In response to DougR...

The Frontiersmen, my first and only venture into folk music, began as a trio that became “professional” (played for money) at The Gallery, a Niagara Falls, Ontario (we were from across the river/border in New York), coffeehouse, in let’s sa they fall of 1963. A guest group (we were the “house band”) from Buffalo, the Shari Vann Singers, I believe, asked us to substitute for them at their regular Sunday night gig on 9 February 1974.

Our first set, prior to the intermission, was well received with audience attention (not rapt, but close), willing participation, and enthusiastic applause. At a pre-arranged signal we closed out in time for the bartender to turn up the volume in time for The Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. To our expectation - just a return to a Four Aces/Four Lads/Crew Cuts type group - with the performers providing the instrumentation themselves.

We were wrong! After intermission audience reception/participation/appreciation was vastly more subdued. I don’t think the “death” of folk music occurred that night but a nail was definitely hammered into a ready-made coffin.