Has The Folk Community Changed?

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: coldjam
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 07:17 PM

This was an interesting thread. As a newcomer I have sort of bounced around looking at who-all was here and why. Somewhat reticent to jump in and get all beat up. It becomes pretty evident, after a while, that some folks jest don't got no upbringing. But also, that some folks have such a preconceived notion of what the other guy is all about, they just assume the worst and attack it.

In our little rural area of about 5-10 towns, our folk music community includes folks from Mennonites to Communists. And we do get to talking, and we do share ideas. But it only turns bad (occasionally) when we forget we are SHARING ideas, and think that by being louder or ruder we can make our point so strongly as to change the other's minds.

We've learned that most of us are not "RED" or "BLUE". Most of us have real varied opinions on life issues, that neither Gore nor Bush (insert your country's opposing partys here)represents, and that brings us together. Which is where folk music comes in as a way to grease the social wheels. But the most "conservative" person here, is respectful when a "liberal" is sharing a song from their heart-even if it about something they passionately disagree with! As on Mudcat, there are also a minority of "problem" people who agitate for attention.We try to love them anyway, and not become like them in defense.

By and large I really enjoy this little cyber community, there are some very funny,good-natured and insightful folks here. And as Martha Stewert would say, "It's a good thing."

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Jim Tailor
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 07:29 PM

Hey coldjam,

You must live in the same community as me!

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 08:09 PM

I'm glad that you feel that way, coldjam. I do too, despite occasionally getting fed up with the actions of the few. This IS a good place, with many, many good people.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: number 6
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 08:49 PM

If the technology existed and the Mudcat resided on the net way back in the sixties I'm sure you would see the same atmosphere as we see today.

Just as today society back then was divided, the 'folk community' had it's purists, it prejeduces, it's openess, it's rejections. What we see in the questioning brought forth in this thread is a longing for the 'good old days'. Unfortunately, only the good memories are remembered. There was infighting, there was rejection of ideas, as much as the acceptance. Just as here in the Mudcat today, there is a community, a community of good ideas, shared ideas, questioning, arguments. But all in all it's a community that represents the times that exist. Ignore the infighting, appreciate the goodness that still exists here.

sIx

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 09:17 PM

I've not read the whole thread Jerry but I would be inclinded to suggest overall we change rather than the folk community changes.

We start to realise that all the falsehoods of life exist and that there isn't a perfect folk world no matter how much we may have dreamed it to be otherwise and doubtless know others the same.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Once Famous
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 09:27 PM

Think about this.

At one time, in the late 50s to the early '60s, a big, big part of the folk community was based on the college campuses where all of the frat boys were doing The Kingston Trio, The Brothers Four, The Limelighters etc.

The purists can pooh-pooh this, but millions of folk-related records were being sold to this audience, who could give a damn about politics and protest in folk music. Folk music was about fun.

This has changed and for that I am truly sorry.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: number 6
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 09:55 PM

The Kingston Trio, the Brothers Four .... then came Bob Dylan, then he went electric!!

I guess ya can blame it all on Bobby.

sIx

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 10:32 PM

You notice that the title of this thread is a question. It has a lot of answers.. all of them with a lot of truth. And you are right, Martin. In the Midwest, it was the Kingston Trio, The Cumberland Three, Lonnie Donnegan (hallelujah) and Harry Belefonte. The music had nothing to do with protests, or labor movements or politics. It was just music you sang for fun. No more profound than It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To. Whatever happened to Lesley Gore? Is Al her son?

It wasn't until I came to New York that I was introduced to the old recordings from the 20's and 30's(which I really loved) and saw the Wobbly Psychedelic side of folk music. Suddenly, the Kingston Trio had about as much credibility as Bobby Vee. Even though I really loved The Carter Family and Charlie Poole and all the rest, I still enjoyed some of the Kingston Trio stuff, and did The Escape Of Old John Webb.

Maybe the folk community has always been as divided as it is now. Maybe it's just that as you get older and your vision begins to fail you, the past looks better and better..

Wrote a song with the line "The good old days are still to come." And I believe it.

And remember, today is yesterday's tomorrow.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: number 6
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 11:04 PM

"The good old days are still to come."

Good Jerry.

I came of age 'so to speak' in the latter half of the sixties. There was a dividing line between us and the 'old school' such as 'Kingston Trio' crowd and us 'the Bob Dylan' crowd. I always remember a division, but forefront in my memory are 'good 'ol days', and as your song says, they are still to come.

sIx

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Once Famous
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 11:06 PM

Jerry

The Kingston Trio came out of San Francisco, and there and at places like UCLA they were even bigger than in the midwest.

Yes, the folk community has always been divided. I remember the commercial vs. purist arguements in Sing Out magazine over 40 years ago and quite frankly, the arguement is as tired as the chorus of Tom Dooley or for you who've got to have it with no teeth, Tom Dula.

BTW, I just saw an ad in the entertainment section of an upcoming "rock and roll" reunion show starring none other than Leslie Gore, Lou Christie, and Bobby Rydel. No thank you, I'm not going. But in the picture, Leslie looked real, real good!

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: number 6
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 11:38 PM

MG .... yer gettin' old!!

Yeah, the argument is a tired as the chorus of Tom Dooley.

Life goes on and there are still new roads to be ventured, leaving the old behind. Ya gotta grow and go on no matter how old ya are.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 11:52 PM

I think a big change in England, has been the effect of the far eastern instruments being imported.

I first heard folk music when I went away to a posh boarding school. The kids were really rich and they owned Levins, Harmony sovereigns. A levin at this time cost more than my Dad earned in a month. In fact a Levin cost more than my monthly paycheck when I started work in 1971.

Nowadays you can buy a good playable instrument,for less than what most people earn in a couple of days.

Also there has been a big change in attitude about music as a career. People talk about the music industry. There is more access to tuition.

For these reasons, I think it is not so much a preserve of the middle classes. It is less exclusive.

Perhaps what we need to do is follow Basil Fawlty's example when he organised his gourmet night - a sign outside every folk club - NO RIFF RAFF!

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: GUEST,me
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 11:58 PM

i have a broken hand so my typing is worse than usual.

i notice that most hereare american. i'm not old enough to remember the sixties but i remember playing the folk scene in the seventies. i'm canadian, and travelled in the usa and britian a lot when i was young. i have to say that americans are as friendly in the folk comunity now as when i went doen there first in the seventies and canadians and brits remain full of ethnic and class bigotry in the folk scene.

in the us i have been picked up off the street to play a local folk festival--while buskin!!! i wasn't street walking!, while in canada west of the ottawa river i will never forget being told i wasn't welcome at the local folk club as nova scotians pay thet awfull country music"and wee do genuine folk"(i was trying to get in free by performing as i didn't have the money to pay .

in britain the irish and gaelic scottish music snene in london is compeletly seperated from the english and the gaels ARE NOT WELCOME at any emg;ish song circle.

being canadian i didn't figure this out right away as we are kinda bettween two stools so i would go to english domonated folk scenes and play gaelic influenced stuff and told " we only allow sisnger to sing songs from their own countries"

in vancouver i was similarily told "we do canadian music here"

now it took me years to intellectualize this as when i left home i didn't have a grade ten education and now i have two university degrees. (at fifty). but i really see a bigotry in canadian folk west of the ottawa river, as much class based as ethnic. they tend to see people who act and talk like cape bretoners or newfouindlander as lower class as the english see people who behave as irish do and talk that way as lower class. the english in both palces seem to think that putting people in a class category makes their bigotry ok. a lot of them are ostensible lefties, so i have a saying (does anyone remember stalinist philosophy". anglo lefties have gone past socialism for one country now they have it down to socialism for one class.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: number 6
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 12:03 AM

Guest me .... I think there is a slight prejudice and bigotry towards maritimers within the west of Canada west of Quebec.

This could be a subject for a seperate thread.

sIx

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Pauline L
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 12:21 AM

First, I'll point out something that no one else has yet. The nastiness is not limited to threads about religion and politics. I've seen folks shot down mercilessly for asking a question that has been asked before or saying something in all sincerity and considerable knowledge about folk music.

I believe that a lot of the nastiness on the Mudcat Forum is rooted in the anonymity offered by the Internet. The analogy with road rage, made earlier in this thread, is a very good one.

On the whole, I believe that the folk music community is more accepting and less status driven than the classical music community, with which I am also actively involved. I have yet to hear someone profess to sing folk music better than other people because they have a master's degree in music. :-) However, there are still "in groups" in the folk music community, including (gasp) the FSGW. People are people, and that includes folk people.

As for the argument that our (American) society at large is divided against itself, this is true. However, it was probably even more true in the 60s, a sort of golden age in folk music. In fact, the arts often thrive in periods of political turmoil. A good example is Germany after the first World War.

Now, gentle folk, please don't flame or troll me for what I've said or who I am.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: CarolC
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 12:22 AM

Yeah, my IRL experience of the folk community isn't too much different from here in the Mudcat.

At FSGW events I feel very welcome, and even nurtured (the first Getaway I attended, one of the long time members hunted up another squeezebox player for me to play music with... still, to my mind, an incredibly kind and gracious thing to do). On the other hand, some of the jam sessions I've attended in other contexts have been rife with backbiting and weird ego politics. I stopped attending one long-running weekly jam session that I had been going to regularly for a couple of years because of the unpleasant atmosphere.

Just as with here in the Mudcat... there's both positive and negative. Just like in the rest of the 3D world, too.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Layah
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 03:25 PM

I don't have the experience to talk about the folk community or really the mudcat community either, but what I do know about is language and communication. People have already mentioned the anonymity of the interent, which I think is a large factor and causes this sort of behaviour in every forum I've spent much time in. I tend to stay away from politics and religion threads because they appear to be made to make people angry. I tend not to discuss these things with anyone but friends in person either, because they are subjects people get very touchy about. But another aspect that goes into it is the medium. All communication is written, which gives ample opportunity for miscomunication. You lack all the kinds of cues that are necessary for good understanding- facial expression, tone of voice, gestures. It makes it so that even lacking people who purposefully insult or annoy, you still tend to have troubles because misunderstandings happen so easily, and so easily to escalate.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: GUEST,Frank
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 04:15 PM

Jerry, I've thought a lot about what you've just brought up in this thread. One of the good things is that folk music in recent years has broadened my taste, interest and outlook. I grew up in essentially a left-wing orientation toward folk music and still enjoy this. But I started getting interested in a variety of musical styles from early trad country and blues through bluegrass and the popularization of groups who I also admire such as Bud and Travis, some of the KT and the Limelighters and my old buddy Erik Darling who played with the Rooftop Singers and the Tarriers. I went through a reaction to a doctrinaire political approach to folk music, through a trad period which some have called "purist" to jazz, pop music of the twenties and thirties, be-bop, and Broadway show music. I see the "folk community" as having expanded.
    I think that when I was growing up in the music in Los Angeles, there was a small coterie of folkies and we were a tight knit community at that time. This would have included Derroll Adams, Odetta, Dave Zeitlin, Ed Pearl (who started the Ash Grove) Pete Seeger, Guy Carawan, Woody Guthrie, Eddie Mann, Dave Arkin, Walle Hille, Earl Robinson, Marcia Berman, Ramblin' Jack, Moe Hirsch, Bess and Butch Hawes, Rich Dehr and Frank Miller and then when I hitch-hiked to New York I became part of the Washington Square scene. In Chicago, I was part of that scene with Art Thieme and the Old Town School of Folk Music. I agree with Art that there was (at least for me) more of a community spirit. There seemed to be more acceptance and it was a family type feel.
    Nowadays, the socializing element of folk music has been compartmentalized into various sub-groups such as the bluegrass community, old-time string band, celtic, blues...etc.
There is a lot less cross-polenization and eclectic interest amoung these groups.
    I think each of these interest groups have something important to offer. I've gone full cycle in my experience and am now interested in a political orientation and am working on songwriting as a result. One thing, I think that the folk musics that I've been exposed to has taught me is that it's important not to be rigid and doctrinaire. If you really love music, than there is all kinds to appreciate. Pete Seeger told me that what he saw as a "hootenanny" would encompass all kinds of musical expression with the common denominator that would bring all kinds of performers to a receptive public who would feel a part of the music presented. For example, there could be a counterline that an audience could sing while a jazz group playedan improvisation. The "hootenanny" idea goes back a long way and a long time. 1930's through the songs and publishing of Bob Miller who wrote "Ten Cent Cotton and Forty Cent Meat".
    This notion of sharing folk music came about precisely because of the left-wing movement and it was responsible for its national popularity although the left-wing song movement was at that time not broad-based at all. But you mentioned Ken Goldstein who was definitely a product of the Left-wing and many other folklorists such as Alan Lomax, Botkin, Archie Green etc.
who popularized the idea that American folk music was something inclusive and worthwhile. I remember that Pete Seeger was one of the first (if not the first) to introduce Scruggs style banjo playing to the New York area.
    Bluegrass, a recent phenomenon, has its own sub-culture and community. Like "rap" and "hip hop" it seems as though it views itself as separate from the well-spring of music that spawned it. This compartmentalization in recent years as different forms of music have been delved into with more depth
is in my opinion, the reason why the folk communities have become fragmented rather than interdependent.
   
Frank

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Once Famous
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 04:28 PM

Number 6, yes I am growing old but definately still growing as a singer and perfromer. I have left much of that old folk stuff behind and do mostly country and bluegrass. However, people still want to have fun and sing along, so I will never abandond that old stuff entirely.

I never did get on the naval gazing bandwagon, thak God.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 04:56 PM

I don't recognise that folk scene in England that "GUEST,me" described there, where apparently they don't approve of Irish music and put down Irish musicians or singers.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 06:59 PM

Hey, Frank:

Even in the Village in the early 60's, where there was a lot of genuine support and feeling of community, there were smaller groups of people who were "into" some particular part of the folk scene. There were the psychedelic folkies heavily into drugs, the Wobblies and labor organizer crowd, the college kids trying to become the next Kingston Trio, the Old Time music crowd, and people hard to characterize as diverse as Tiny Tim and Reverend Gary Davis. And then Dylan came and spawned a whole new generation of protest singers. Mostly though, people seemed to be able to come together around the music and get along reasonably well. As so many others have commented on in this thread, the connection was the music. And while this is a music site, we can't make music together, so we've got too much time on our hands and too many hard and fast opinions.
I guess that I didn't buy into any particular group all that much because folk music was just one kind of music that I loved. I was also listening to jazz, and rhythm and blues and rock and rock and roll.

Sometimes, having a little distance is very healthy.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 07:33 PM

I think when Mudcatters do actually get together the music tends to take over, regardless of particular preferances and idiosyncracies in music, let alone differences on such other minor matters as, how to run the world, and how the universe is ordered.

Getting instruments in tune with each other is more significant on such occasions. As is only right and proper.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: coldjam
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 09:23 PM

Guest Frank: Nice to hear someone mention Bud & Travis. Also the Ash Grove. Did you ever meet a charactor there called "Shakey Jake?" I think he ran the record shop, when I was there.

Jim Taylor, I'm in the Great Lakes area-close?

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: GUEST,Patrick Costello
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 11:27 PM

The genre subdivision deal has everything screwed up. You could rewrite Tom Lehrer's "National Brotherhood Week" to sum up the current disjointed state of folk music:

All the bluegrass hates the newgrass
and the folkies hate the old time
classic country hates top forty
and everybody hates the banjo!

The easy way to change things is to get offline and go make music in your community. Give free lessons on your front porch. Fix up a couple of pawn shop guitars and give them to kids. Jam in public places. Stop trying to fit into a group and put your efforts towards being part of the world around you.

You can use the internet for this sort of thing. I've released four music books online under an open-source concept - and the crazy thing is that in spite of being freely available online we're still making a living selling the printed copies. I honestly believe that the magic of folk music is that the only way to keep it is to give it away.

The genres forgot that. They want to make bluegrass or old time or Irish or any other kind of music an exclusive club. The end result of that kind of thinking isn't just bad music, it also leads to bad people.

Screw the elitists. Go out and make music. Make people smile, make people think, make people angry and make people aware that this, all of it, is OUR music. Everybody is welcome and everybody has something to add to the mix.

Don't wish for a change, be the change. All it takes is a song.

-Patrick

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 08:42 AM

Wisely said, Patrick:

I was reminded of this the other day. I was asked to sing at an adult day care center... a place where adults who are still healthy enough to live on their own, or with family but would end up sitting in the house every day with nothing to do. It's a wonderful program for people whose minds are still alert, giving them a chance for fellowship and group activities.

I had never played at the place before, and no one was there yet to introduce me, so I was just warming up on guitar. The program is held at a Jewis Home For the Aged, but is open to everyone, and I knew that some friends of mine sing gospel there. So, I was warming up, playing The Old Rugged Cross when a couple of women started singing. I joined them, and almost everyone else joined in, too. After that, I sang In The Garden, and everyone sang along. I had intended to do a program of folk music, but as long as people were enjoying the gospel, I stayed with that for a couple more songs. And then I asked if they minded if I played a song I'd written (Living On The River.) One of the men said, very enthusiastically), "Mister, you can sing anything you want. I could listen to you all day!" They didn't know categories from canteloupe. They just were enjoying live music.

The next time I go, I'll throw in Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out, perhaps another blues, maybe Up A Lazy River and old popular music, some folk, some gospel and maybe even a little rockabilly. The thing about breaking music into smaller styles is that it excludes many more people than it includes.

Besides, I find it borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 09:25 AM

I came across these statements about community in a book I was reading yesterday:

"You can develop a healthy, robust community.. and enjoy it's results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor."

"Speak the truth in love."

"When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself."

"In the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery."

Most of all, I like the one about "speak the truth in love."

the book?...

Oh yeah, it's called the bible.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Jim Tailor
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 10:10 AM

absolutely! I bet you know Les Gustafson Zook, Dan Gellert, John Long?

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 10:16 AM

"Mister, you can sing anything you want. I could listen to you all day!" They didn't know categories from canteloupe. They just were enjoying live music.
-------------------------------------------------------

I love playing for and with people (it's usually "with" because I'll badger everybody in sight to join in) because there is this thing that happens to people when you hit on a couple of songs that they remember. You'll see this guy standing on the edge of the jam looking all serious and at some point in one of the songs the dude will just sort of melt. His face will light up, his posture will go all relaxed and there will be this sort of look in his eyes that is happy and sad. A moment later he'll be singing along, talking about how somebody in his childhood used to sing that song, introducing himself to everybody in the jam and asking, hesitantly at first, if he could give one of the instruments a try because he'd "always wanted to play".

If any of you are in Salisbury, Maryland on the first Saturday of the month there is a jam session / hootenanny at the big Banres & Noble store from six to nine. I did a couple of book signings there a few months ago and we drew enough of a crowd that they give us the run of the place one night a month. We get an interesting mix of folks (the guy who plays bass with us is a blood relation to Lightning Hopkins) and anybody who wants to join in is welcome. I always bring a couple of extra guitars and banjos for people to borrow - and if you've never played before somebody in the group will go off to one side with you and help you get started.
The really interesting thing about the jam is that we catch people by surprize. You don't expect to run across a bunch of people playing and singing in a place like B&N and it's kind of cool to see kids dragging their parents over to listen to the music and guys in business suits running over asking if we know this song that his grandmother used to sing.

People don't care about genres. They just like "folk music".

-Patrick

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: coldjam
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 01:25 PM

I agree! One "kind" of music can get really booooring. For that matter, one person as well, unless they are extraordinary or trying to mix it up.I have spent way too many evenings listening to a singer-songwriter who said most of what he had to say in the first 5 songs, and only plays in one key. Converesely, a hot blue grass band wears on the nerves if you can't dance and have to just sit there for hours. But before I offend anybody I really do like it all! And music is a great way to get into a community and meet people and also bless the socks off'n 'em! We have musician friends who voluteered in the elementry school. Taught the kids to square dance.Did sing alongs. Gave em ocarinas and lessons. It was really great.We've done the nursing home and community events, like a township party.

Jim said"-absolutely! I bet you know Les Gustafson Zook, Dan Gellert, John Long?" The names don't ring a bell...

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: GLoux
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 01:40 PM

Dan Gellert

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: coldjam
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 01:40 PM

Oh and Guest patrick. I think you should finish that parody it's perfect!

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 04:27 PM

Pauline commented on the idea that some nastiness on the Internet comes from the anonymity it provides. One of the wonderful things about Mudcat is that many of us actually do know each other in real life. Some of us use our real names, some of us use monikers but are known to our friends. In fact, the only people who tick me off here happen to be folks who remain anonymous--the anonymity is not the reason I'm bothered by them (there are lots of wonderful posts by people I don't know from Adam)--but most of the posts with harsh tones are made by posters who I don't know.

Through events like the FSGW Getaway or festivals like Old Songs, I get to know other Mudcatters, and the web of friendships is one of the things that keep me, and us all, civil. I keep thinking that posters who act uncivilly ought to be forced to come to the Getaway or some such--the experience of meeting other Mudcatters in real life would be the surest way to tame them. [Unless, of course, they subscribe to the Huck Finn ethos of not wanting to be civilized.]

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Pauline L
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 12:41 AM

I've been thinking some more about the differences between writing on the Internet and speaking in person. Like Charlie Baum, I'm not anonymous. However, I often feel more comfortable writing than talking, and I'm not nasty in either mode. I've read that introverts like to write, and it's certainly true of me.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: GUEST,McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 10:30 AM

Anonymity is a bit like drink. When people get nasty when they get drunk, the drink isn't the cause, it's the opportunity. It's how they really are with the masks off. The same goes for anonymity.

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: GUEST,wearing a clean vest
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 11:19 AM

Has The Folk Community Changed?

well I hope its at least once or twice changed its socks and underpants since the mid 1960's

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 04:00 PM

Many years ago, when I was working at a Museum, someone sent in a letter critical of one of the staff members. The letter wasn't signed. When I met with the staff member and showed them the letter, they said, very angrily "They didn't even have the guts to sing it! It's unanimous!"

Jerry

Subject: RE: Has The Folk Community Changed?
From: nager
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 04:20 PM

Yes, the folk community has changed over the many years I have been in it - and thank goodness for that. What a boring old world it would be if communities remained the same forever. We have new people joining the older ones, different ideas and views on life, fresh music, older songs presented in a new way... I just love it.
And Guest (wearing a clean vest) that's a great metaphor for issues like this one ...