Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey

Subject: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 04 May 10 - 05:35 PM

In the 1960's-early 1970's there were 2 albums
issued by PAT and VICTORIA GARVEY, one on the
"Mud" label iirc, probably their own, and one
on EPIC.
There is a little information about them on the internet, but
perhaps someone on this list can provide better information.
Pat & Victoria split in the early 70's - Pat continued to write songs
and perform, has a website indicating the availability of
a number of tapes.
There is also an indication that he had a stroke in 2006, and
was in a VA hospital.   Another blog indicates addresses and
website not working. (seems to be contradicted by the existence
of a working website).
I've found no information about any activity by Victoria Garvey
following their split. Maybe a name change or withdrawal from
the music scene. Any information appreciated.
Thanks!
Best wishes, Thomas.

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Deckman
Date: 04 May 10 - 06:03 PM

I remember them well from the days of the Pamir House, on the "ave" in Seattle. I remember that Vickies maiden name was "Blackburn." I'll talk to a few people and see if I can find out more. Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: open mike
Date: 04 May 10 - 06:11 PM

Could MG Mary Garvey be related to these folks?

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Deckman
Date: 04 May 10 - 06:38 PM

NO NO NO. Totally different families. (good question though) bob

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,iancarterb
Date: 04 May 10 - 11:21 PM

Deckman- Mike Nelson introduced me to a few of Pat and Victoria's songs about 40 years ago, and I believe he was able to keep some track of Pat at least. Best source I can think of- you might give him a call if by chance he's not on the 'few people' list you would call.
   Carter Bannerman

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Deckman
Date: 05 May 10 - 09:52 PM

I did send this thread on to Mike ... he's a lously communicator.

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Anglo
Date: 06 May 10 - 02:16 AM

Victoria is now (for some considerable time) Victoria Armstrong, married to Don, and they perform SW US music, living in New Mexico. They still maintain connections to upstate NY, the Saratoga area, where I think they met. I haven't seen either for a while, but George Ward knows them better and I hope he will comment. Funny, their names came up in conversation earlier this evening.

I haven't seen Pat for close to 20 years, and didn't know about the stroke. I know he was upset about the split with V.

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 11:56 PM

Victoria Garvey Armstrong. Still writing and playing and singing.

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Deckman
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 12:31 AM

GOOD GRIEF ... is this you Vickie? It's been a while since I last saw you at the Pamir House ... about 48 years, I think? bob nelson

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Admiring Listener
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 03:15 AM

Any chance of reissuing their music to digital ?

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Terry
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 09:06 PM

I met Pat & Victoria in my uncle Ed's coffee house in Oklahoma City called Sword & Stone. I have one of their LP albums.

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 10:05 PM

I am of the Dingle clan and 4 brothers who worked on the canals and settled in Clermont Iowa. mg

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 01:27 AM

I remember hanging out with Pat and Victoria in NYC in the 60's. They were performing around town and did an interview with my upstairs neighbor who was a DJ for the Riverside Church station. Paul Williams , a Welsh guitarist and singer, little guy with a huge lovable ego was with us too. We were running around the lower east side, China Town, all over. Of course Pat played a beautiful Martin D25. Paul had this hand made guitar that had a string inside the body which would resonate when he played. The folk scene was going full blast then and Dylan decided to go electric!

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Don Armstrong
Date: 13 Apr 12 - 01:40 AM

Victoria is alive and well and still has the most beautiful voice on the planet. We are celebrating our 40th anniversary this year and will play Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY on Thursday, May 3 at 8 pm. Check us out at DonAndVictoria.com!

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Victoria Garvey Armstrong
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 04:36 PM

RE: our album "Mr. & Mrs Garvey."

This album was released in early summer of '68. We had been "struggling" in the music business for five years, which seems like an eternity when you're in your twenties. And it came like a bolt out of the blue.

We had been living in Aspen & other remote places for many years, with brief sorties into LA & then back to the mountains again to lick our wounds & regenerate.

At some point we said "Let's give up trying to 'make it,' start a rock band and just have some fun. At the same time, Chet Helms, who started the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, came to Denver and opened a huge club, bringing in all the great groups of the time - Jefferson Airplane included. We took our rag-tag, funky, not very good band (we called it the Aspen Yacht Club) down to Denver and auditioned. We ended up opening for the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, and got offers from 3 - count 'em - record companies. Epic was the one that worked after many months of back & forth.

The record got great reviews in newspapers across the country and in Billboard & Variety magazines. John Denver covered "Fugacity" on his first album and the Irish Rovers recorded "Fifi O'Toole," which climbed to #1 in Ireland.

The physical recording in Nashville was amazingly exciting. By some stroke of luck we got Bob Johnston, a producer of prodigious energy & talent who had previously produced Simon & Garfunkle, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan & many others.

We recorded for three 14 hour days, at the end of which I had no voice left. And for a band we got the Nashville Cats, who backed almost everyone who came to Nashville to record (YES, that IS Charlie Daniels on the far left). We really wanted their pictures on the record since they were usually the unsung heroes we had all been hearing but not seeing. They even flew in an oboist from the Atlanta Symphony for the opening of "Fugacity."

We insisted on bringing our wonderful pianist, Craig Doerge, we had just begun to work with in LA. It was his first pro-job. He went on to work with James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Crosby, Stills & Nash and the Section.

With the exception of "Ghost Towns," all the songs were written in the 2 or 3 months preceding the recording.

Sadly, due to some inter-office negativity between LA & NYC, the album was not promoted. Not an unusual story in this business.

Still, what I remember is the Joy & all the great fans & friends made as the result of this album. Thank you, all, for your friendship & support over the years.

Victoria

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: maeve
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 08:13 AM

Thank you for posting, Don and Victoria. Here is a link to the website Don Armstrong posted:
http://donandvictoria.com/
(Lots of good photos and album information there.)

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 16 Mar 13 - 02:23 PM

As part of a St. Patrick's DJ night at our after hours restaurant, I'll play a track from that wonderful lp on Epic of Mr. and Mrs. Garvey.   Since Fifi O'Toole apparently made it to #1 in Ireland, that would be a good one!   But I'm wondering (maybe Victoria can answer that), were Mr. and Mrs. Garvey originally from Ireland...or do you have and Irish heritage?

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 Mar 13 - 03:13 PM

I remember Pat and Victoria singing in Seattle in the early Sixties. "The Place Next Door" and "The Queequeg" among others.

I also remember them zinging off to New York to give it a serious shot. And kinda wished I'd had the guts to do that.

Darn good duo!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 16 Mar 13 - 09:41 PM

Some additional discographical notes;

Pat Garvey recorded a 45rpm disk for MGM in 1962:
MGM K13066
62-XY-410 THE BIGGEST RIDE SINCE PAUL REVERE
62-XY-511 NEVER SHOULD HAVE LEFT


PLATINUM 1001 Don Armstrong & Victoria Garvey   LP 197x ????

Best wishes, Thomas.

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 16 Mar 13 - 09:43 PM

I saw them at the Fox Hollow Festival, c. 1972?? Very tuneful, very professional. Their "Orange Nickelodeon" sticks in my mind.

Bob

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Elmore
Date: 16 Mar 13 - 11:29 PM

Don and Victoria Armstrong will be playing at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY on Friday, May 17.

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Elmore
Date: 17 May 13 - 11:55 AM

The concert will also be shown live on line on Concert window at 8 p.m.

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Elmore
Date: 17 May 13 - 11:08 PM

Great show!

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Don Armstrong
Date: 29 Dec 13 - 11:36 AM

Sorry, haven't checked this site in some time. Pat is of Irish descent but Victoria is not. Pat went to Ireland not long after he & Victoria split, but I don't think he liked it there. Victoria remembers playing the Queequeg, but not so much the Place Next Door. Pat owned a coffee house in Seattle, perhaps that was it. She met him when she went in and auditioned. We are scheduled once again for Caffe Lena May 10, 2014, but Victoria is dealing with some rather serious health issues, so the trip east is up in the air at this point.

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 29 Dec 13 - 12:53 PM

Thanks Don. I wish Victoria the best in dealing with those health issues, and look forward to hearing more concerts and recordings from the two of you.

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Don Firth
Date: 29 Dec 13 - 02:56 PM

I don't remember Pat Garvey owning a coffee house in Seattle. At one time or another, I sang in every one of Seattle's coffee houses and knew all the owners, but he wasn't one of them.

I don't know how Pat and Vickie met, but I do remember early on Pat singing solo at "The Place Next Door" and I thought that later on, Vickie sang with him there, but I could be wrong. They did, however, sing a fair amount at the "Queequeg," which was owned by Eric Bjornstadt. Nice place to sing. Whereas with most of Seattle's coffee houses, having entertainment was sort of an afterthought, the "Queequeg" had entertainment in the form of folk singers in mind from the start, and it had a real stage, spotlights, and all the seating was oriented toward the stage. Great place to sing!

Pat and Vickie got really good, then went to New York to give it a shot. Didn't make it as big as they wanted to, but came back to Seattle even better than when they left. Darn good duo!

I got very busy with my own schtick and lost track of them after that.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Dec 13 - 10:28 PM

Hey Don ... I was right there there with you singing in the same coffee houses when Pat and Vicky first appeared. I well remember when I first lais eyes on Vicky. I was halfway through a song at the Pamir house when she walked in. She was so beautiful that my twist got all tounged up around my eye tooth and I couldn't see what I was saying! bob(deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Don Armstrong
Date: 30 Dec 13 - 10:53 AM

Don Firth, Victoria remembers you from those days. She says that she believes Pat took over The Place Next Door when Eric left and ran it very briefly. That is when they met. She also loved your comment, Bob. That gave her a good laugh. You don't know how many times I have heard in our travels from people who had that same reaction -as I did- but found it much easier to tell me than tell Pat!!! And, Larry, thank you for your good wishes. The next few weeks will tell us whether Victoria will perform again. We are almost finished our latest CD, from which we had to have a break for a while, as she was too weak to sing or play. She seems to be doing a little better, now, but time will tell.

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Don Firth
Date: 30 Dec 13 - 02:21 PM

Don A., a bit of Seattle coffee house history:

"The Place Next Door" was opened by Bob Clark, owner of the Guild 45th Theater, who ran it from Spring of 1959 until sometime shortly after the Seattle World's Fair, which ended in October of 1962. Then, wanting to open another art film theater in downtown Seattle, he sold the Place to Seattle folk singer Stan James, who renamed it "The Corroboree." [Stan was an "Australophile," and a corroboree is an event where Australian Aborigines interact with the Dreamtime through dance, music and costume.] Stan ran it for a couple of years, then sold out to a fellow named Dick Minor, who ran it for a several months, then disappeared, leaving all the bills unpaid. The Place / Corroboree went back to being an abandoned store front, eventually rented by someone. Its days as one of the nicest coffee houses in Seattle were over.

Eric Bjornstadt's first venture into coffee houses was The Eigerwand, which was too small to have entertainment. So Eric opened the "Queequeg," down the street. It was big, as I mentioned before, and was set up for entertainment. He ran it for at least a couple of years, and if Pat Garvey took it over from him, I was not aware of it. But then, that was getting into the first assaults of the "British Invasion," the Beatles, Petula Clark, et al, and the popularity of coffee houses as places to sing or hear folk music faded swiftly.

This was a manifestation of the ravages of folk music suddenly being sucked into the Pop music milieu and riding the Pop music wave. When the wave breaks, it's replaced by the next wave, whatever that might be.

So sic transit gloria "Folk Scare!"

Since then, it's no longer a popular music fad, but I think the "Folk Scare" left a large residue of people who are genuinely interested in the music rather than just because it was the latest pop music fad in the late Fifties / early Sixties, and all in all, it's healthier today than it was then.

This is not to say that Pat didn't run a coffee house himself, but if he did, I wasn't aware of it, and I was smack-dab in the middle of it all.

=======

And Don A., please give Victoria my very best wishes!!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Camie Leeward
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 05:20 AM

I didn't know the Garveys wrote "Lovin' of the Game." There's a few music videos on YouTube with Don and Victoria.

I remember wanting to buy "Mr. and Mrs. Garvey" but unable to afford it what with college and being newly married. Wow! This discussion brought back some memories. There was a FM station back in the day that gave airtime to folk and singer/songwriters. It played tracks from that LP.

Was their other record titled something like "Good to See You, Mrs. Custer...Sorry About what Happened to George."?

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Don Armstrong
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 09:37 AM

Camie, that song was called "It's Quite A Lovely Painting Mrs. Custer, I'm Sorry Things Turned Out that Way For George," and was included on the "Mr. & Mrs. Garvey" LP. Victoria re-released that album recently in CD format entitled: "Bon Voyage, Miss Tischauser." Pat had also released it several years back as "Orange Nickelodeon."

Subject: RE: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Don Armstrong
Date: 15 Jan 14 - 11:14 AM

Our winter & spring concerts have been cancelled due to Victoria's ill health. With the help of some Tucson music pals. I will be performing a tribute to her (and us) in Tubac, AZ in March.

Don

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,BobE
Date: 14 May 14 - 11:52 AM

I received this email from Don on Tuesday 05-13-14:
Dearest Friends,

It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my wife, Victoria Armstrong, passed away last evening (May 5) at 7:50 after a long illness.

I always thought that Victoria had the sweetest voice I had ever heard. Still do. She was my twin soul, my muse, my angel voice, my beloved.

I know she would want me to thank you for all your support you've given us over the years. I know how you loved her - well she loved you right back.

Soon, after a little break, it will be back to work putting the finishing touches on our CD. It's almost done.

I did a recent concert as a tribute to our 42 years together, at her behest. It was such a success I will be doing more in the months ahead.

In the meantime, lots of love to you, with our gratitude and with all my heart.

Don Armstrong

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 14 May 14 - 12:26 PM

I am so sorry to hear this. My condolences to Don.   That Mr. and Mrs. Garvey album was an important part of my own musical development----and it's so great to hear that after Victoria and Pat split, Victoria was able to continue making great music with Don Armstrong.

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 14 May 14 - 03:14 PM

I just realized that on my current radio program that was just downloaded, I play two great songs by Pat and Victoria Garvey.



http://peachcityradio.org/audio/LarrySaidmanTop200/LARRYSAIDMANTOP200.56.2014.05.11.mp3

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Elmore
Date: 14 May 14 - 10:16 PM

Glad I heard Don and Victoria in concert a while ago. Sorry to hear of Victoria's passing. My condolences to Don.

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Neal Walters
Date: 25 Aug 14 - 01:59 PM

Just came on to this thread while trying to find out more about Pat and Victoria Garvey ... I could only remember hearing them at the 1967 Festival at Southwestern College in Kansas (which I also am to understand later morphed into what is now the Walnut Valley Festival) ... the concert that night featured Doc and Merle Watson as well as Vern and Ray, a great bluegrass band from Arkansas and later the San Francisco area but it was Pat and Victoria who really appealed to me. The Lovin' of the Game and the song about Custer stand out in my memory. I later bought their Mr. and Mrs. Garvey album but have lost it I guess ... I thought I had kept all my old vinyl but that doesn't appear to be one of the albums on the shelf ... I'd love to see it re-released digitally ... I'm now prompted to go have a listen to Victoria with Don Armstrong on You Tube as someone mentioned up above. Thanks for the memories folks!

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 06:36 AM

I am so pleased o finally find information on Pat and victoria Garvey.   I signed them to perform on my parents farm in the early 70ies and everyone loved their music. I have several of their albums and have tried over the years to keep up with them.

the last I heard from them is having gotten a note from Pat saying that Victoria had run off with one of the musians and that he was really down.

Any updates would be appreciated.

email    [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 03:38 PM

I heard Pat and Victoria in the late sixties or early seventies in Boston. In 1975 I moved to Seattle for about a year and got to know Pat, who had a bookstore there. He ran an ad looking for musicians to form a band, and I responded. I had two of the albums by Pat and Victoria. We had a pretty good band going in early 1976, but I was in a bad marriage and I had to leave Seattle. I lost touch with Pat at that point.

Ken Shaw

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 10:47 PM

I remember an interesting story.

One day when I was looking through Weixin (a Chinese program similar to Twitter), I saw a 21-year-old college student writing the following line: "Today is the first day of the rest of my life". I was rather surprised, and responded to him, "That's a beautiful line. Do you know where it's from?" He saids, "It's from a song called 'Today', which was written by John Denver." I told him it was actually a Garvey song called "Fugacity", but he insists that it was written by John Denver, then he send me a link of "John Denver singing 'Today'" - which is actually John's cover of Pat & Victoria's "Fugacity"!

Jason

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Lea Jane Berinati Burie
Date: 07 Mar 15 - 08:37 PM

For over 40 years I have fondly remembered The Garveys. I was a secretary at Columbia Records in Nashville, TN when they recorded the album containing "It's Such A Lovely Painting, Mrs. Custer." The song has stayed with me all these years, and I would dearly love to acquire the album. Does anyone know how I may get a copy? CD?

Such talented people, and I am so sorry to hear of Victoria's passing.
My sympathies to Don and all their family.

Thank you.
Lea Jane
P.S. I went on to form a vocal background singing group in Nashville and spent about 45 glorious years in the music industry there. One of my greatest pleasures was hearing and watching The Garveys record their Nashville album.

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Don Armstrong
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 10:02 PM

Lea Jane, I was just in Nashville last week, visiting an old friend and singing partner who, incidentally, introduced me to Victoria in 1970. Victoria wrote a piece listed above about the recording of that Epic lp (retitiled "Bon Voyage, Miss Tischhauser."). I'd be happy to send you a copy.

You know, now that she is no longer around, I have thought of dozens of questions I would like to ask her about those sessions. I do know she loved Bob Johnston and always wanted to reconnect with him. Thank you for posting.

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Tucson, Arizona
Date: 10 Dec 15 - 07:27 AM

Victoria Garvey Armstrong is no longer living. She had a triple bypass in 2007. She died from two types of cancer a year ago. Her husband Don Armstrong is continuing to sing and play around the Tucson area.

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Corky Siegel
Date: 04 Jul 16 - 07:56 AM

Any surviving family of pat garvey. i'm re-releasing an album and want to make sure the right people receive any money that might come. Reach me at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 19 - 01:20 AM

Guest, Chris Van Beveren
Pat and Victoria were on Skip Weshner's radio show on KRHM in the late 1960's. I recall two songs they sand, That's Quite a Lovely Painting Mrs. Custer, and Today is the First Day of the Rest of My Life. I still can sing most of the words. So is John Denver taking credit for writing that song?

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: mg
Date: 13 Mar 19 - 02:31 AM

I loved the album too. Everyone asks if i am related to pat. I do not know. I am descended from garveys who left dingle ireland late in the potato famine, worked on canals and ended up in Clermont iowa. Many then worked on the railroad.

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: GUEST,Michael Broschat
Date: 31 May 19 - 02:23 PM

SecondHandSongs reports Pat's dying in 2017.
https://secondhandsongs.com/artist/144053

Steve Goodman covered the Garvey's "The Loving of the Game" on his album "Somebody Else's Troubles."

Don Firth (from this thread) died in 2015. See his:
http://pnwfolklore.org/wp-nwhoot/index.php/2017/01/24/seattle-coffeehouses-during-the-folk-revival-of-the-1960s-by-don-firth/

Subject: RE: Info: Pat [& Victoria] Garvey
From: mg
Date: 03 Jan 21 - 02:59 AM

i think it said in the book he wrote the blacksmith of brandywine. i always liked that song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l7SIkLEF80

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l7SIkLEF80