Caffe Lena 60 Years of Song

Why retire when you can keep playing great music into your 80s! And be careful about betting. You might just lose. This is episode 60 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Doc Severinsen hasn’t been seen or heard on TV since Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show ended in 1992 . But he is one of the least retired 85 year olds. He met the members of San Miguel 5 in Mexico when he thought he was going to retire. He wound up sitting with the band and then touring with the group. J. S. Ondara can trace his entire career back to a bad bet. As a teenager in Nairobi Kenya, he once swore to a friend that the song “Knockin on Heaven’s Door” was written by his favorite band Guns N Roses and not by someone named Bob Dylan. After losing the bet, he discovered Dylan, memorized much of his catalog, and began to research the history of American folk music. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

A wedding band turns into a touring band known for bluegrass Beatles covers, and a musical act from an island town of 900 with roots in Radiohead and Tom Waits. This is episode 59 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Lonely Heartstring Band was born as a wedding band , hired for one wedding to play only Beatles repertoire on bluegrass instruments. They started exploring other sounds and original songs within the group but that initial flame of the Beatles was indicative of the band’s love of songs, arrangements, and music that feels good. The members of Fish & Bird grew up together on a remote island off the west coast of British Columbia with a population of 900. They were raised on equal parts roots music and Radiohead and their name comes from a Tom Waits song. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

A unique sound from two groups that sound like they are from opposing ends of the roots music spectrum. This is episode 58 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. The Way Down Wanderers may sound like some long-forgotten bluegrass band from the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou”. There live shows are truly unique , communal experiences, with acoustic encores taking place out in the audience and drummer Merikoski’s famous spoon solos. Kuinka are a joyous folk pop group. The members craft songs that are engaging and original. Stories are laced through the lyrics and there are both a synthesizer and a cello Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

A husband and wife form a duo and hit the road touring, have a baby and get back out on tour again. And a songwriter creates an aspirational alternative national anthem. This is episode 57 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Birds of Chicago is an American folk band led by husband and wife duo JT Nero and Allison Russell. The married in 2013 and had a baby, touring through Russell’s pregnancy. They hit the road again in January of 2014 with their daughter who was only 4 months old, heading to The Netherlands. Jean Rohe writes one of a kind narrative songs , concerned as much with the internal world as with the external. She is perhaps best known for her much-covered 2012 video single “National Anthem: Arise! Arise!”, an aspirational alternative national anthem performed with choir and brass ensemble. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

Scrawling a name on the wall creates a new indie-folk band, and an artist discovers music in the midst of a meditation center. This is episode 56 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Over a decade ago, singer-songwriter Philip Price scrawled the name “Winterpills” on the wall of a music venue in Northampton, MA. Initially, it was going to be the name for a dreamt-of electronica project but somewhere along the line, it blossomed into a critically acclaimed indie band with a deep catalog of elegant, dark chamber pop. Massachusetts based “writer- song singer” Heather Maloney found music in the midst of three years at a meditation center, honing a sound moored in days of silent reflection and reverence for storytellers. Her latest album has a song inspired by Ken Burns’ documentary The Dustbowl. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

One of our favorite bands is no more, and two guys drive nearly 1000 miles from Muscle Shoals, AL to NJ. This is episode 55 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Members of The Stray Birds have known each other since attending middle school in Lancaster, PA and started making music together in 2010. After eight years, five records and hundreds of performances, they became best known for songwriting and harmonies. In 2018, they announced their latest album along with the sad news that the band would be no longer. Immediately after finishing his album “Thousand Mike Night”, Jonah Tolchin got behind the wheel and lived it. He drove from Muscle Shoals, AL all the way to his hometown in NJ in one straight shot, accompanied by guitarist Lucan Hamren. When they pulled into Hamren’s driveway, the odometer added 998 miles. Tolchin said his goodbyes and walked precisely two more miles to his childhood home. Caffe Lena

First Night Burlington creates a bluegrass gospel project, and a seven piece group creates a TEDx showcasing their irresistible philosophy on jazz. This is episode 54 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Bluegrass Gospel Project is made up of members of top bluegrass bands from New England. They originally formed for a one-time First Night Concert in Burlington, VT in 2001. They continued to impress music fans with stellar vocals and powerful gospel music for 16 years before disbanding. Sammy Miller and the Congregation have crisscrossed the country to bring art back to the people. This seven-piece group is a community of adventurous and charismatic conservatory-trained musicians who have retained their childlike wonder for playing music. They have also done an exuberant TEDx video illustrating their philosophy on jazz while showcasing their irresistible theatricality and musicality. Caffe Lena : 60 Years

A 60’s teenager goes on to start a performance venu, music school and music shop, and a musician makes music for yoga class events. This is episode 53 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Kate Power came of age during the epic 60’s NY folk scene. As a teenager, she opened for Townes Van Zant and Utah Phillips in coffee shops and on festival stages. After migrating to the west coast, she met her husband, fellow musician Steve Einhorn. Together, these lifelong musicians and songwriters owned Artichoke Music, a renowned performance venue, music school and instrument shop in Portland, OR. Kev Corbett hails from Nova Scotia and his music is equal parts cerebral folk writing and concise musical arrangements. When not combining the two or accompanying others, he runs Savasanaface (sha-VA-sun-a-face), which provides live ambient electric music for yoga class events. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of

An artist uses his music to narrate the American experience, and a 14 year old gets hooked on the Blues. This is episode 52 of Caffe Lena : 60 years of song. Thank you to Sarah for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Pokey LaFarge uses his music and songwriting to narrate the American experience. Minutes away from his front door in St. Louis, night after night the streets erupted in social unrest. In the face of a sociological tinderbox, he took to his studio and began writing and soon, his latest album appeared. Jontavious Willis came across a YouTube video of Muddy Waters playing “Hoochie Coochie Man” when he was 14 years old and was instantly hooked on the blues. His big break came in 2015 when Taj Mahal asked him to play together on stage. That appearance led to Willis opening select shows on the TajMo tour for his musical mentors Taj Mahal and Keb ‘Mo’. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

Mike Gordon of Phish’s banjo teacher, and masters of Tuvan throat song with a modern twist. This is episode 51 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Gordon Stone was a world-renowned banjo and pedal steel guitar player. He I known for his early collaborations with Phish and gave bassist Mike Gordon banjo lessons. He passed away back in July, on the day his newest album was to be released and plans are being made to release it posthumously. The Alash Emsemble is like nothing else you have ever heard. They are masters of Tuvan throat singing but with a modern twist. They combine the traditional Tuvan heritage with their love of western music and have been influenced by Sun Ra and Jimi Hendrix. Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song , a production of WEXT Radio.

Remember Suzanne Vega’s song “Luka?” It provided inspiration for a new name. And an icon with a career that spans over 60 years. This is episode 50 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for providing the list of artists and songs for the feature. Kevin Barry Moore was born in Ireland in 1955. Luka Bloom got his start in the United States in 1987 when Kevin Barry Moore started performing using a stage name. He took the name Luka from the Suzanne Vega song and Bloom came from the main character in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. Judy Collins is the iconic American singer-songwriter with a career that spans over 60 years. Before the pandemic, she was still performing 120 shows per year. She says when audiences come to see her perform, they are thinking about their youth and hopefulness. Her voice is like a time machine. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

Greek mythology, and musicals share the stage. This is episode 49 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Anais Mitchell is fascinated with the Greek myth of Eurydice and the love between the title character and Orpheus. It has taken her on a journey across mediums - one song led to a concept album called Hadestown which led to a stage production in Canada and London before ending up on Broadway. She was just named one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2020 by Time Magazine. Gabriel Kahane wrote his first musical when he was in college and has gone on to write other commissioned pieces for the Williamstown Theatre Festival and others. After the 2016 election, he embarked on a cross country train trip that led to an album that links America’s abstract political reality with the lives it has shaped. Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

A champion of world music, and a Soviet-era Georgian presents a world view of jazz in his performances. This is episode 48 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah for providing the list of songs and artists for the feature. David Lindley has long been a champion of world music . His performances incorporate instruments and styles from Africa, Hawaii, Turkey and Ireland. In 1991, he and his guitarist went to Madagascar and recorded indigenous Malagasy music, which had a major impact both for the quality of the music recorded and the fair and ethical way the Malagasy musicians were dealt with. Ilusha Tsinadze was born in Soviet-era Georgia and emigrated to the US when he was 8. He has performed on both sides of the Atlantic, selling out clubs in Georgia (the country) and New York. His American performances attract the mid-Atlantic’s sizeable Georgian Diaspora as well as discerning fans of jazz and international music. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

A musical environmentalist striving for global justice, and a songwriter impresses Joan Baez. This is episode 47 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Eliza Gilkyson is an active member of the Austin music and political community. She participates in environmental groups and is the co-founder of an Austin-based resource center that promotes political activism and community involvement around issues of race, patriarchy and global injustice. Zoe Mulford’s song “The President Sang Amazing Grace” is about the 2015 attack at The Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC that claimed nine lives. Joan Baez heard the song playing on the radio and pulled over to make sure she knew whose song it was because she wanted to sing it. Baez covered it on her 2018 Grammy-winning album. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song , a production of WEXT Radio.

Open mic night in Ellicott City, MD creates a new group, and a band claims playing the most number of shows in 24 hours. This is episode 46 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah for this list of songs and artists for the feature. The members of We’re About 9 met at an open mike night at the Java House in Ellicott City, MD where they quickly identified a chemistry they shared and started singing on each other’s songs. They came up with the name on the spot when they needed a name to go by on a particular night and the name We’re about 9, an intended joke about the band members’ maturity, stuck. The Burning Hell is the songwriting project of Mathias Kom. During the band’s first few years, the members fluctuated from album to album and tour to tour and instrumentation changed based on what instruments his friends played. They claim the unofficial world record for playing the most shows in different countries in a day after playing 10 shows between the Netherlands and

Driving their tour van until it drops , a married musician couple keeps it going, and another musical couple – kindred spirits – met at a bluegrass festival. This is episode 45 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart met in 1992, married a year later and have been touring ever since. For the past 12 years, they have been touring in a 1999 Chevy Suburban that they bought new with 17 miles from a test-drive on it, to 200 to 300 shows per year. They set out on the road last September with just shy of 500,000 miles on the odometer and christened the journey the “Drive ‘er Till She Drops Tour” Rayna Gellert and Kieran Kane first met at San Francisco’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. She is a exceptionally gifted songwriter. He laid the foundation for the contemporary world of Americana music. Fans of either artist will recognize the musical kindred-spiritedness in their approach to songs and

A Canadian singer-songwriter moves to China and a band from upstate New York with an unusual name. This is episode 44 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for selecting the artists and songs for the feature. Ember Swift is a Canadian singer songwriter who began writing songs when she was 9 and performing when she was 10. She fell in love with the culture in China when visiting and moved to Beijing the following year. She continues to split her time between Toronto and Beijing and her new band consists of members who are long-time residents of Beijing. Upstate , the band formerly known as Upstate Rubdown , consists of four songwriters, three singers, and all instrument-wielding powerhouses. They experiment with everything from folk and jazz to gospel, r&b and rock and roll. They are based in the Hudson Valley and like the Valley, their music is broad with intermingling between different elements. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

Upstate New York brothers make music that is “too retro,” and a barefoot movement takes to the stage, 5,000 miles away. This is episode 43 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah for this list of artists and songs for the feature. The Gibson Brothers , Leigh and Eric, were offered a major record deal in Nashville when they were in their 20’s. They were told at the last minute that they were too “retro” for modern country music. That didn’t stop them from making music, though, and they went on to be recognized by the International Bluegrass Music Association as back-to-back Entertainers of the Year in 2012 and 2013. The Barefoot Movement is a young acoustic quartet whose credits include projects by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles. In 2014 they made the 5,000 mile trek to the West African nation of Burkina Faso to perform a series of shows at the invitation of the American Embassy there. Everywhere they performed, the locals performed for them,

Two artists who bring nature to life in music, one from the Canadian Maritimes, and one from the Local 518. This is episode 42 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah from the Caffe for providing this list of songs and artists. Hailing from Rexford, Adirondack folk singer Roy Hurd has developed two Arts in Education programs for elementary schools, one has given young people a chance to experience songwriting first hand and the other has used storytelling, music and woodland skills to present the concept of earth morals. Kev Corbett hails from Nova Scotia and his music is equal parts cerebral folk writing and concise musical arrangements. When not combining the two or accompanying others, he runs Savasanaface (sha-VA-sun-a-face), which provides live ambient electric music for yoga class events. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

A husband and wife travel more than a million miles, and a family band from Sweden both made there way to Caffe Lena. This is episode 41 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song . Thanks to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for this feature. The Kennedys , husband and wife duo Pete and Maura Kennedy, have well over a million miles of roadwork under their collective belt. They also have been on Broadway, where they are regular cast members of Theater Within’s annual tribute to John Lennon alongside the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Jackson Browne, Debbie Harry and Patti Smith. Kolonien is a four piece family band from Sweden. As teenagers, they left home to travel around as protest singers in the Swedish Green movement. When they got invited to play at a festival in Tanzania, it was supposed to be a one-time gig but things went so well they decided to start a band and write their own songs. Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song , a production of WEXT Radio.

An artist honed his craft in the Paris Metro, and another was largely self-taught, even though her great grandfather lived and worked with Lester Flatt. This is episode 40 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thanks to Sarah at the Caffe for selecting the artists and songs for the feature. After college, Richard Shindell took his guitar headed to Europe. He played in the Paris Metro, his repertoire consisting of fingerpicking, flatpicking and d rowing in endless open tunings. He discovered an inclination for self-imposed commercial exile and sought out less-travelled corners, loving the acoustics in the tunnels but only when they were empty. Alexa Rose is a mostly self taught musician and, though no one in her immediate family played or sang, she inherited a deep musical legacy. Her great grandfather lived and worked with Lester Flatt. When the opportunity presented itself for him to move to Nashville and continue his musical career, he decided to stay with his wife on their farm in

A musician who contributed to the development of the banjo and a way of playing that bears his name, and a band named after a piece of road leading out of Boston. This is episode 39 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for this feature. How do you know you brought about change in music? Bill Keith made significant stylistic development to the banjo and introduced a way of playing that would later be called “Keith Style”. He also invented the Keith tuning peg, which became the primary product of his own company - The Beacon Banjo Company, which is now run by his son. Mile Twelve is made up of five of the most promising young musicians in bluegrass . They got their name from the mile marker that sits on Boston’s southern border on I-93. It is a road sign they have passed countless times when heading out on tour. We’ve seen them at the Caffe, and other venues around the 518. Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song , a production of WEXT

A janitor whose love of movies got him to appear in the Big Lebowski and a musical virtuoso who went on to win a Grammy with Old Crow Medicine Show. This is episode 38 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Jimmie Dale Gilmore recorded his first album in 1972 and took a break that lasted for 16 years. During that time he joined an ashram in New Orleans and worked as a janitor in a synagogue in Denver. For the film buff, you may notice he randomly appeared in movies like The Thing Called Love, Parkland, and The Big Lebowski. Chance McCoy is a true musical virtuoso. In one weekend alone, he took home top honors for fiddle, banjo, and dulcimer at the prestigious West Virginia State Championships. He tried touring with his first band but came home with less money each time, supporting himself and his son with food stamps and teaching fiddle lessons. Then he got a call asking him to audition for Old Crow Medicine

An invitation to see the opening act at what would be the final Tom Petty performance resulted in an album, and laid back blues from a Philly artist who got his start in music after moving to Boston. This is episode 37 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah for the list of songs and artists for this feature. G. Love and Special Sauce formed in Boston in 1993 . Their music is a unique, laid back blues sound that encompasses classic R&B. In 1994 they released their debut album on Okeh Records, which was the label’s first release by white musicians. Jesse Malin ’s latest album, Sunset Kids , got its start after he accepted Lucinda Williams’ invitation to see her open at The Hollywood Bowl for what would become Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ last live performance. That bittersweet experience is the basis for the song “Shining Down” and the visit with Lucinda planted the seed for her to produce the record. Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

Busking on the streets of Boston helped develop an artist to be who he wanted to be, and a Kentucky artist travels to Iceland to make her album. This is episode 36 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Martin Sexton left Syracuse for Boston to crash with his brother while he auditioned for some bands in the 1990’s, thinking he could play in a funk band. It never panned out and he found himself busking on sidewalks and subways. Inexperience gave him the freedom to discover the singer-songwriter he could be. Joan Shelley’s album Like the River Loves the Sea was recorded in Iceland. She was looking to experience something and gain a new perspective. Iceland doesn’t have banjos so she used a resonator guitar tuned like a banjo and there wasn’t anything to make a tambourine sounds so her band ages were forced to get creative. Caffe Lena : 60 years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

Transporting a harpsichord across a continent by train, and spending Canadian Tire money on making an album. This is episode 35 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Lou and Peter Berryman met in high school. They graduated in 1965 and started performing as a duo. A few years later, they were married and moved from Wisconsin to Vancouver, lugging a harpsichord Lou built while crossing the continent on a train. The marriage may not have lasted but they continue playing music together. Corin Raymond’s songs are very Canadian , slightly apocalyptic and suggest criminal activity. His song “Don’t Spend it Honey” mentions Canadian Tire money and in 2012 he announced a campaign to raise funds for a new album after fans spontaneously started giving it to him at live shows. The album was released in 2013. Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song , a production of WEXT Radio.

Songs that guitars sing , and a guitarist who played with THE Tommy Emmanuel when he was just 11. This is episode 34 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah for compiling the list of artists and songs for the feature. With a hollow neck and Hawaiian origin, the Weissenborn guitar is an unusual instrument. Ed Gerhard was captivated at first sound in the 90’s. He once said when you realize you sit and make the sound yourself, you’re hooked for life. He doesn’t write instrumental songs, he wrote songs that guitars can sing. Quentin Callewaert was a typical kid who loved music, except that he was playing with the great Tommy Emmanuel at 11 years old! His passion followed him through high school while he ran on the cross country team and wrote songs with his dad and now he is studying guitar in college. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

The resonant sound board of the hammered dulcimer helps make beautiful music. The instrument is being redefined for the modern age by artists who’ve played at Caffe Lena. This is episode 33 of the Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song podcast. Thanks to Sarah at the Caffe for coming up with the list of artists and songs for the feature. Paul Van Ardsdale was a hammered dulcimer player. John McCutcheon is a multi-instrumentalist. Ruth Rappaport is a rhythm guitarist and pianist. Together, they recorded the album Dulcimer Heritage, which comes with a book with all of the songs transcribed in standard notation. Simon Chrisman and Wes Corbett grew up around the same time on the same small island but only met by chance thanks to Bill Frisell and a local noodle shack. They’ve made music together whenever they could. Simon Chrisman brings unusual style to the hammered dulcimer and is redefining the instrument. Wes Corbett originally played classical piano before switching to contemporary bluegrass

An artist who has leant her voice to many causes, a feminist icon , and an artist who didn’t let a horrible accident as a baby stop her from playing her guitar – upside down. This is episode 32 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song. Thanks to Sarah at the Caffe for creating the list of songs and artists for the feature. In addition to music, Ani DiFranco has been an activist for countless causes. From the earliest days of her career, she has lent her voice to benefit concerts and albums. As a feminist icon, she has inspired women artists and entrepreneurs for over two decades. Wallis Bird severely damaged one hand in a freak accident with a lawnmower as a baby. That didn’t stop her from picking up a guitar as a child and playing it upside down! Today, she is a veritable virtuoso, has won several prestigious awards, and has headlined over 800 shows in the past ten years. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

Sisters who aren’t sisters, and a musician who continually defies categorization. This is episode 31 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thanks to Sarah for creating the list of songs and artists for this feature. The Chenille Sisters are three uniquely gifted women , who aren’t even sisters. Their quirkiness and harmonies appeal to all generations. Their country-folk sounds originally targeted big kids like us, but they have made albums specifically for kids and a PBS special led to a children’s book review series they hosted on NPR. Erin McKeown defies categorization . She started studying ornithology, you know, birds, in college before switching to ethnomusicology. Her music contains a mix of genres from pop to swing, folk to electronic. She also collaborated on a musical that was nominated for five Drama Desk Awards. And she’s a frequent visitor to WEXT and the Caffe. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

A steamboat pilot becomes a musician, and a vow of silence leads to singing beautiful songs. This is episode 30 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thanks to Sarah a the Caffe for creating the of songs and artist for the feature. John Hartford fell in love with two things: music and the Mississippi River. In the 1970’s, he earned his steamboat pilot’s license and would have done that full time but music got in the way. During his later years, he returned to the river every summer to work as a pilot, even after winning Grammys in three different decades. Heather Maloney spent a few years working at a spiritual living center in Massachusetts where vows of silence were common. She would be silent a week at a time, during which she would journal. Her journaling morphed into songwriting which morphed into performing her own voice in an authentic way. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

A self-described anarchist who slept on the Caffe floor while recording an album, and a songwriter whose stories have been used for protest, weddings and funerals. This is episode 29 of the Caffe Lena: 60 years of Song podcast . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Music has always played a role in providing social commentary. Utah Phillips, a self-described anarchist, was once homeless, riding the rails as a tramp out west. He wrote songs about his travels before dedicating his talents toward starting a mission house, advocating for the homeless, and running for public office. Sam Steffen is a prolific storyteller and songwriter, pairing stories both personal and political with skilled fingerpicking. His songs have been used everywhere from academic lectures and political protests, weddings and funerals. Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

After 30 years a folk trio ends their live performances, and Saratoga gains a nationally renowned singer to call its own. This is episode 28 of Caffe Lena 60 years of Song. Thanks to Sarah for creating this list of songs and artists. Devonsquare got their start in the pubs and folk stages in the northeast. This trio toured the US and Europe developing a devoted fan base. After the passing of one of the founding members, the remaining two decided the 30th anniversary of their recording of “Walking on Ice” would be their last year of live performances. After finishing college in Wisconsin, singer-songwriter Michael Jerling settled in Saratoga. He is a noted artist whose baritone voice is backed with 6 and 12 string guitars, harmonica, and mandolin. His performances feature first-rate lyrics woven with the influences of blues, rock, country and R& B. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT.

A pioneer of open tunings, and an artist who raised over $100,000 in three hours. This is episode 27 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah for helping to select the songs and artists for this feature. Mary McCaslin drew influence from a wide range of artists like Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell to the Beatles and The Bee Gees. Regarded as a pioneer in guitar open tunings, Mary’s versions of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” and The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” are noted for her claw hammer banjo accompaniment. As a country-folk singer she worked totally outside of the Nashville sphere, singing of prairies and Old West images. She was less active in the 80’s, perhaps only writing a few songs, and not releasing much music. However, it was in 1986 when she stopped at the Caffe. Liz Longley needed to raise about $45000 to obtain access to masters of her latest album. Even though she’s not a household name, Liz managed to raise $120,000 by drawing on her personal connection with fans. In doing

He was almost a papa in San Francisco’s The Mamas and the Papas, and they were a rock band that evolved into a folk trio. This is episode 26 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for coming up with the list of artists and songs. Scott McKenzie sang in a high school group with Tim Rose and went on to start The Abstracts and The Journeymen with John Phillips. He was given the opportunity to join The Mamas and The Papas but he turned it down to do his own thing. He found success in recording his own songs as well as writing songs for other musicians. Rainbow Girls is a collaboration of multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriters from California who started out touring as a rock n roll band. They have evolved into a folkier trio of that band that highlights their rich harmonies coupled with ageless songwriting and a bluesy sound. Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song , a production of WEXT Radio.

Today, we hear about two artists who both wanted to play guitar so badly, one started on an instrument from K-Mart and the other made one herself. This is episode 25 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for selecting the list of artists and songs for this feature. Priscilla Herdman’s mother kept her musical instruments in the attic when her kids were little. Her older sister took the guitar off to college, leaving Priscilla the banjo. On her 16th birthday, she was given a new guitar from Kmart. That bargain instrument ignited a 25 year long career. And in 1984, she made a stop at Caffe Lena. Ana Egge is a Canadian-American singer songwriter with a plaintive lilt in her voice and a lush guitar style. When she was 16 years old, she began a one year apprenticeship with luthier Don Musser and built her own guitar, which she still plays exclusively. Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

As a married couple, these touring musicians established a 3-day music festival with their friends that was an annual occurrence for eight years. This is episode 24 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs for the feature. Robin and Linda Williams have been performing Bluegrass music for more than forty years. They met and fell in love in 1971 while she was a school teacher and he was a full time musician on the coffeehouse circuit. It has been a happy harmony ever since, in more ways than one, including all those years they sang on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. Oshima Brothers were born to make music together. Sean and Jamie grew up in a musical family in rural Maine and they continue to do it all: writing, recording and producing their own music, performing live, and dancing. Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song, a production of WEXT Radio.

Who can say they were friends with the Rev. Gary Davis, Pink Anderson and Robert Lockwood? Stay tuned for the original, the bare-knuckle, the low-down... the blues. This is episode 23 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs for this feature. Roy Book Binder is an American blues guitarist, singer-songwriter, and storyteller . He moved out of his New York City apartment in the 1970s and lived in his tour bus, going around the country for 15 years. The Tampa Tribune said "Book Binder breathes life into the great blues songs of people like Blind Blake." Looking to learn guitar? He currently has a video series where he gives step by step guitar lessons on songs from his album "The Good Book." Roy Book Binder appeared first at Caffe Lena in 1982. Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton is a great example of true blues music in the modern day. Legally blind since age 16, he draws inspiration from blues and jazz that predates World War II

He listed Lightnin' Hopkins, Bob Dylan and Hank Williams, and such varied artists as Muddy Waters, The Rolling Stones, Blind Willie McTell, Tchaikovsky, and Jefferson Airplane as having had a major impact on his music. This is episode 22 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thanks to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs for the feature. In the mid-60’s, Towne’s Van Zandt was playing mostly covers in Houston clubs for $10 nightly. In 1966, his father convinced him to begin writing his own songs. It was Mickey Newbury who introduced Townes to his longtime producer, Cowboy Jack Clement. 1968 to 1973 were highly prolific years during which time, he released 6 albums. Among the tracks written for these albums were "To Live Is to Fly", "Pancho and Lefty", and "If I Needed You". These songs eventually raised Van Zandt to near-legend status in American and European songwriting circles. And in 1982, he made a stop at Caffe Lena. When your father is a legendary songwriter,

Known for their tight vocal harmonies, often a cappella , plus their inventive arrangements and lively humor-filled performances, they were favorites with audiences in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions for years. This is episode 21 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah for her work in compiling the list of artists for this feature. Teresina Huxtable, Carol Christensen and Liz Hood sang popular music of five centuries, including traditional music of the British Isles and North America, Renaissance songs, sheet music standards, doo-wop, Western, and original tunes. They appeared at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Old Songs Festival, The Clearwater and Bear Mountain Festivals, The Towne Crier, Caffe Lena and Godfrey Daniels. After a long hiatus from regular performances, they released a new CD in 2016 and had returned to more frequent appearances. Recently, after a friendship of 53 years and a singing partnership of 45 years, we learned of the passing of Liz Hood. They

Growing up in Brooklyn didn't keep our singer who played at Caffe Lena in 1979 from wanting to be a cowboy when he grew up. This is episode 20 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs for this feature. Encouraged to follow his father's example and become a surgeon, Elliot rebelled, running away from home at the age of 15 to join Colonel Jim Eskew's Rodeo. He was only with them for three months before his parents tracked him down and had him sent home. He had caught the bug, and upon returning home, he taught himself guitar and started busking for a living. Woody Guthrie had the greatest influence on Elliot. He in turn had a great influence on Arlo, even though they never really got to know each other, and he influenced Phil Ochs. Elliott's nickname comes not from his traveling habits , but rather the countless stories he relates before answering the simplest of questions. Folk singer Odetta claimed that her mother

They were known for their "unusual" and "rich" harmonies, quirky lyrics, and casually comedic stage performances. This is episode 19 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs for this feature. In the late 1960s, sisters Maggie and Terre were in Park Ridge NJ high school, but dropped out to tour as a duo. Maggie wrote most of the songs. Terre contributed a few. The sisters got a break when Paul Simon brought them in as backup singers on his 1973 album "There Goes Rhymin' Simon." They soon after made their only album as a duo in 1975. Later in the 1970's, youngest sister Suzzy joined the group to form The Roches trio as we've known them. They parlayed bartending jobs at Gerde's Folk City into stage appearances. In 1978, a trip to Saratoga Springs, and in 1979 their first album as a trio simply called "The Roches." The debut was produced by none other than Robert Fripp of King Crimson fame. Sadly in 2017, sister Maggie

He was a character with a strange sense of humor, and he was known as the father of the jazz violin. This is episode 18 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs for this feature. Joe Venuti was said to have been born in Philadelphia. He was classically trained in the violin from a young age. His professional career began in 1924, and continued for 54 years until his death in 1978. He and guitarist Eddie Lang made numerous recordings and had a friendship that lasted from childhood until Eddie Lang's passing in 1933. At one time in the 20's, they were recording with the most prominent of jazz musicians of the day, including Bix Beiderbecke, Frankie Trumbauer and more. In the 70's Venuti toured Europe and recorded with Earl Hines, George Barnes, Ross Tompkins, Marian McPartland and more. And in 1977, he made a stop at the Caffe. While Joe Venuti brought the violin to jazz, the NYC based band the Ladybugs brought a unique

Her father, Don West, was likely a big influence on her as she grew up. He had been a southern poet and a coal mine labor organizer. This is episode 17 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs for this feature. Her family's politics were a lifelong influence. Hedy West wrote liner notes for 1967's Old Times and Hard Times, from self-imposed exile in London. They were a personal statement on the corrosive effect of the Vietnam War. She wrote "We'll be controlled by manipulated fear". While living in Stony Brook, New York, in the late 1970s, she donated her time and talents to numerous benefit concerts for unfashionable causes — as did her fellow Appalachian-on-Long-Island, Jean Ritchie. And in 1976, she made her way north to share her music in Saratoga Springs. Recent Caffe Lena discovery, Kaia Kater comes to us from Canada. She grew up around folk music, her mother produced many music festivals while Kaia was growing

Led Zeppelin lead singer, Robert Plant, named him as one of his earliest influences. This is episode 16 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs for this feature. Sleepy John Estes, with his distinctive "crying" vocal style found his way to Caffe Lena just a few years before his death in 1977 . Interestingly, in the 1960's, many blues revivalists thought him long dead in part because he sounded very old, even in his early recordings. Sleepy John's songs were about the people and places in his hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee. As blues went out of style, Sleepy John found himself thinking his career was over at 53 when he returned to Brownsville to live in poverty. Ten years later, he was back in the studio recording, and out playing to new devotees of folk blues on the university circuit. He played at Newport, and toured Europe before finally making his way to Saratoga Springs. At just 24 years old, recent Caffe

The brothers first played together at family gatherings in the 1940s. This is episode 15 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs. The Balfa Brothers came to the Caffe in the mid-1970s. Their father, Charles Balfa, a sharecropper, had played fiddle and was a singer. They made their first recordings in 1951. It was the late 1960s that the brothers officially took on the name as The Balfa Brothers. Their mixture of old Cajun tunes and newer sounds was refreshing and in high demand. Before coming to the Caffe, they even played at the Olympics in Mexico City in 1968, and they appeared in the 1972 documentary Spend It All. Accordionist, singer-songwriter, Sam Reider was brought up in a musical household, son of a musical theatre composer and klezmer musician. After graduating from highschool, Sam was interviewed on Marian McPartland's "Piano Jazz," and has been collaborating with jazz, pop, bluegrass and folk musicians,

He was called the Godfather of Celtic Music in Canada. This is episode 14 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs. Born into a musical family in 1938 in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, John Allan Cameron went on to bring the music of his roots to people around the world. With a career that spanned 40 years, Mr. Cameron made a significant contribution to the music industry in Canada, paving the way for such artists as Ashley MacIsaac, The Rankins, Great Big Sea, and Natalie MacMaster. In addition, John Allan Cameron was known for his appearances on "Singalong Jubilee" in the 1960s, and hosting a couple of his own television series. He released 10 albums in his lifetime, and even performed at the Grand Ole Opry in 1970. Born to a Scottish emigre mother and a Navy veteran machinist father, Heather Pierson's early life was filled with all kinds of music, from rock and pop to folk and more. But it was the piano that captured her

Christine Lavin once said, "I think she’s influenced a lot of people who don’t even know her name." This is episode 13 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs. Folk singer, Rosalie Sorrels first came to widespread attention at the 1966 Newport Folk Festival, where she performed traditional songs from her native state of Idaho, and Utah, where she lived with her family. She soon began writing her own material, about life on the road, her marital difficulties and the challenges of raising children. She then broadened her scope to include social issues like prison reform, suicide prevention and women’s rights. Rosalie Sorrels was first brought to Caffè Lena by the great Hedy West. Rosalie and Lena would become closest friends over many years. She and her five children stayed with Lena often for months on end and establishing a "second home" in Saratoga Springs. Nellie McKay is one of those renaissance artists who can do

If it is possible, the story of the song and its legend may be bigger than the song. This is Episode 12 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs. Legend has it that while drinking, McLean wrote the lyrics to "American Pie" on a napkin at bar just down from Caffe Lena, where he'd performed earlier that night. The story, which has been retold countless times is that McLean passed out and his buddies saved his napkin to return to him. For years, Don McLean has refuted the story stating he wrote the song in Philadelphia. Still the story and the legend persist. Don McLean, indebted to Lena Spencer for urging him on as a young songwriter, returned to the Caffè through the early ‘70s even when "American Pie" was a hit record all over the world. He performed multiple benefits for Lena. In 1973, McLean gave Lena the ultimate gift: he invited her to be his special guest at the GRAMMY awards. Students at Williams College, the

He was a blues and gospel singer who was also proficient on the banjo, guitar and harmonica. His fingerpicking guitar style influenced tons of artists, including Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, John Sebastian, Jorma Kaukonen, Keb' Mo', and so many others. This is episode 10 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs. Rev. Gary Davis' students included David Bromberg, Steve Katz, Roy Book Binder, Dave Van Ronk, Rory Block, Larry Campbell, and Bob Weir. Also known as Blind Gary Davis, he went blind as an infant. He was the only child of the eight his mother bore to make it to adulthood. His career began in earnest in the late 20’s, but the 1960’s folk revival is where he played at Newport, Peter Paul & Mary made popular one of his songs they covered, Bob Dylan covered a song on his debut, The Dead covered a couple songs, and the Stones credit him, along with Fred McDowell for "You Gotta Move" on "Sticky Fingers." And in

Ever wonder where the Grateful Dead learned their songs? This is episode 10 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for compiling the list of artists and songs. Michael Cooney had traveled the country , and knew how to play almost any song. He became a popular draw at a particular Palo Alto club in 1963. It was there he met a high school band, teaching them the songs they’d eventually be known for playing as the Grateful Dead. The lure of the "Mystic East" was irresistible, and in 1964 Michael went to New York, then Boston. Michael learned his music from hundreds of people, well-known and unknown. He credits Pete Seeger and Sam Hinton for his interest in traditional folk music and the history behind the songs. Michael has been helping others to experience the beauty, power and humor of old and new songs for over 50 years, in countless halls, clubs, coffeehouses, etc., in the US, Canada, Mexico, Great Britain and Europe. In 1969, one of his stops was the