BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU

Subject: BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 04:40 PM

This coming weekend I will be attending the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference (NERFA) at Kutsher's in Monticello, NY. At the conference, I will be producing a unique event that will be recorded for broadcast on WFDU-FM, currently scheduled to air on Sunday November 26th at 3pm. (Listen in on the internet atwww.wfdu.fm )

This Friday November 10th at 12 noon, a group of talented musicians will gather together at NERFA to re-create the historic "Bound For Glory" revue that was originally presented in 1956 as a musical tribute to Woody Guthrie. The event will take place in the Marquis Lounge at Kutsher's.

On March 17, 1956 a musical revue in honor of Woody Guthrie was performed at Pythian Hall in NYC. Original titled "California to the New York Island: Being a Pocketful of Brags, Blues, Bad Men Ballads, Love Songs, Okie Laments and Children's Catcalls by Woody Guthrie" , the name was shortened to "Bound For Glory".

The revue featured a script put together by Millard Lampell, a member of the Almanac Singers, featuring the words and music of Woody Guthrie. The revue became a look at America through the eyes of one man. The original production featured Lee Hays and Earl Robinson as the narrators and the performers included Pete Seeger, Rev. Gary Davis, Ed McCurdy, the Kossoy Sisters and other folk names of that era. At the end of the performance, Pete Seeger pointed up to the balcony as a spotlight shone on a frail Woody Guthrie, who was released from the hospital for the evening. (You may have seen the well known photograph of Woody standing in the balcony to acknowledge the applause.)

The original performance was recognized as a milestone moment of the folk revival. Joe Klein, in his biography of Woody Guthrie, called the evening "the beginning of Woody Guthrie's canonization". In 1957, Will Geer adapted portions of the script to create an LP called "Bound For Glory" that was released on Folkways Records, and following Woody's death it was adapted for use in the memorial concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, the recordings that were released on LP.

Realizing it was the 50th anniversary of the original event, I contacted the Woody Guthrie Archives to receive permission to re-create the event for radio. My intent was to gather a group of contemporary musicians to recreate the production and I quickly realized that staging this at NERFA would be a superb opportunity to get such a talented group together. Thanks to everyone at NERFA, this idea has become a reality.

In honor of the 50th anniversary or the original concert, WFDU-FM & NERFA will present a recreation of the original script, featuring a talented cast of contemporary musicians.

Three time Grammy Award winner Tom Chapin will narrate as the voice of Woody Guthrie along with Robert Cohen of the Philadelphia Folksong Society.

The music will be performed by:

Danny Bakan
The Dirty Stayout Skifflers with Rick Nestler
Greg Greenway
Joe Jencks
Hope Machine
Karen Mal
David Massengill
Rik Palieri
Laurie MacAllister & Abbie Gardner of Red Molly
Danny Schmidt
Toby Walker
Amy Carol Webb
Bethany Yarrow & Rufus Cappadocia

I do hope those of you who are attending NERFA might be able to join our audience, but I also understand that there are some other great workshops going on at the same time.

If you can't make it, be sure to listen in to the broadcast of the concert which is scheduled for Sunday November 26th at 3pm on WFDU-FM (89.FM in the NYC/NJ area). You can also listen in on the Internet through our website at www.wfdu.fm

I am really honored to be able to produce such a program, and I am especially honored to be able to work with such a talented group of artists. Their enthusiasm for this project is inspiring! This promises to be a very unique event and radio broadcast!

Sincerely,
Ron Olesko
Producer/Host TRADITIONS
www.ronolesko.blogspot.com

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 20 Nov 06 - 10:01 AM

Just a reminder - the broadcast of "Bound For Glory" will be heard this coming Sunday - November 26th, at 3pm ET on WFDU - www.wfdu.fm .

In my previous note, posted before the actual taping, I said that our re-creation "promises to be a very unique event". Not only was it unique, it far exceeded our expectations! While I am deeply involved in this project, I do feel that the performances given by all the artists were inspiring and well executed. Everyone was at the top of their game and it comes through in the recording. After listening to the entire program, I feel you will get a perspective on Woody Guthrie's art that doesn't need hyperbole or confirmation to establish his genius. Woody's words and music, as interpreted by these artists, shines through as timeless works that will be accessible to future generations.

There are some photos from the event and additional information on my website in my review of NERFA - www.ronolesko.blogspot.com

I really hope you can tune in - either at 89.1FM in the NYC area or online at www.wfdu.fm

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU
From: Amos
Date: 20 Nov 06 - 10:08 AM

Wow--what a great scene, Ron!


A

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 20 Nov 06 - 10:55 AM

Congratulations on having a great idea AND on making it happen! You must be bustin' your buttons!

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Nov 06 - 11:26 AM

This is great news.

(I would like to point out, though, that there is another Bound for Glory often promoted here at Mudcat which is a long-running Ithaca, NY radio program that has featured lots of great folks including our own Seamus Kennedy. This is a different BFG.)

Go Ron!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 20 Nov 06 - 11:45 AM

The radio show that you mentioned borrowed it's name from Woody's book, which was also the source of the title for this production, and the title for the movie as well, not to mention a great song!

By the way, the original title for this musical revue was "California to the New York Island: Being a Pocketful of Brags, Blues, Bad Men Ballads, Love Songs, Okie Laments and Children's Catcalls by Woody Guthrie".   I guess "Bound For Glory" would be more appropriate! At least you can print all of it on a ticket!!

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 20 Nov 06 - 08:08 PM

I just want to add that this show is something that is worthy of international airing---it is THAT good and will sound even better on radio than in person (where it ws great) because "the theater of your own mind" will visualize the wonderful music and narration as a complete piece.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 23 Nov 06 - 11:30 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Nov 06 - 09:36 AM

Good work, Ron, and thanks!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 20 Jul 07 - 11:19 AM

In honor of the 95th anniversary of Woody's birth, WFDU will re-broadcast "Bound For Glory" this Sunday, July 22, at 3pm ET. You can listen online at www.wfdu.fm

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR GLORY at NERFA and WFDU
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 12:25 PM

Also, tentatively scheduled for the final hour of the show - a visit from Eliza Gilkyson to discuss her new live CD - "Your Town Tonight".