Denikos
31st The Potters!
March 9
Aaron Burns Nikia Sayre
March 23
Dan Mack Steve Warner
Now in its ninth year, the Monday Night Songwriters Showcase can be enjoyed every Monday at 7:30 PM in
beautiful downtown Frederick, in the upstairs dining room at Brewer’s Alley. The program begins promptly at
7:30 PM with a piano prelude. Each week a local, regional, or national songwriter showcases his/her songs
with a 35-45 minute set. Although there is no door charge, we do “pass the hat” during the featured artist
set. We also showcase three other songwriters who each perform three original songs. Somewhere in the mix,
we throw in some poetry from our resident poets, John Holly and Rod Deacey. Our emcees are Ron Goad,
Todd C Walker, and Tomy “one M” Wright. If time allows, our emcees may perform. Please come and
support LIVE MUSIC!
Our featured songwriters are a mix of national and regional touring performers, with many award winners
from all genres. If you would like a calendar for the first part of 2014, please e-mail Rod ([email protected])
and he’ll send you one. For information about playing a three-song spot, contact (1) Ron Goad:
[email protected], (2) Todd C Walker: [email protected], or (3) Rod Deacey: [email protected]. For
info on featuring (the 45-minute money spot!), contact Rod Deacey: [email protected].
Photo by Todd C Walker
Gear of the Month by Todd C Walker Page 4
If you perform music live, then you know the importance of good sound
reinforcement. If you’re a singer, then learning how to breathe correctly, project and
sing “on pitch” is paramount. Once that is achieved, it’s a great idea to use the best
microphone you can afford. A cheap mic will make you sound cheap, no matter how
good your voice is, and will have lots of handling noise. So let’s look at two affordable
professional microphones and compare them.
The tried & true Shure SM58 cardioid dynamic microphone is used on stages and in
recording studios around the world. It is one of the best-selling vocal microphones of
all time. The SM58 was introduced in 1966 and quickly became the number one choice
of rock musicians looking for a good-sounding, durable stage microphone.
The SM58 looks good, sounds good and is road tough (I’ve owned mine since the
early 1970’s). It works for rock, jazz, folk, pop and rap – a great mic for every style of
music. New you can purchase an SM58 for $99.00. Depending upon the condition,
used SM58’s can be found as low as $50-$60. Everyone should own at least one of these road warriors.
Second, a relative newcomer to the handheld vocal microphone market (2010), the AKG D5 super-cardioid
dynamic microphone is described by some industry reviewers as a new & improved SM58. AKG, founded in
Vienna, Austria in 1947, introduced the first dynamic cardioid microphone in 1953. An AKG D19c mic was
the microphone used as the overhead for Ringo Starr’s drums.
The D5 is described as having low handling noise and maximum gain before feedback. It is slightly larger
that the SM58 and has a modern angular appearance, similar to the Shure Beta 87 series and the Neumann
KMS-104/105 mics. Average retail price is $99.00. Both mics sound
great, but let’s get into the pros and cons of both.
SM58 – Warm, smooth sound with very good proximity effect (low
end is accentuated when close to the mic). Can at times sound muddy
and muffled when close-mic’d, especially with a heavy vocal. The
SM58 is a nice mic for thin-voiced vocalists and folks with good mic
etiquette. It is an overall great microphone. The only negative is the
occasional muddiness. Gain is average and may not be the best
microphone for singers with weak vocals, but I find that I can increase
gain to quite a high level before getting high-pitched feedback
(squeal).
AKG D5 – Crisp “alive” sound. Proximity effect is present but not
as predominant as the SM58. The D5 is a wonderful mic for cutting
through a band mix and for singers with weaker voices. It has almost
as much gain as my favorite condenser mic(s). Not as warm sounding
as the SM58, but crisper overall, with higher gain. I have discovered
that I have to roll off more of the highs with this mic to keep the
“crispness” in check (think high-pitched squeal) and it’s not as warm
as the SM58, but it’s louder.
Which one would I chose if I could only afford one? Both. I mean
that with all sincerity. Purchase the Shure SM58, or maybe the Beta58
(less proximity effect), save your money and then purchase a D5.
Having a back-up mic is a good thing, plus the dynamics of the room
may determine which mic you use. A heavily carpeted dead room will
be a great time to use the AKG D5. A lively room might be better
with the smoothness of the Shure SM58. It’s always good to have
choices.
Note: A third option for budget-minded folks is the Sennheiser e835
series (I own three). The e835 has about the same gain as the SM58, but is somewhat crisper with less
proximity effect. Average retail price is $99.00.
SM58 (left) and D5 (right); both are excellent
choices. Todd recommends having one of each.
Gear photos by Todd C Walker
Poetry with John Holly Frederick Coffee Company and Café, Every-other Thursday evening from 7-9 PM.
Come join us at the reserved tables at Frederick Coffee Company and Café for an
evening of poetry. We feature published poets and themes according to the season. We
always welcome original works from F.A.M.E. members and guests who would like to
share, read, or listen.
The Epicure Cafe, 11213 A Lee Highway (route 29) Fairfax, VA: Second
and fourth Wednesdays at 8 PM, hosted by Ron Goad. Open Mic: Show
up, sign up, perform 1-3 songs. Epicure is an independently owned and family
-run cafe with tasty food, including appetizers, Greek specialties, salads,
sandwiches, subs, pasta, desserts, coffee drinks, wine, and beer — ask about
The Gourmet Musical Pizza! Epicure features various creative events that fill
every night of the week, including wonderful musical acts, local art
exhibitions, open mics, poetry readings, comedy, and now: storytelling! All
this and an outdoor hookah!
Music Variety Showcase
John Holly
Photo by Todd C Walker
March 13 Open Poetry Night “Come out, get a poetry fix,
March 27 Open Poetry Night some coffee, and have fun.”
Todd Now go make some music! ♪♪
Here’s another neat gear item I found
yesterday at Home Depot - GearTie reusable
rubber twist ties. As many of you know, I run
sound for multiple events and venues. I
sometimes run 8-10 mic cables and guitar
cords, which means I have a good supply of
cables stashed in carry bags. I call them my
“spaghetti” because although I carefully coil
them before storing them into the bags, when I pull them out, one tangles into
another and I have a “spaghetti mess.” I have purchased Velcro cable ties, but
I find that they stick to each other and can be frustrating. These new GearTie thingies are great. Bright colors
so I won’t lose them, stiff enough to not unravel and perfect for allowing me to reach into a bag a pull out one
cable at a time. Two thumbs up !!
Page 5
ATTENTION MEMBERS:
Do you have a background in accounting or legal or any experience filing for
non-profit status with the IRS? If so, F.A.M.E. needs your help
Please contact Todd at
Pull up a Chair…
Folk Music and the Coffee House connection
by Frederick Folklorist
Page 6
I was asked by one of the F.A.M.E. board members a couple of years ago how I first
came to hear about their organization. I told him that when I moved to Frederick I
wanted to find a place where I could go to listen to the kind of music that I liked. That
would be acoustic music, and more precisely, acoustic folk music. I also knew that if
you wanted to find folk music in a new city the first place you go to look for it is at
the local coffee house. In this case that would be the Frederick Coffee Company. That
leads me to the topic of the article. Why, with all the different music genres in the
world, is folk music so closely associated with coffee houses?
To be honest with you, folk music in coffee houses has been around for a long time...I mean a really long
time...over 1,000 years ago…in Turkey. I’d like to focus here on the U.S. coffee houses in the early 60’s.
So, to answer the question as to why folk music and coffee houses are intertwined, you have to look at a
couple of reasons actually, but the main reason is a very practical one – space. Coffee houses tend to be
smaller, more compact places than your typical restaurant. With folk music, all you really need is space for one
person to stand with a guitar. Put him in the corner that’s not being used, he doesn’t care. All he wants is
enough room to perform. Other reasons are more social and philosophical. In the 1800’s and 1900’s coffee
houses were typically the meeting places for writers, artists, and radicals across Europe. That tradition carried
over to the U.S. when the immigrants landed and began to disperse. Coffee shops in the U.S. arose from the
espresso/pastry centered Italian coffee houses in the Italian American immigrant communities in the major
U.S. cities. Boston’s North End, San Francisco’s North Beach, and most notably in New York City’s Little
Italy and Greenwich Village.
When most people think of folk music coffee houses in the 60’s they think of Greenwich Village. When you
stop and look at how many places opened up in about a three-
year span within a four-block radius, it’s amazing. I’ve picked
just a few of them to talk about.
Gerde’s Folk City opened in 1960 on West 4th Street. Doc
Watson made his first solo performance there. Peter, Paul and
Mary’s first official performance as a trio was at Gerde’s. Bob
Dylan played his first professional gig there on April 11, 1961,
supporting John Lee Hooker. In fact, it was there at Gerde’s
Folk City that Dylan debuted “Blowin’ In The Wind.” It was
also where he met Joan Baez for the very first time.
The Gaslight Café opened in 1958, in the basement of 116
MacDougal Street. If you’ve seen the new movie “Inside Llewyn Davis” you’ve seen what the inside of the
old Gaslight Café would have looked like. It was originally a “basket house” where unpaid performers would
pass around a basket at the end of each set in
the hopes of making a little money. It was
dark, steamy and had an underground feeling,
literally, because it was in the basement. In the
Folk Music Encyclopedia, Donald Milton
wrote, “The Gaslight was weird then because
there were air shafts up to the apartments
and the windows of the Gaslight would open
into the air shafts, so when people would
applaud the neighbors would get pissed and
call the police. So then the audience couldn’t
Photo by Todd C Walker
New York City coffee house photos this page and next courtesy of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl46u6ljC4A
IMT presents weekly concerts in the fall, winter, and spring, in either Rockville or Takoma Park. They also
present special events, icon concerts, family concerts, and workshops throughout the year, as well as
occasional, Next to the House concerts in Takoma Park. Their venues range in size from 50 seats to 500 seats.
The Institute of Musical Traditions (IMT) is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which preserves
and promotes American and international folk music traditions and nurtures new styles evolving from these
cultural roots by presenting concerts, workshops, and educational programs.
applaud; they had to snap their fingers when they liked
a song.” Now you know why some folkies snap their
fingers when they approve of a performance.
The Village Gate opened in 1958, at 158 Bleecker
Street in the Village. It was really a little bit of
everything. A little folk, a little jazz, a little comedy.
Café Wha? opened in 1959, at 115 MacDougal Street
by Manny Roth, the uncle of David Lee Roth.
The Bitter End opened in 1961, at 147 Bleecker
Street. It’s resident poet/comedian was Hugh Romney
who later became known as “Wavy Gravy” at
Woodstock. Anybody who was anybody played the
Bitter End.
All five coffee houses I highlighted were only a
couple blocks away from each other, many on the
same street, and as you can see, opened within a couple of years from each other. How cool is that!
I hate to paint folk music with a broad brush, but folk music tends to be more a “poke in your sides” kind of
music. It makes you think, makes you mad, makes you laugh and cry, but hopefully, it makes you act upon
your feelings. I think back to the life of the late Pete Seeger and I think that would have been the biggest
compliment you could give him. Not that you liked the melody or the words of his songs, but that it caused
you to make a change in your life and the lives of those around
you.
Coffee Houses tend to be a slower paced place for people to
unwind and talk. It’s at these times when we are most relaxed
that our minds and hearts are open to new ideas. Folk music
helped to provide those new ideas. What a perfect fit. A
strong argument could be made that coffee houses contributed to
the social changes of the 60’s and 70’s in the U.S.
One final note I’d like to make. Most of the owners of these
coffee houses loved the music and the messages. They didn’t
open them up to make a fortune, they opened them up to make a
statement. Very few of these types of owners exist these days and that’s a shame. The patrons of the golden
age of coffee houses felt like participants and caretakers of careers. Nowadays I’m afraid they feel like
commodities to be tallied between net and gross sales. As Dylan said, “The times they are a changin’.”
For the first time ever my video link to highlight the article won’t be of music, but of Judy Collins talking
about Greenwich Village and the coffee houses with some still-shots of the places I’ve highlighted above;
click here. I hope you enjoy. As for me...when the world comes to an end, I want to be in a good old fashioned
folk music coffee house with a glass of iced tea...because they’re always 10 years behind the times!
Page 7
Comfortable Concerts hosts
Upcoming Comfortable Concerts
April 11 Barbara Martin www.barbaramartinmusic.com
May 9 Jeremy Neely www.neelymusic.com
May 30 Jason Myles Goss www.jasonmylesgoss.com
June 20 Brett Barry http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=2UrEeUsKQXQ
July 11 Jeff Miller www.jeffmilleronline.com
August 15 Buzz Cason www.buzzcason.com
Local award-winning singer/songwriter, PETE LOONEY
Page 8
Join us on March 14 for an amazing evening of music. Pete will entertain us with his thought
provoking, yet sensitive lyrics and melodies.
“Pete Looney is an award-winning singer/songwriter from Silver Spring, Maryland. In 2009 he
won gold and bronze for two of his songs in the Jazz/Blues Vocal category of the Mid Atlantic
Song Contest. Pete has been performing in the area since the mid 80's as a guitarist, bassist and
vocalist. His songs cover a wide range of
musical influence from blues and rock
to country and reggae.”
http://www.reverbnation.com/petelooney
Won't you join us for a wonderful evening
with friends, fun, food, and MUSIC?
When: March 14, 2014
Doors open: 7:30pm
Suggested donation: $10-$20/person
RSVP: by March 12 (Robin):
Mention the F.A.M.E. newsletter.
Come hungry, there is a lot of
food and beverages served
6 East Main Street
New Market, 21774
Most THURSDAY NIGHTS
7:30 to 9:30 PM
Page 9
Concert Hall & Venue
Suggested donation $15
for most shows.
Subscriptions available:
5 Shows - $60
10 Shows - $100
Please call the Hill Chapel
for more information
(301) 882-7172
Doors open 7:00 PM ~~ Arrive early to ensure seating ~~ Shows begin at 7:30 PM
Click on the artists’ names below; the links take you
straight to their Websites for bios, videos, & music
Upcoming Hill Chapel Concerts 6 Robin Bullock
13 Doug Alan Wilcox
20 Ronnie Smith
22 Tim Connell and Jack Dwyer (Saturday Night) Fundraiser for Music in New
27 Andrew McKnight Market
Born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, near legendary
Stonehenge, he attended Kimbolton School, in Huntingdon,
Cambridgeshire, which is, he noted, in the castle where
Catherine of Aragon was sent when Henry VIII was trying to
divorce her. He then went to College at Bangor, N. Wales.
He started playing music at coffee bars and folk clubs while
attending college, he said, and then did a two-year stint street-
singing around Europe in places like Paris, Amsterdam,
Geneva, and the South of France doing cover tunes and
original songs.
Deacey is a singer-songwriter and a poet. He’s also a
musician; he plays six- and twelve-string guitar, slide guitar,
harmonica, octave mandolin, banjo, and ukulele. His favorite
guitars, he said, are a twelve-string graphite Rainsong and a
custom Lazy River six-string cocobolo and cedar with lizard
inlays.
Before coming to the U.S., he ran folk clubs in England, up
to five at one time, he said, in Somerset in the West of
England and put on several three-day folk festivals. He
appeared on Cyril Tawney’s Folk program and other programs on [British] Westward TV, as a duo with
harmonica player, John Lloyd (formerly Alexis Korner Band). They expanded the duo to a four- to five-piece
band called Saltpeter and played locally and regionally in Devon, Dorset, Somerset, and briefly on the London
Pub Circuit. He also opened for major bands on the West Country leg of their national tours, such as Mott the
Hoople, Hawkwind, Magna Carta, and several others.
In 1979, Rod moved to California, where he played various venues up and down the West Coast. He moved
to upstate New York in 1992 and then to Maryland in 1993.
Here he has been a promoter of live acoustic music notably in the “late and lamented,” as he says, WestSide
Cafe, from 2004 on. He estimates the number of shows he has put on, including Black Box theater and
festivals on Carroll Creek, to be approximately 700 to 800 shows. This includes the Brewer’s Alley
Songwriters Showcase every Monday since May of 2007 (except for the second, third, and fourth Mondays in
December.
Rod is a pillar of the music scene in Frederick. And, his music, poetry, and commentary are always great
additions to any gathering. ♪♪
Page 10 In the spotlight…Rod Deacey
It’s a party — and you’re invited!
Sunday, March 2, from 2-5 p.m.
Brewers Alley — Upstairs
Let’s give Rod a proper birthday party!
This is also a “variety show.” Folks
who would like to perform, can!
(as time allows)
Todd C Walker, Emcee
Photos and graphics design by Todd C Walker
Some organizations in the area that you may want to check out:
Folk Alliance International exists to foster and
promote traditional, contemporary, and multicultural
folk music and dance and related performing arts.
Washington Area Music Association
Baltimore Songwriters Association Songwriters’ Association of Washington
DC Bluegrass Union
Folklore Society of Greater Washington
Baltimore Folk Music Society
Scholarships As part of our mission to nurture acoustic music in and around Frederick County, F.A.M.E. has set up a
scholarship fund. Ten percent of your membership fees goes to support this fund as well as money from
workshops and other events. At the moment, we have $795 in the Scholarship Fund.
1. This scholarship is designed to fund a learning experience. 2. Preference will be given to F.A.M.E members. Member activity level will also be part of the
consideration. 3. The applicant must use the scholarship for an activity or project that meets the goals of F.A.M.E. 4. The applicant must provide the following:
The completed scholarship application. An interview; audio, video or personal, explaining the project, how it will help the applicant in light
of the goals of F.A.M.E. and how the applicant will use the skills/information learned to benefit the
acoustic music community. 5. The recipient of the scholarship must return to give a workshop related to their project.
6. The recipient must give a report at the F.A.M.E. annual meeting (written or oral).
7. Deadline for filing is March 31st.
The Scholarship Committee will make their decision by April 30th.
Download the Scholarship Form, fill it out and mail it to:
FAME, 6509 Springwater Ct, #6404, Frederick, MD 21701
Scholarships will be awarded annually
Deadline to apply is March 31st of each year
Page 11
The Songs We Sing by Caryl Velisek
Traditional Folk Song Circle
Second Anniversary Celebration February 8 Dublin Roasters Coffee, 1780 N. Market Street, Frederick
Second Saturday of each month 2-4 PM
Page 12
It was February 2012, when Tomy “One M” Wright originated and hosted
F.A.M.E.’s first Traditional Folk Song Circle at Dublin Roasters Coffee with about
25 attendees. Fast-forward two years to February 2014 – the Song Circle is still going
strong with a record-setting attendance of 36 folks! Toes were tapping and bodies
were swaying to the music as we celebrated the second anniversary of the Song
Circle February 8th. The group also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’
first concert in the United States by singing three Beatle songs. In addition, four Pete
Seeger songs were sung in celebration of his life. And of course, as is our tradition,
members shared their fond memories of the “British Invasion” and Seeger’s legacy,
for Pete’s sake! A total of 35 songs were sung – 15 of these for the first time at this
event. To date, we have sung 304 (25%) of the 1,200 songs found in the Rise Up
Singing songbook. The group’s eventual goal is to sing all of the songs in the
songbook. The celebration ended with singing Rubber Blubber Whale and sharing a
delicious cake with chocolate mousse filling. Yummy!
Attendees included Charlotte Abney, Dori Balin, Margie Barber, Barbara Bosher,
Ginny Brace, Brad Calhoun, Andy Celmer, Barbara Collins, John Cooper, Patricia Cronin, Todd Dutton,
Karen Fetters, Dan Frasier, Judy Getz, Craig Gillespie, James Gillespie, Marilyn Gillespie, Roy Greene, Chris
Harrison, Rick Hill, David Koronet, Laura Lawrence, Kathy Lee, Jeannie Lloyd, Steve Lloyd, Doug Lundgren,
Doug May, Gloria McCracken, Janice Minor, Lynn Purdum, Kristy Smith, Mike Sodos, Caryl Velisek, George
Waxton, Valerie Wittkamper, and our Song Circle Host, Tomy (one "M") Wright. The group was delighted to
welcome several first-timers to the event and hopes to see everyone at our March Song Circle. ♪♪
Photo by Todd C Walker
Tomy “one M” Wright
We started off our February Song Circle with our old favorite, “You Are My Sunshine” followed by “Dream
A Little Dream Of Me,” “Take Me Home Country Roads,” “Dock Of The Bay,” “Early Morning Rain,” and
“Five Hundred Miles.”
“The Band Played On,” written in 1895, has become a pop standard and was featured in at least two films,
Raoul Walsh's The Strawberry Blonde (starring that famous strawberry blonde, Rita Hayworth) and Alfred
Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train. The most famous recording was made by Guy Lombardo in 1941; and, it
was also done by Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Another song from the Victorian Era, written in 1891, “After The Ball,” became the most successful song of
its era, going by the number of sales of sheet music. The story in the song is about an older man who tells his
niece the reason he never married was because he had seen his sweetheart kissing another man at the Ball and
refused to listen to her explanation. Many years later, after the woman died, he learned it was her brother he
had seen her kiss.
In tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ introduction to the U.S., we sang “Here Comes The Sun,”
“With a Little Help From My Friends” and “We Can Work It Out.” Paul McCartney wrote the words and
music to the latter; he and John Lennon wrote the middle together. It was George Harrison's idea to put the
middle into three-quarter time, like a waltz.
In honor of much-loved folk musician, Pete Seeger, who died January 27, 2014, we sang “O Had I A
Golden Thread,” “If I Had A Hammer,” “Turn, Turn, Turn” and one of my favorites, “Where Have All the
Flowers Gone,” which has functioned as a theme song for the Folk era. Seeger wrote the first three verses in
1955 and Joe Hickerson added the additional verses in 1960, turning it into a circular song. We sang Ian
Tyson's “Four Strong Winds” and followed it with “Farther Along,” “In the Garden,” “Swing Low, Sweet
Chariot,” “The Little White Duck,” “Jamaica Farewell,” and a few show tunes.
“Mr. Bojangles” was originally written and recorded by country artist, Jerry Jeff Walker. He said he was
inspired to write it after an encounter with a street performer in a New Orleans jail and that the song
does not refer to stage and movie personality, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Walker said the man in the
jail told a sad story about his dog, which got heavy, so he did a tap dance to lighten the mood.
You can see we do an eclectic mix that includes most folks’ favorite genres. Come join us in March and sing
along! ♪♪
Page 13
F.A.M.E. Board of Directors
Rick Hill, President
Todd C Walker, Vice President
Tomy Wright, Treasurer
Karen Fetters, Secretary
Hank Kobrinski
Max Honn
Roy Greene, Editor
F.A.M.E. Newsletter welcomes your photos
and stories about local acoustic music and musicians.
Please email submissions to the editor at
[email protected] by the 15th preceding the
month of publication. Submissions subject to editing.
F.A.M.E. Goals: To nurture, promote and preserve original
and traditional acoustic music of all genres in Frederick
and Frederick County through live music, education
and community outreach.
To educate aspiring musicians and the general
public about all aspects of original and traditional
acoustic music of all genres via workshops, open
mics, showcases and concerts.
To reach out to the community via workshops and
concerts, especially through schools and youth
organizations and the setting up of mentoring
opportunities for young and aspiring acoustic musicians.
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Membership Categories
Benefits
Single $25 Newsletter, Sticker, T-Shirt (at initial sign-up), Annual Picnic
Family $50 Newsletter, (2) Stickers, (2) T-Shirts (at initial sign-up), Annual Picnic (for two)
Corporate $100 Newsletter, Window Sticker, T-Shirt (at initial sign-up), Annual Picnic, Website Link
Lifetime $200 Newsletter, Sticker, T-Shirt (at initial sign-up), Annual Picnic, FREE Workshops
Senior (65+) $10 Newsletter, (Annual picnic at cost)
Membership runs from January 1 thru December 31
Name: __________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________
City: ____________________________________________
State: ________ ZIP Code: __________________________
Phone: __________________________________________
Email: ___________________________________________
Please mail to: F.A.M.E. Membership, 6509 Springwater Court, #6404, Frederick, MD 21701
Questions: (301) 639-1050
Membership Category
______________________
Amount Enclosed:
$ ___________ . OO
Date: __________________