Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From:
Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 07:49 PM
Art, I found your site a while back...Art's Place ...and your discography page too..Art's Music but, I can't find a Myspace page for you.
I even found THIS!
The Old Blue Bus Blog (try saying that after a few beers!) ;0)
And from there, come these inspirational words about your music:
"Art Thieme is a living national treasure. His puns, stories, sense of humor, and collection of folk songs are as comfortable as a well worn pair of walking shoes. His voice and instrumental work are so natural that when you hear him perform a song, it sounds like an old favorite, even if you've never heard it before.
The Rock River Valley, along the Illinois border with Wisconsin, is where Art Thieme was raised and sparked his life-long love of folk music. I believe Art could play anything, and I do mean anything. His main instrument is the guitar, including his unique nine-string guitar, but he also plays old time banjo, musical saw, nose flute, jaw harp and who knows what all. He has collected an amazing amount of folksongs of the Midwest, and preserved them through his recordings.
Art, along with friends, Fred Holstein, Steve Goodman and John Prine, were the driving force in the Chicago folk music scene in the 1960s and 70s. He taught at the famous Old Town School of Folk Music, wrote articles for the legendary "Come for to Sing" magazine, hosted a radio program, and performed at Chicago's No Exit coffeehouse for 37 years.
I've seen Art Thieme perform several times, the last being well over a decade ago in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. His live performances harken back to when folk music was an era, a way of life. Unfortunately, Art had to stop performing years ago due to Multiple Sclerosis, but with the help of Sandy Patton of Folk-Legacy Records, he has recently released a new CD of live recordings. For long time fans, you'll know most of the songs, but if you know Art, you know he never performed any song the same way twice. For those of you not familiar with this Midwest troubadour, this CD is a chance to experience one of the best storyteller/singers of the folk era."
And I'm sitting here listening to your songs, on the link above, just heard 'Titanic' and 'Shanty Boy on the Big Eau Claire' found the tale of Sue, the milliner's daughter and her love, the Shanty Boy, and heard their sad story...and now I've got 'The Rock River Valley' on, and suddenly Abe Lincoln's there, alongside goblins, trains, starry nights, 'summer beebuzzed pollen days' (beautiful) and the dreams of a young boy that took flight, as he lay in his bed, in that valley he loved so much...
And well.....it just kinda struck me...that when someone writes such words as these....
"Art Thieme is a living national treasure. His puns, stories, sense of humor, and collection of folk songs are as comfortable as a well worn pair of walking shoes. His voice and instrumental work are so natural that when you hear him perform a song, it sounds like an old favorite, even if you've never heard it before...."
....well, your music and your songs mean a lot to people and a Myspace page with some of your songs on would be great to have 'out there'
Lizzie :0)
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sj
