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09 Apr 12 - 02:43 PM (#3335840) Subject: Mick & Ralston take a ramble to see Pete From: Big Mick So I have been working with the Circle Pines Center to get an annual music festival going, and last year we held the first Buttermilk Jamboree. This event is held at the Circle Pines Center which is a storied progressive retreat center and camp. As I walked in the old farmhouse for the first time, I noticed pictures at various places around the building of Big Bill Broonzy, and some of Bill with Pete Seeger. Turns out that the film footage you see on Youtube and in the Smithshonian archive that Pete shot were filmed at the Circle Pines Center. As we talked, I determined that I would do what I could to get Pete out to the Center one more time, preferably as our guest for the Buttermilk Jamboree. I gave Pete a call, thanks to Janet Buck-Marasov's help, but it turned out that the Jamboree is the same weekend as his Strawberry Festival. After a couple of more phone calls,Pete agreed to have me out to the house. By the way, his daughter Tinya is an absolute peach. As a person who has taken care of aged parents, I know it is a very tough job. The fact that hers are national treasures that everyone would like a piece of, her job is monumental. She does a wonderful job and I appreciate her very much. So I invite my friend Ralston Bowles to experience the joy of a "ramble" out to see Pete. There aren't many I choose to go on my jaunts but it turns out this was an excellent choice. For 5 days I enjoyed excellent company stimulating conversation, and great music. On our way out of Michigan we stopped and saw our friend Jim Fleming of Fleming Artists. Over a great cuppa java we had a nice hour and a half conversation, and Jim offered us his cabin in the hills of Eastern Ohio near West by God Virginia in the burg of Deerfield for our first nights stay. Absolutely beautiful country and interesting people. Then we rambled over and just rolled into Nazareth, PA (feelin' bout half past dead) to the Martin Factory. Then it was on to the Beacon area. Next morning we got up and made our way to the mountaintop, with a stop along the way at Homespun Foods where Jessica made us some wonderful Greek salads to go with the Lox and bagels we already had. Ralston was wise enough to grab a half dozen of the best chocolate macaroons on earth from Jess. Then it was up to the house. Folks, it was two and a half hours of fantastic conversation with this wonderful man, his wonderful wife, and his daughter. We broke bread, and started talking. We never did it like I had planned. I thought we would setup, sit in a semicircle and do an interview. But you take Pete as Pete wants to be taken. As we were eating and making small talk, Pete started reminiscing. I grabbed my iphone and started recording what he was saying. I asked if it was OK to tape it, he said sure so I grabbed the Sony professional camera on the tripod and positioned it, and let it roll. The angles might not be what I envisioned, but it was a wonderful communion with this fascinating human being. We all just enjoyed one another's company, and I am eternally grateful for his kindness in sharing all these memories. Pete is going to be 93 in a month or so, and I don't expect he will be making a lot of trips, but he spoke of some of his memories of from all the way back to his childhood, his parents school, singing in Franco's Spain in 1939, and a host of other subjects. I have posted some of the pictures on Facebook as has Ralston Bowles. We have footage from the iphone, the Sony Pro grade camera, and a GoPro that took intermittent stills. The next day,we spent a day in the Bowery and the Village visiting with Rachel Sage and Kenny White. Then it was time to ramble on home. Great time, spent in the company of a great travelling companion, communing with a folk treasure. It just doesn't get any better than that. Mick |
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09 Apr 12 - 03:32 PM (#3335872) Subject: RE: Mick & Ralston take a ramble to see Pete From: Mark Ross Sounds like it was a wonderful trip. Wish I could have been there. Mark Ross |
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09 Apr 12 - 03:55 PM (#3335892) Subject: RE: Mick & Ralston take a ramble to see Pete From: GUEST,glenn Awesome! Making the most of the days we have. Finding the giants accessible and likable, rollin in his life's work and philosophy. May he live long and speak to the courage we need to address the evils in today's world. Good work! |
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10 Apr 12 - 02:39 AM (#3336094) Subject: RE: Mick & Ralston take a ramble to see Pete From: GUEST,henryp Pete talks his way through Forever Young on Chimes of Freedom, the latest CD in aid of Amnesty International. See http://www.foreverpete.com/ |