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25 Jun 09 - 06:04 PM (#2664740) Subject: Review: Adam Miller (doing the job) From: Stringsinger http://www.marinij.com/lifestyles/ci_12684052 Marin Independent Journal Miller Goes A-courtin' to Prove Folk Songs Endure by Paul Liberator The bad economy is good for folk singers. Just ask Adam Miller, a 48-year-old traditional folk singer and storyteller who brings his family-oriented show to the Larkspur Library at 3 p.m. Friday. George Winston calls him "one of the great autoharpists and folk singers of our times." "With these changing times and the economy, I promise you these library shows I do all over the country that are free to the public, I'm going to have bigger audiences this summer than I've ever had," Miller predicted. "Because part of what this economy is doing is driving people back to the things our parents did before they had money: free shows at the library, state beaches and parks and playgrounds. This economy is great for folk singers." Miller, who sings and plays autoharp and guitar and performs some 300 concerts a year at folk festivals, coffeehouses, schools, public libraries and museums nationally, is known for his repertoire of more than 5,000 traditional and contemporary folk songs. One of his time-tested favorites is "Froggy Went A-Courtin'," which he says is an example of the eternal nature of folk music. "'Froggy Went A-Courtin' was first mentioned in a book in 1549 and it was an old song then," he said from his home in Drain, Ore. "So I'm not worried about it disappearing. Somehow for 30 generations, through wars and famines and plagues, it's survived. So I'm not one of those people who thinks the next generation is going to be without folk songs." As he travels around, then, Miller isn't trying to keep folk songs alive. "What I'm interested in is pointing out to people in America that we have over 100 different versions of 'Froggy Went A-Courtin'," he explained. "What is it about a frog and a mouse to want to be husband and wife? Something about dating outside your species really resonates through the centuries." Miller has recorded four CDs - "Bare Fingers - The Solo Autoharp Artistry of Adam Miller," "The Orphan Train and other Reminiscences," "Wild Birds" and "Along Came a Giant - Traditional American Folk Songs for Young People." For a complete listing of Miller's concert schedule: http://folksinging.org/calendar.html Bay Area Concerts: Thurs., June 25 - 3:00 p.m., Richmond Library, Richmond, CA 94804 Cowboy Songs and Frontier Ballads Fri., June 26 - 3:00 p.m., Larkspur Library, Larkspur, CA 94939 Family Concert for all ages Sat., June 27 - 10:30 a.m., Claremont Library, Berkeley, CA 94705 Children's Concert |
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25 Jun 09 - 08:51 PM (#2664900) Subject: RE: Review: Adam Miller (doing the job) From: open mike Adam Miller's web site |
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26 Jun 09 - 01:54 PM (#2665357) Subject: RE: Review: Adam Miller (doing the job) From: Ebbie Adam Miller has visited Juneau several times. He puts on a good show. He's a talented, musically-knowledgeable person and he likes to jam with other people, which is another plus. |
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26 Jun 09 - 02:53 PM (#2665396) Subject: RE: Review: Adam Miller (doing the job) From: Stringsinger Ebbie, he is one of the nicest people I know in folk music as well. The other thing is that he is very careful in researching the songs he presents. You can take his research to the bank (but not the ones that we're bailing out, today:)). Frank |
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27 Jun 09 - 02:20 PM (#2666009) Subject: RE: Review: Adam Miller (doing the job) From: DADGBE Let me add my complete agreement with the estimable Stringsinger. Adam is the real thing. He's a fine singer, a superb autoharper and does his homework better and more thoroughly than anyone else I can think of. It's always a rare treat to have him here, sharing music and conviviality. |
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27 Jun 09 - 02:33 PM (#2666012) Subject: RE: Review: Adam Miller (doing the job) From: KT Nice guy, very knowledgable -- he's a walking folk music encyclopedia - -and very generous in sharing his talent. Ask him to play Miss Rowan Davies - beautiful! KT |
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28 Jun 09 - 10:21 PM (#2666813) Subject: RE: Review: Adam Miller (doing the job) From: Art Thieme We enjoy Adam here very much. Just tonight we've listened to his completely instrumental autoharp CD called BARE FINGERS twice through. His style of playing with his bare fingers and no picks is one of the most relaxing ways to play this instrument that I've ever heard. I know I have others of his CDs but I can't put my hands on them right now, but give this gentle man a listen. The article is right on. Frank, thanks! Art and Carol Thieme |
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29 Jun 09 - 04:34 PM (#2667436) Subject: RE: Review: Adam Miller (doing the job) From: Stringsinger Glad Adam is posting here. You'll get the right info on songs. Frank |
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29 Jun 09 - 05:06 PM (#2667460) Subject: RE: Review: Adam Miller (doing the job) From: Art Thieme Uh, Stringsinger, I don't thin he has posted here. Maybe he will... Art |
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30 Jun 09 - 05:53 PM (#2668375) Subject: RE: Review: Adam Miller (doing the job) From: autoharper I do post on this list whenever it seems appropriate. Thank you all for your kind words of support. It means a lot to me. Really. -Adam |
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12 Jan 10 - 02:07 AM (#2809739) Subject: RE: Review: Adam Miller (doing the job) From: open mike check out this video and a few others of Adam at work ...folksinging http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNHlqyy95v0&feature=related |