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The times may be a-changing but the music lives on
The Folk Music Society of Huntington celebrates its 40th anniversary
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| | | Back row, from left: Jack Finkenberg, Larry Lewitt, Ira Perlman (president), Dave Waxman, LeeAnn Rush (secretary), Estelle Heinrich, Jan Sharlun; front row: left to right, Lou Malfi, Sybil Moser, Amy Tuttle (vice president), Mike Kornfeld (treasurer); not pictured, Karen Finkenberg (concert master), Stu Markus and Gary Schoenberger. Photo by Alan Pearlman (click for larger version) | |
June 04, 2009 | 11:12 AM
The revival of interest in folk music was said to have been ushered in by Pete Seeger, who wrote some of its best loved songs. This phenomenon — which dominated the American music scene from the 1950s through the 1960s — spawned a tradition of excellence which has continued to pluck at our heartstrings ever since.
As the 1960s drew to a close, a small group of Long Islanders sought to preserve this style of music, and the Folk Music Society of Huntington was born.
The organization kicked off its inaugural season in 1969, and a year later the group incorporated. Today the FMSH boasts about 250 members, president and Coram resident Ira Perlman said, adding that about 1,500 people partake of its mailing list.
About 12 years ago, the society, which had occupied numerous venues, found a permanent home in the Congressional Church of Huntington, 30 Washington Drive, Centerport.
FMSH today
"No one had a clue that it would last, but it perpetuated itself and the music is still there," Perlman said, acknowledging the fundamental role played by ongoing emergence of waves of new singer/songwriters.
"They are the troubadours of our time," Perlman said, explaining that this kind of "musical commentary" remains as important today as it was when Seeger and others used protest music to heighten the need for social reform.
Variety also adds to the draw. The genre includes blues, bluegrass, traditional, contemporary, ethnic variants and more, he said.
According to Perlman, a committee within the society chooses performers whose talents are showcased in one of two venues.
The First Saturdays Concert Series has become the forum for well-known regional, national and international artists and is carefully orchestrated to ensure that the various subgenres are represented each season.
In 1992, in an effort to foster the talents of local and regional artists who are not necessarily full-time musicians, the Hard Luck Café was created. The goal was to provide an intimate venue analogous to the coffeehouses of the '60s and '70s which once nurtured the likes of Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton.
One of FMSH's most beloved guitarists and singer/songwriters, Bob Westcott, performed and hosted at a recent Hard Luck Café show.
The packed house feasted on a magical profusion of dreams, hopes and love stories set to music.
David Bailey, an upcoming singer/songwriter from Fort Salonga, energized the audience with savvy guitar playing and his original composition, "Harvey's on Fire."
Husband and wife team Dave Cook and Michele Frimmer of Huntington, who perform as the duo Princess Peapod, served up "third millennium" folk music.
Their playful yet sage lyrics coupled with Cook's guitar expertise and Frimmer's masterful voice made for a mesmerizing performance.
Finally, Return to the Dream — Diane Garisto, Tom Griffith, Martha Trachtenberg and Andy Huenerberg — wowed the crowd with their eclectic acoustic sound.
Smithtown residents and audience members, Paula and Dave Anthony, said the great live music has kept them coming back for more than 15 years.
Dave, who has been inspired to nurture his own talent, is now reaping praises as a solo singer and guitarist.
Sybil Moser, a trustee whose history with the FMSH dates back to 1979, said that the music still draws her to coffeehouses and festivals in the tri-state area and beyond.
"It has endured the test of time. It is the music of the people," the Huntington Station resident said of the songs which resonate with "the simple truths of life."
Jan Sharlun, a Northport resident and trustee since 1970, enjoys playing her acoustic guitar at open mics and said that membership in the group opened up "a world of exciting people."
"There's fantastic music and singing at our parties, and it comes from the heart," Sharlun said.
Trustee Larry Lewitt, a Glen Head resident who has been playing guitar since he was 16, hosts a monthly jam session at the Huntington Library.
"We sit in a big circle and take turns," Lewitt said of these informal gatherings which invite participation from those who play guitar, banjo, the mandolin or drums.
Vice president, Amy Tuttle, of Mount Sinai, said that she and her husband, Bob Westcott, joined within two months of attending a FMSH concert in 1992. Tuttle, who is a singer, has held a board position since 1994.
Folk music has endured because of its participatory nature, Tuttle maintains. "It's a way for ordinary people to have their voice heard," she said.
Upcoming
"People forget how important a good cultural life is to the community. Musicians need support," Tuttle said, indicating that, as program director of the Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council, she has been finding welcoming venues for performers for years.
The public will have the pleasure of appreciating the fruits of her labor when a new series sponsored by the arts council, the Picnic Supper Concerts at Harborside Park in Port Jefferson, kicks off on June 24. For information, visit www.gpjac.org.
The FMSH will round out its yearlong anniversary celebration with a First Saturday Night Concert by John Gorka.
Gorka discovered his style at a popular way station for aspiring musicians, Godfrey Daniels, a coffeehouse in Pennsylvania.
Hailed by Rolling Stone as "the preeminent male singer/songwriter of the new folk movement," the now nationally and internationally renowned Gorka will perform on June 6 at 8:30 pm.
The last folk music jam session of the season will take place at Huntington Library on June 14 at 1 pm.
There will also be an opportunity to experience the best that folk music has to offer on Aug. 1 when the society hosts its Huntington Folk Festival in coordination with the 44th annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival in Heckscher Park. In addition to showcasing the talents of bluegrass musician and composer Peter Rowan, who will headline the event, the free all-day folk music extravaganza will feature instrument workshops, jam sessions and booths set up by music organizations.
For information about membership, events and tickets, visit http://fmshny.org or telephone 425-2925.
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