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02 Jul 09 - 10:04 PM (#2670266) Subject: Obit: Norman Pellegrini From: BK Lick Norm Pellegrini, who hosted WFMT's Midnight Special for many years, has died at the age of 79. It is with profound sorrow that we announce the death this morning of our friend and colleague, longtime WFMT program director Norman Pellegrini. He was 79 years old. We encourage WFMT listeners and family members to share their remembrances, either by recording messages at (773) 279-2174 or posting on WFMT's online message board here: wfmt.com/norman.Norman Pellegrini: In Memoriam |
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02 Jul 09 - 11:12 PM (#2670283) Subject: RE: Obit: Norman Pellegrini - WFMT - 2 July 2009 From: Howard Kaplan WFMT broadcasts Rich Warren's Folkstage program from 8 pm to 9 pm Chicago time on Saturday nights, just prior to the Midnight Special. According to a notice I saw today, "On July 4, in memory of longtime WFMT program director Norm Pellegrini, host Rich Warren will play an early recording by the group Golden Ring." I assume this is a concert hosted by Norm Pellegrini and found on a tape in the WFMT archives. I don't know who was in Golden Ring at the time of the taping. Anticipating a question that someone might ask: After the original broadcast, Folkstage is not available as a free download podcast but is available for station supporters to download. |
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03 Jul 09 - 01:40 AM (#2670322) Subject: RE: Obit: Norman Pellegrini - WFMT - 2 July 2009 From: Art Thieme This is very sad news. Norm Pellegrini, along with his Midnight Special DJ partner, Ray Nordstrand, gave air time to so many of us in the Chicago folk music world through the many years. It is no stretch to note that the Midnight Special radio program in the '60s,'70's and '80s actually made it possible for so many of us to have a career of sorts doing what we loved---playing our found folk songs (as I did), or our singer/songwriter created-out-of-thin- air songs. Steve Goodman, Freddy Holstein, and John Prine were the brightest lights, but I could mention hundreds or thousands of other names. What I'm trying to say is that Norm and Ray -- and later, Rich Warren, gave us the megaphone and the means of projecting our music to so very many listeners. Rich is still doing that on WFMT-FM. I had been in touch with Norm by e-mail in recent times---but not for the last two years or so. Right now, I am feeling glad I took the time to thank him when I could. Rich Warren, thanks so very much for carrying the torch that the two earlier guys put down for you to find. Of course, Norm was much more than folk music---possibly to the consternation of us folk purists. He and WFMT educated so many of us kids to the wonders of classical music, even opera, in the Fritz Riener years of the CSO mainly. When old friend, Naomi Kreeger, gave me a ticket to the Lyric Opera's production of Borodin's Prince Igor featuring the newly arrived Rudolph Nureyev dancing the Polovotsian Dances portion of the opera, I wanted to give it to Norm, but he wouldn't hear of it. ---- When Nureyev leaped from somewhere celestial onto that stage, I saw something purely sublime. Norm knew that I would. --- (And the singing was pretty good too. ;-) It's late, and I'm rambling. Sorry. So many thoughts and memories are surfacing for me. New Years Eve up at the WFMT all night on-air song swap and love-in. Go to Bruce Kallick's website to see my photo collection from those times. Norm and Ray on the air on New Years Eve are there with all the Chicago folk musicians. Just go to http//rudegnu.com/art_thieme.html Follow the directions--and I do hope some my snapshots there are musical looks back that you might enjoy. Norm, THANKS AGAIN!! Art Thieme |
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03 Jul 09 - 01:49 AM (#2670328) Subject: RE: Obit: Norman Pellegrini - WFMT - 2 July 2009 From: open mike http://viewfromhere.typepad.com/the_view_from_here/2009/07/norman-pellegrini-radios-greatest-wfmts-own-19292009.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/02/norman-pellegrini-venerab_n_225292.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-090702-norman-pellegrini-dead,0,553354.story this Golden Ring was recorded at WMFT most likely the one with Norman on it http://www.folk-legacy.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=16 |
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03 Jul 09 - 02:52 PM (#2670855) Subject: RE: Obit: Norman Pellegrini - WFMT - 2 July 2009 From: Art Thieme The Golden Ring was a gathering of singer-friends recorded in the old WFMT studios on Wacker Drive in Chicago. Norm was the in-the-studio producer and engineer for the session that became a big selling album for Sandy and Caroline Paton's Folk Legacy Records in the 1960s and 1970s. It is on CD from Sandy and Caroline at www.folklegacy.com The artists on that original GOLDEN RING CD were/are: Win Stracke---a founder of the Old Town School Of Folk Music along with Frank Hamilton, Dawn Greening and Gert Soltker. Bass singer George and Gerry Armstrong -- singers and local keepers of the traditional musical flame in Chicago. They set up a small dinner at their home in Wilmette, Illinois (where our governors make our license plates) so Carol and I could meet and talk with their friend,Joseph Campbell. Howie Mitchell--hammer dulcimer, banjo, guitar, vocals superb Ed Trickett--hammer dulcimer, guitar, vocals Ruth Meyer Herb Nudelman Shannon Smith Steve White Rebbecca and Jennifer Armstrong-vocals (this posted by Art Thieme) |
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03 Jul 09 - 08:54 PM (#2671141) Subject: RE: Obit: Norman Pellegrini - WFMT - 2 July 2009 From: mrdux Norm and Ray and the Midnight Special were quite literally my first introduction to folk music. lately, i've been enjoying Norm doing the Chicago Lyric Opera broadcasts. many thanks, Norm. michael |
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04 Jul 09 - 09:24 PM (#2671753) Subject: RE: Obit: Norman Pellegrini - WFMT - 2 July 2009 From: GUEST,Jack Reynolds, Maine My recollections of Norm go back to the WOAK days. Norm was a towering figure, personally and professionally, with solid and unshakable principles, a quick wit and endless (and fabulous) stories. His Christmas cards and notes were a treasure. On this 4th of July, I am reminded of his review of Reiner's "1812 Overture," devoid of today's 'special effects': "Fritzel doesn't need cannons!" said Norm. Or his commentary on the many ways of corrupting '"La Mer" by Debussy' by a flustered announcer. We are all the richer for having known Norm and benefiting from his broadcast talents. |
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22 Aug 10 - 12:16 PM (#2970497) Subject: RE: Obit: Norman Pellegrini - WFMT - 2 July 2009 From: GUEST,Chandra Watkins I'm late to this news, having decided this morning to see if Ray was still around. I was a wannabe folkie in high school in the '60s, starting the Maywood Folk Festival so I could have a place to sing. Both Prines appeared (John and Dave), along with many others. I listened to the Midnight Special religiously, evening obsessively writing down every song/skit/whatever title. Whew. I once called Norm to talk about the various things he repeated (a lot, if you were listening religiously and writing everything down!). He was incredibly gracious to me, a youngun. We talked for probably a half hour. What a guy. |
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22 Aug 10 - 04:08 PM (#2970615) Subject: RE: Obit: Norman Pellegrini - WFMT - 2 July 2009 From: Art Thieme Thanks for bringing this thread back again. It is yet another chance to immerse myself in memories of those musical times in Chicago. "Those were the days, nmy friend..." Art Thieme |