Obit: Fred Holstein ! (January 2004)

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein ! (January 2004)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 01:31 PM

Sometimes a spammer posts something weird in an old thread and a mod eventually removes it. But in the meantime someone else will see the thread back up, post to it, and thus the thread is revived-- because the spammer made it visible even tho their post was deleted shortly afterwards.

~S~

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein ! (January 2004)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 01:13 PM

Whoop, now it is here! Well, tomorrow is Halloween. That must explain it maybe!?

David E.,
from my point of view, the 2-CD set of Freddy's music is a great reflection of the times and the man that he was. The three quarters of it that is great is Fred at his best!

But my friend, Fred, had flaws too--as we all do. We loved Fred in spite of his glitches--even because of them. His performances always had some bits of that "looseness"---even the studio recordings. (That was true of my recorded works as well. Sadly, I always hear my flaws. But, mostly, I never thought Freddy "heard" his glitches.)

These things I'm saying today are, if they seem too critical to some, honed, I think, by hindsight--and a reflective clarity only possible with the passage of time.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein ! (January 2004)
From: MAG
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 01:04 PM

I don't know, Art.

I was skimming the threads and there it was. I clicked to see who had posted, and there was no new post.

We can let it die, I guess.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein ! (January 2004)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 12:39 PM

Maryann,
That is strange. And that post isn't here in the thread now. Where'd it go?

Art

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein ! (January 2004)
From: David E
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 12:17 PM

That may have been me, reviving the thread that is, not stealing your bag. Does a thread "revive" by looking up subjects on Mudcat? Sorry. I don't know anything about Fred Holstein other than the name and I was doing some reading. I was looking at that two cd set of his recordings as an introduction. Recommended by Fred fans everywhere?

David E.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein ! (January 2004)
From: MAG
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 09:25 AM

I'm curious why some one revived this thread, but didn't post.

I still miss Fred after over 5 years, even though I no longer live in Chicago.

At a conference last years stold the bag with my earphone and 2 Fred CDs.

Mya they rot in hell.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: GUEST,Nancy Clark
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 05:03 PM

"Remembering Fred", the 2CD set made from the recording of the memorial concert at the Old Town School is available at Different Strummer, Val's halla, Hogeye and World Folk Music Company, plus at CD Baby, which can be reached via www.fredholstein.com.

I posted previously, but to a different thread (Down by the River).

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: DebC
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 10:30 AM

No, Mag. No radio show. I just appear on other's tadio shows when I can.

Deb

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: MAG
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 12:15 AM

Isn't Debra Cowan the one with theradio show in the burbs?

I wouldn't mind having tape of her broadcat, either. It had some Fred stuff I had never heard.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 11:33 PM

Nancy, the autographed napkin got back in one piece. Glad you liked it. Some college friends and I,from Kenosha, Wisconsin, went to an Earl's open mic night and Fred was hosting. He'd always been one of my heroes so I asked him to autograph the napkin. When he decided I wasn't kidding he was very gracious. A few years later when I was performing on my own, or with Margaret, he was always friendly. I was touched when I was performing at a Center for Street People benefit that Fred was at that he was singing along on the chorus of "The Poor Ditching Boy" and asked for the words. I never heard him play it, but I understand he did a few times.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 04:20 PM

I'm really sorry to hear the news, Art. I know how much Fred meant to you as a friend. It's always hard to witness the passing of the old guard. I'm afraid that we're segueing into that position now. Reminds me of the first time I realized that I was the new Grandpa Rasmussen.

Thanks for letting us know.

There's a package in the mail to you which should arrive any day..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: GUEST,Nancy Clark
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 01:34 PM

Debra Cowan told me about this thread, so I thought that I should give advanced notice that "Remembering Fred", a 2 CD set from the memorial concert of April 3, 2004 at the Old Town School of Folk Music, went off to Oasis this week...if all goes well in 3-4 weeks we should have it. The net proceeds will benefit the Fred Holstein scholarship fund at the Old Town School. The CD will be available through the website www.fredholstein.com, also at Different Strummer (store at the Old Town School), and some other retail establishments.

Sorry it took so long to get this project completed, but we're on our way and will post again when we get the CDs.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: BK Lick
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 01:54 AM

Hey! This gives new meaning to "thread creep" -- it's downright creepy to learn I don't exist. Mebbe you left out the space after BK? Try clicking on the "PM" link in the From: line of one of my messages.

No worries about my catching anyone's virus -- being the enlightened bloke I am, my computer is a Macintosh.

BK

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Art Thieme
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 12:31 AM

BK,

I just tried to send you a P.M. and was told nobody named BK Lick exists.

I won't send e-mail to you as I may have a virus at present.

Sorry about this thread creep folks.

Art

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: BK Lick
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 11:38 PM

Here's another of Art's memories stirred by that trip down I-55 on the day of the memorial.

When we were on I-55 about to join Lake Shore Drive in Chicago on the day of Fred Holstein's Memorial, I mentioned to those in the car that I was rather amazed a certain building had been renovated. I said that it once was an MG car dealer and that I saw it burn one night when I was driving home to Peru after playing somewhere in town.

Art sent me this photo of the fire which I've just added to his photo gallery. (You have to enter "mudcat" for both user name and password.)

-- BK

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Art Thieme
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 10:40 PM

Yes, Barbara, that was it, although I can see how tired I was when I posted it. Just stream o' exhausted consciousness there.

Art

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Barbara
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 09:07 PM

Is this the post you had in mind, Art? It was in the "Gerry Armstrong, sad news" thread.

Art's post about the memorial

Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Art Thieme
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 04:37 PM

Bill,

Hello. Good to hear your voice again fram afar. The Memorial held for Fred at the Old Town School of Folk Music on April 3rd was a huge celebration of the man and his music. I thought I put up a post here right after that inspiring day in Chicago, but it seels I must've put that into another thread. If I could bring it here, I would do that. Just know that for me it was an inspiring day of good music and getting to see many good old friends.

All the best to you, sir. I have fond memories of you and of Tulsa.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: GUEST,Bill Munger
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 03:53 PM

Two weeks ago I learned the news.

Fred's devotion to our music goes back to the 60s.

He and his brothers put together one of the best folk
clubs ever.

I was lucky enough to be able to bring Fred and
Ray Nordstrand to Tulsa along with Pete Seeger
for (what was for me) the last Woody Guthrie Tribute
there.

I'll miss him I always had so much I wanted to share
with him.

Bill
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 06:00 PM

THREAD WITH MEMORIAL DETAILS

~S~

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein ! and CD REVIEW
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 02:59 PM

This update has just been added to Fred's website:

If you wish to send an e-mail about Fred, it will be passed on to the family. by e-mail: [e-mail]

Also at his website is the Sing Out! review, below.

~S~

==================================================

"In concert, one of Holstein's great talents is getting the audience to sing along and it's great hearing the audience's full harmonies. . ." Sing Out! Winter 2002 Issue

Fred Holstein, A Collection
Reviewed by Mike Regenstreif

Fred Holstein's 1977 LP, Chicago And Other Ports, was a big favorite of mine. Playing guitar and banjo with the support of Jim Tullio's acoustic bass, Holstein offered classic versions of well-known contemporary songs like Utah Phillips' "The Telling Takes Me Home" and Ralph McTell's "Streets Of London" and traditional gems like "Days Of 49" and "Down By The River." The set also included Woody Guthrie's "Old Chicago," an obscure song that I've not heard by any other artist, including Guthrie.

This 2-CD retrospective, chock full of great songs, combines all of Chicago And Other Ports with Holstein's other LP, the live For All The Good People, along with some radio show recordings and other live material, including Holstein's finale set from the closing night of Holstein's, the Chicago folk club that Holstein owned and operated with his brothers Ed and Allan in the 1980s.

In concert, one of Holstein's great talents is getting the audience to sing along and it's great hearing the audience's full harmonies on such songs as "This Little Light Of Mine": and "For All The Good People." Most of the songs in this generous collection are of contemporary vintage. However, in Holstein's hands they all seem like traditional folksongs. And I say that in praise. – MR

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Amos
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 08:52 AM

ANd a clip of his sinigng "All the Good People" at CD Baby --http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/holstein.

A

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 08:17 AM

There is an audio/video clip from Fred's final performance 3/16/2003 at the OLD TOWN SCHOOL site.

~S~

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 08:07 AM

Also from the Trib, Eric Zorn's Notebook...

~S~

=================================================================

SAD NEWS

Chicago folk-music legend Fred Holstein died Monday night.

Rich Warren, WFMT-FM (98.7) folk-music program host offered these thoughts via e-mail:

Fred Holstein was Chicago's troubadour. Fred opted not to join the crowd of singer-songwriters, but rather to interpret traditional and contemporary folk songs with a depth and passion rare on the national folk scene. His consummate taste in music introduced Chicago to such artists as Gordon Bok, Eric Bogle, Malvina Reynolds, Utah Phillips and a little known writer named Ken Hicks, who wrote "All the Good People."

Fred could mine a song and always uncover the gold. If Fred ever wrote a song, he kept it secret.

When actively performing, Fred had a repertoire of at least 200-300 songs. I'm sure he retained well over 1,000 songs and performed at least that many during his career. He didn't merely know the songs, he made a point of knowing their background and how they came to be written.

Warren will salute Holstein Saturday on his "Midnight Special" program (9 p.m.- midnight).

Kathy Kelly, host of "The Folk Show" on WNUR-FM (89.3) will dedicate her Sunday morning program (9:30-11:00 a.m.) to Holstein and include portions of her 1997 interview with him. Jules Eberhardt, who produced Holstein's double CD with Kelly, will co-host the tribute, which will also feature calls from listeners.

Tony Barnett, Concert Promotion and Production Coordinator at the Old Town School of Folk Music, had this to say:

Mr. Holstein died last night at Swedish Covenant Hospital during surgery. He was 61 years of age.

Mr. Holstein was an early member of the school, along with Steve Goodman, John Prine, and his brother Ed. A talented singer/songwriter, he was an inspiration to those at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and was an essential part of Chicago's musical community.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 08:02 AM

From the TRIB.

~S~

===============================================================


FRED HOLSTEIN, 61

Co-owner of North Side club was the heart of folk music

By Rick Kogan, Tribune staff reporter

January 14, 2004

Fred Holstein was the first to tell you he lacked the talent and grace of such contemporaries as John Prine, Bonnie Koloc, his younger brother Ed, the late Steve Goodman and some of the other talents that defined the city's folk music scene in the 1960s and 1970s.

But those performers and thousands of fans would have told you that no performer symbolized the heart of folk music more soulfully than Fred Holstein.

Beset in recent years by various maladies, Mr. Holstein, 61, died of heart failure Monday after undergoing emergency abdominal surgery at Swedish Covenant Hospital.

"I always had such great affection for Fred," said Koloc, who will dedicate songs to Mr. Holstein at one of her rare local performances, Friday night at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn. "He was the authentic folk singer on the scene. He sang with such truth and conviction."

Born and raised on the city's South Side, where his family ran a drugstore at 79th Street and Michigan Avenue, Mr. Holstein got hooked on music after attending a Pete Seeger concert at Orchestra Hall. He purchased his first guitar for $14.95 and taught himself to play by singing along with records and studying songbooks.

As a teenager he began to sneak into and then play at the folk clubs that dotted Wells Street in the Old Town neighborhood. His rich baritone and charming, if rumpled, stage presence made him a favorite.

When a bar called the Earl of Old Town decided to feature folk in 1966, Fred was on the opening night bill and became, along with Prine, Goodman, Koloc, Jim Post and others, a familiar presence at the club, which became the capital of the folk music world.

As folk music had a burst of popularity, Mr. Holstein never begrudged the record deals and big concert success of some of his colleagues. He admitted to a reporter that he "could never get the hang of writing my own songs" but regarded himself as "an interpreter. What I do is about the songs, about the art, about the work."

When the folk boom went bust in the 1970s, he still found places to play and supplemented his income by booking various clubs and tending bar at others.

In 1981, Fred and his younger brothers Ed and Alan--"the herd of Holsteins," as folkie Art Thieme always fondly referred to them--opened Holsteins, a music club on North Lincoln Avenue.

"He was one of the most generous people in the world," said Alan Holstein, who is in sales and manufacturing. "I am always proud to say I am his younger brother."

"He's the one who got me into music, my life," said Ed Holstein. "He influenced so many people, not just with his music but with his huge heart."

Holsteins had a good long run, closing its doors on New Year's Day in 1988, with the crowd accompanying the "herd of Holsteins" in a rousing rendition of "For All the Good People."

Mr. Holstein later worked as a bartender at the Lincoln Avenue tavern Sterch's, but his performances were infrequent. He was genuinely surprised by the interest and enthusiasm generated by the 2001 release of a two-CD release, "Fred Holstein: A Collection." It was his first CD, combining remastered tunes from his only two LPs, songs from the archives of WFMT-FM, and even snippets of interviews.

The CD seemed to reinvigorate him, and he performed every few months at the Abbey Pub with his brother Ed. "I never knew so many people still remembered who I was," he told a reporter after one of the packed-to-the-rafters shows in 2002.

Never much for exercise or a regimen of healthy living, Mr. Holstein was too sick to do much of anything over the last few months. But with characteristic optimism, he recently told friends that he hoped to return to the stage soon because, he said, "That's really where I feel the most alive."

In addition to his brothers, Mr. Holstein is survived by his mother, Sally. Funeral services will be private. A musical memorial service is being planned.

Copyright © 2004

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 07:54 AM

SUN-TIMES STORY

==========================================================

Fred Holstein, stalwart of Chicago folk scene, dies at 61
January 14, 2004
BY TOM MCNAMEE
Staff Reporter

On a good night at Holstein's, a cozy folk club on North Lincoln in the 1980s, the singer onstage often was one of the owners -- Fred Holstein.

Between cigarettes and sips of beer, Mr. Holstein would sing "Dona Dona" and "Hobo's Lullaby" and "I Remember You." He would sing sailing songs and train songs. And eventually, on a really good night, he'd work his way up to "Streets of London," a gently poignant song about loneliness in the big city.

A perfect hush would fall over the room, and the woman tending bar off to one side would sing out harmony on the chorus.

Forget the jokes about folk music. This was, to use one of Mr. Holstein's favorite words, a moment of "magic."

Fred Holstein, a kid from South Shore who moved to the North Side and became the anchor of Chicago's folk scene for more than 30 years, died during stomach surgery Monday night at Swedish Covenant Hospital. He was 61.

"Fred had this innate ability to interpret a song, to really make them his own," Jim Hirsch, former executive director of the Old Town School of Folk Music, said Tuesday. "When he performed, you could see this absolute love of music. It was like rays of sunshine coming out of his eyes."

Mr. Holstein made his name as the house act at the venerable Earl of Old Town music club from 1967 into the early '70s. When the club's owner, Earl Pionke, had nobody else booked for the night, Mr. Holstein took the stage. He had a fine baritone and he was available -- at a time when folk music already was fading and so many troubadours, such as Roger McGuinn, were running off to folk-rock bands.

Mr. Holstein and his brother Ed, also a folk singer, went on to co-own and perform in two classic Lincoln Avenue clubs, Somebody Else's Troubles and Holstein's. The clubs folded, but Mr. Holstein kept on singing. At the time of his death, he was tending bar -- and occasionally singing -- at yet another Lincoln Avenue bar, Sterch's.

A two-CD compilation of his music, "Fred Holstein: A Collection," was released in 2002.

Holstein never quite gained the fame of contemporaries such as Steve Goodman, John Prine and Michael Smith, but he was praised Tuesday as the true heart of this city's folk music scene.

"I always considered Fred the catalyst of the folk scene in Chicago," said Ray Nordstrand, co-creator of "The Midnight Special," the weekly folk music program on WFMT-FM (98.7). "Every benefit, he was there. He was not a songwriter, like Goodman and Prine, but he had an uncanny way of selecting the right songs and interpreting them perfectly."

"Midnight Special" host Rich Warren added, "Fred Holstein was Chicago's troubadour. He opted not to join the crowd of singer-songwriters, but rather to interpret traditional and contemporary folk songs with a depth and passion rare on the national folk scene."

Mr. Holstein was the oldest of three sons of a pharmacist. He fell in love with music at a young age and liked to go to the House of Music, a record store then at 79th Street and Michigan Avenue. The store's owner, George Silas, knew a music lover when he saw one and urged the visitor to broaden his tastes.

"George would say, 'Here, you gotta listen to this,' " recalled brother Ed. "One day, he gave Fred a promo of this record by Bob Gibson, 'Offbeat Folksongs,' and said, 'Here, this guy's made another record -- and he's kind of got a little following here in Chicago."

Mr. Holstein was hooked. He bought a guitar at Lyon & Healy in the Loop and, in 1961, started hanging around the Fret Shop, a store in Hyde Park.

"You'd walk into the Fret Shop and there'd be people like Mike Bloomfield playing guitar," Ed said. "It wasn't a club, but the owner would let you sit there and play guitar all day long."

That led to Promontory Point on Lake Michigan in Hyde Park. "It was blanket-to-blanket people in the summer, and there were all these guitar players and banjo players and congo players," Ed said. "And from Hyde Park, naturally, you'd gravitate further north to where all the clubs were. Fred, Elvin Bishop, Paul Butterfield -- they all went north."

Mr. Holstein took guitar lessons at the Old Town School (he later taught there off and on) and joined a folk group, the Frets.

Mr. Holstein opened Somebody Else's Troubles in the early 1970s with his brother Ed, Pionke, Goodman and Bill Redhed. When that partnership dissolved, Mr. Holstein and his two brothers -- Ed and Alan -- opened Holstein's. Alan managed the club. Ed booked the acts. Fred -- once again the house act -- sang.

Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert described Fred and Ed as "the big hearts at the center of the Chicago folk scene in the 1970s." And the club Holstein's, Ebert recalled, "was more like a nightly reunion of friends than a retail enterprise."

Mr. Holstein developed a reputation for being a serious folklorist. "He knew the music -- the background and the folk roots," said Frank Hamilton, one of the founders of the Old Town School.

Tributes to Mr. Holstein are being planned at both WFMT and the Old Town School of Folk Music. They will be musical tributes, of course, and chances are they'll end with everybody singing Mr. Holstein's signature song: "All the Good People."

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Wotcha
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 05:16 AM

All our prayers to his family and friends.

Fred's venue was the place that Roberts and Barrand recorded "Eat Bertha's Mussels/Live at Holteins" in about 1983. When I lived in Chicago for a brief but wonderful year, I was disappointed to find that Holsteins was no more but believe its spirit lived on in other venues (he came by occasionally) such as The Abbey Pub and The Gallery Cabaret ("home" to Folk Hall of Famer Dwayne Storey).

Cheers,

Brian

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Peace
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 11:37 PM

This is terrible news. God rest, Fred.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 11:27 PM

I played at an open mic at the Earl of Old Town that Fred was hosting in 1973 or '74. I have a bar napkin that he autographed for me. No one could work a crowd like Fred.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 08:01 PM

My heart is broken. I will go home tonight and dust off every song I learned from him in group class at OTSFM.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: GUEST,Sandy Andina
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 05:58 PM

I heard of Fred's passing late this morning from Juel Ulven, who'd gotten a call from Emily Friedman. I'm still in shock, Fred was one of my heroes, and encouraged me when I first started out twenty-plus years ago. He was not just a singer but a consummate entertainer, who always performed to and not "at" his audiences. I remember one of his favorite compliments about many of those who'd headline at Holstein's: as he'd finish his opening set, he would mention the headliner as someone who'd "roll your socks up and down." Fred, you sure rolled mine many times.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 05:31 PM

At WFMT site:

Fred Holstein, Chicago's Troubadour, died on January 12. We will pay tribute to him on the January 17 Midnight Special.

http://www.midnightspecial.org/

~S~

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 05:18 PM

I just heard the news. Fred was a remarkable man. I owe him a great deal. He's one of the people who encouraged and advised me most when I first started doing music for a living. It's hard to imagine what the world will be like without him.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 04:08 PM

Here's Art's post about himself, Fred and Johhny Cash

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 04:00 PM

The news about Fred's death is very difficult. I learned a lot of songs and about a lot of great people, especially Utah and Rosalie, through Fred's singing.
The Gate begat Troubles and Troubles begat Fred. It was a really exciting and creative time, when picking up a new edition of Come For To Sing was a big, big thing.
I got to hear Fred again at the Midnight Special reunion a couple of years ago. He was something special too.
Chris in Wheaton

Subject: Obit: Fred Holstein
From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 03:58 PM

Just heard the news that we lost Fred Holstein, Chicago's balladeer, who died in surgery last night. He was a Chicago "fixture"...well known in the folk community there and ran Holstein's folk club for many years.

It was a great place.


He will be sorely missed. He delighted audiences with his warm and personable manner. I remember him singing "Here's To All The Good People".
So appropriate because he certainly was "good people" himself.

Rest well, Fred.

Frank Hamilton

---

Frank, I moved your message into this thread. --JC

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 02:47 PM

Oh how I mourn for the way Lincoln Avenue used to be.

Very sad news. A harsh reminder of something that was once so vibrant................the Chicago folk scene.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Art Thieme
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 02:23 PM

Just recently I think I told here (or somewhere) about the time Fred and I ran into and hung with a messed up Johnny Cash going from bar to bar in Chicago. That was one a thousand nights and days with Fred on that city's folk scene that are just now running rampant through my head. Bitter-sweet right now...

Art

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 02:05 PM

Oh, Art, I am so sorry to hear of this. I know, from all that you've said over the years, how much Fred meant to you as a friend and a fellow performer. He will be missed, greatly.

{{{{{{{{{ART}}}}}}}}}}}

love,

Kat & Rog

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Mark Ross
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 02:04 PM

Damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We will miss him.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 01:49 PM

Dman! Another fine man done gone.

Sorry to hear this.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 12:39 PM

Here's the Trin article at Fred's site.

~S~

================================================================

"It took me a long time to learn it's not about me." -- Fred Holstein

Just Plain Folk

By Rick Kogan

August 5, 2001

Everybody loves Fred Holstein, or at least that's the way it seems. Whenever his name is mentioned, people of a certain age with a fondness for folk music will react with a smile and a "How is Fred?" Such is the result of a lifetime spent singing and sharing songs.

"I'm a ballad singer," Holstein says, standing in Sterch's, the Lincoln Avenue saloon where he works and where, in the photo, he's being hugged by the bar's owner, Bob Smerch. "What I really like is the sing-along stuff. You hear the audience come back at you. It can be magical."

Magical, too, was a place called Holsteins. A few blocks north of Sterch's on Lincoln, it was, from 1981-88, arguably the best folk music club in the country.

Operated by Fred and younger brothers Ed and Alan, native South Siders all, it was a cozy and creative place, and on the night it closed for good, the final song was played by Fred. It was a sing-along version of "For All the Good People."

That song--recorded live at the time--is among more than 30 tunes available for listening (and remembering) on a new two-CD release titled, with charming simplicity, "Fred Holstein: A Collection."

It's his first CD. He cut a record in the 1970s and another in the 1980s but nothing since, and some fans have played the vinyl so often that the records have just worn out.

It's a remarkable work that combines remastered tunes from the two LPs, songs from the archives of WFMT-FM, and even snippets of interviews Holstein gave over the years. It is available at the Old Town School of Folk Music and at Sterch's.

Holstein performs rarely these days; there just aren't enough hospitable venues. But the CD will evoke such bygone places as the Earl of Old Town, Mother Blues and Holsteins. It will evoke an era.

"It took me a long time to learn it's not about me," says Holstein, who adds that he never could "get the hang" of writing his own songs. "I'm an interpreter and what I do is about the songs, about the art, about the work. What I do is entertain people, and I use folk music as my way to do that. I see myself as a conduit."

Icy word, conduit. How about treasure?

Copyright (c) 2001, Chicago Tribune

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 12:38 PM

I never met Fred Holstein but I heard so many complimentary things about him from my American friends that I feel as if I have lost a friend too. I'm sure that the sense of loss will be felt keenly and widely through our singing community. May he rest in peace. May the memory of his songs stay with us all. My wife joins me in thoughts,prayers, and sincere condolences to his family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Art Thieme
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 12:36 PM

I talked to him a week or so ago. He'd had bizarre sores erupting all over his body. He was seeing a doctor---but he was vague.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 12:36 PM

No news here yet, but great article:

www.fredholstein.com

Also nothing yet in the TRIB.

~S~

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Mark Clark
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 12:24 PM

Oh, no!

I hadn't seen Fred for a very long time but, like Art, I always thought he was fantastic at what he did. No one loved the music better than Fred.

Art, do you know the nature of the surgery?

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 12:19 PM

I'm sorry, Art. {{{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}}}

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 12:07 PM

That's awful. Tremendous loss, for friends and folkies alike.

((( Art )))

~Susan

Subject: Obit: Fred Holstein !
From: Art Thieme
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 12:06 PM

I got word today that old friend, Fred Holstein, died last night during surgery. Fred was a very old friend, the best sing-along bar/saloon folksinger I've ever seen. In Chicago he was tops. Right now I'm just numb. I'd known he was ill, but not this ill...

Art Thieme