Folk music and me

As a child of the 60s, I've always loved folk music: Cohen, Baez, Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger, the Weavers, Utah Phillips, Arlo Guthrie, Woody Guthrie, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem...

In the 80s in Boston two college radio stations, Emerson and Boston University had folk music programs that I listened to on my hour's reverse commute out of the city. And more than one Friday night would find me at a coffee house, often in a Unitarian church basement.

Here's a list of some of my then favourites. Now there's a whole new crop of singers...

Nancy Griffith www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GK462XnRjQ
Born in TX; Griffith's career has spanned a variety of musical genres predominantly country and folk.
Her song From a Distance was a hit for Bette Middler. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKzd2Wh3xNk

Lucie Blue Tremblay www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zAJZE6WA4M
Born 1958 in Montreal is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter performs music in English/French
The "Frank-Tremblay Safe College Scholarship", named for Tremblay and Barney Frank.

Ferron www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS3hINcCjGg
Ferron, born Deborah Foisy on June 1, 1952 (age 61), is one of the most famous Canadian folk singers.

Christine Lavin www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFe5zQQXdXg
Born in NYC and does funny songs.  The youtube above is Eating Cold Pizza for Breakfast

Leo Kottke www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6vRXHk_p5E&list=PLB29BFD13EC2495E9
The 68 year old lived in 12 states in his youth.

Bob Franke www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ejMPz5yOb0
Franke, a liberal Christian covers and personal themes in his songwriting. His song "Alleluia, The Great Storm Is Over" was written shortly after his young daughter's orthopedic condition was diagnosed, and he has said that he composed the song while working at a chocolate factory, and that the rhythm of the song was based on the rhythm of the machines. "Love Bravely, Elizabeth" is addressed to the same daughter, and the songs on his album, The Desert Questions, were written after his divorce. Some of his writing is political: the song "Kristallnacht is Coming" on his album The Heart of the Flower draws parallels between the Holocaust  and Americans' attitudes towards immigrants during the 1990s.

Phil Ochs www.youtube.com/watch?v=keQmLFsXE8s
Philip David Ochs (December 19, 1940 – April 9, 1976) was an American protest singer (or, as he preferred, a topical singer) and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and distinctive voice. He wrote hundreds of songs in the 1960s and released eight albums in his lifetime.

Al Grierson www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN-DbmQy9K8 A friend his memorial service. He died in a flash flood in 2000.

Chris Williamson www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMg5EuT3WuQ

Periodically, thanks to youtube, I'll bring up their music just because I can.