Did you know or study with Win Stracke?

Subject: Did you know or study with Win Stracke?
From: jasonplaystunes
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 07:51 PM

My name is Jason McInnes. I am curious to talk with folks who were friends with and/or studied music with Win Stracke.

I direct a group of youth musicians called the Young Stracke All-Stars. Started in 2008, the band celebrates the legacy of children's music and education pioneer, Win Stracke. The Young Stracke All-Stars build a bridge between legendary figures like Carl Sandburg and Woody Guthrie and the youth of today.

Here is a link to a video of the band singing at Win's gravestone warming in 2012.


Win Stracke's Gravestone Warming

Here is a more recent video of the band playing outside of Wrigley Field during the summer of 2014.

Young Stracke All-Stars - WFMT - Make Music Chicago


If you knew Win, I would love to know. I can be reached at [e-mail]

Thank you for your time.
Jason

Subject: RE: Did you know or study with Win Stracke?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 11:31 PM

Yes, I met Win at a party that Gerry Armstrong held at her house in Wilmette, Illinois in the early '90's I think. Win had already be diagnosed with Parkinson's, but was still fairly mobile and verbal. When we met I told him that I learned a lot of my guitar chords and songs and stylings from his book Songs of Man, which he had done with Norman Luboff. When I mentioned that he asked which songs I liked. I had to mention Peat Bog Soldiers, because I had played that one a lot. He didn't want to sing by himself, but when my then singing partner and I started played Believe me if all those Endearing Young Charms, he sang along with us. He was a great man.

Subject: RE: Did you know or study with Win Stracke?
From: jasonplaystunes
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 09:18 AM

That is a really nice story, Phil. I've heard a similar story from many folks. "At first he didn't want to sing, but then . . ." I know I'm like that sometimes myself.

Songs of Man is an incredible collection.

Do you still like in the area?
Best,
Jason

Subject: RE: Did you know or study with Win Stracke?
From: CupOfTea
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 03:18 PM

I wish I'd had the pleasure. Like Phil, the Songs of Man book was a source for me - first seen as a child when (a friend's mother kept it on her piano. I got my own copy later & the song I cherish the most from that is "Down by the Embrass."

I did have the chance to see Wine Strache and hear him sing in a benefit for the Old Town School of Folk music held in the later 80s at Orchestra Hall. The bill included many folk luminaries, David Bromberg, Connie Kaldor... but the one part I remember best is Win singing with his friend Studs Terkel: "A Wee Drappie o't" The two of them a stool, some glasses filled & each time the phrase "a wee drappie o't" came up in the song, they'd pause and have a sip... then a longer sip...longer pause... as the song went on the pauses got longer and longer. I'm sure the radio audience had no idea why the audience was so overcome with laughter, but it was a delightful example of a drinking song put in context.

Joanne in Cleveland (who was Joanne in DeKalb in those days)

Subject: RE: Did you know or study with Win Stracke?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 04:38 PM

Jason, no, we no longer live in the Chicago area. We get down there frequently for music gigs, but we moved to the upper peninsula of Michigan.