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23 Jan 25 - 07:03 PM (#4215845) Subject: Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: Joe Offer I can't believe that Ed Silberman has died today. I thought he'd live forever. So intelligent (in a warped sort of way), so imaginative, and so damn funny. He had an amazing bass voice (I don't think I knew anyone who could hit the low notes better), and an amazing knowledge of songs. And such a quirky sense of humor. He had a penchant for wearing sparkly gowns for the New Year's celebration at Camp Harmony. But for New Year's Day in 2000, he wore a diaper and a beauty queen sash (and that's all - for the rest of my life, I cannot unsee that). He brought so much life to the San Francisco Folk Music Club. Damn, Ed, I'm gonna miss you. I don't know how old Ed was, but it always seemed he was younger than me. I suppose most people thought of him as a clown, but I often had fascinating discussions with him on all sorts of subjects. He was a pain in the ass, and I loved him. And I always felt so privileged to know that he loved me. I never knew why, but we had a bond. I think maybe it's because we knew that we both were excruciatingly and annoyingly honest. And we found a deep kinship in that. -Joe- Here's an example of Ed's singing, a parody he wrote about Hurricane Katrina: https://mudcat.org/download/BigMuddyKatrina.mp3
Ed's posts at Mudcat: Ed Silberman Thread #84688 Message #1565140 Posted By: GUEST,Ed Silberman 16-Sep-05 - 06:29 PM Thread Name: Hurricane Relief Song: Big Muddy (MP3) Subject: Lyr Add: THE DAMN FOOL TOOK THREE DAYS (Silberman/
I have written a new lyric for "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" about the Bush administration's response to the Katrina disaster. It is called "The Damn Fool took Four Days". A CD recording is available from me, as well as an MP3 at Mudcat (see the entry "MP3 ADD The Damn Fool Took Three Days, September 15, Joe Offer" -above). I'm selling the CD for a suggested $5 donation to the American Red Cross. Please send checks to me at 6527 Whitney Street Oakland CA 94609. Likewise if you are going to download from this site please send a check to the relief agency of your choice when you do. You can use the download time to write out the check. Inquiries about the song can be made at damnfooltook@yahoo.com. The lyrics are printed below. I am gratefully appreciative to Pete Seeger for permission to use his song this way.https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=84688 |
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23 Jan 25 - 07:14 PM (#4215848) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: MoorleyMan Sad, sad news indeed. I only knew him from zoom and the Covid days, but he made quite an impression on me with his kooky mix of erudition and zany humour. What a character! Btw Joe - The above link to his posts doesn't seem to connect. [Link Fixed. -Joe-] |
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23 Jan 25 - 07:18 PM (#4215849) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: Tattie Bogle Just met him once when he came to Edinburgh, after a few exchanges on this site. Took him to a session for moothies (harmonicas) at Sandy Bell’s. Definitely a great character, and an entertaining evening. |
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23 Jan 25 - 09:21 PM (#4215857) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,diplocase KEEP ED'S MUSIC IN CIRCULATION! Friends - will you help preserve Ed Silberman's music legacy? If you know any of the parodies and songs he wrote, please post them on this thread. Do you have any video of Ed singing them? do a blue clicky link! Let's keep singing Ed's songs! Casey Casebeer The song goes on in the songs they sang and when one song ends then another song begins And the singers who are gone will be singing once again When we sing the songs they sang! --Mick Ryan |
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24 Jan 25 - 12:19 AM (#4215861) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: Barbara I can throw out some fragments of his skill with parody, but not the whole song. Perhaps these will jog someone else's memory. The San Francisco trolleys all sing this song N-Judah, N-Judah Riding them all night long, N-Judah day. Yolo, Yolo, Yolo Sonoma The Shuls of Erin (not sure he wrote this one) And there was one about Colcannon and Latke Blessings Barbara |
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24 Jan 25 - 12:23 AM (#4215862) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: Barbara Joe, I remember the diaper, but I am not sure it is any more memorable than the skunk costume or the white short dress with the polka dots that were each a foot wide. Blessings Barbara |
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25 Jan 25 - 10:54 AM (#4215933) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: Waddon Pete He sounds like quite a guy and I am sorry to hear of his passing. Condolences as always to all those who know and love him. I have entered his name in the Mudcat "In Memoriam" thread. RIP Ed. |
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25 Jan 25 - 11:20 AM (#4215934) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,David Brown To the tune of Camptown Ladies: The letter N streetcar sings this song - Judah, Judah Hauling passengers all day long, oh Judah day. Going to run all night, going to run all day I merge with the Haight bus late at night But I'm on my own all day. FYI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N_Judah BTW, this streetcar line runs near Clayton St (Faith Petric's house, the meeting place of the SF Folk Club for many years), emerging from a tunnel across from the Owl & Monkey Cafe at Cole & Carl, which was a popular spot for folk musicians, as well as to the location of the SF contra dance. It was also the primary line near several of Ed's residences in SF, including Henry St. So I'm sure Ed rode the N line many times. |
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26 Jan 25 - 01:11 AM (#4215964) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,Rena Sonshine It's been many, many years since I've been to Harmony, but I was there for the spaarkly dresses and Diaper/Sash New Year. Ed had infectious energy and joy, and shared it freely. He also was very kind to me. One year, he invited me to a small group welcoming Shabbat on Friday night, where I was introduced to the Jewish Renewal movement. Today, my synagogue in Santa Monica incorporates the music written by Nava Tehila of Jerusalem. I hear Ed's voice. May his memory be a blessing. |
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26 Jan 25 - 11:30 AM (#4216004) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,Peter Kasin Ed also wrote a song in tribute to Willie Mays. Sorry I don't have the lyrics to post. He would sing it at Starry Plough Irish sessions. |
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26 Jan 25 - 01:29 PM (#4216007) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: keberoxu Here is a photograph of Ed Silberman. |
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27 Jan 25 - 01:23 AM (#4216035) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: Joe Offer This Facebook link may not work for everyone. https://www.facebook.com/100000261661065/videos/1552541202118088 And Ed singing a Malvina Reynolds song, "The World's Gone Beautiful," https://youtu.be/n77BQo6eQdc?t=603 |
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29 Jan 25 - 02:01 AM (#4216167) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,Deborah Sandler Ed was one of the first people I met in the San Francisco Folk Music Club, over 40 years ago. Quite the character! I am so sad he’s gone: We used to have a monthly song session here in the San Francisco Bay Area, called In Harmony’s Way, which grew out of an album put together by several local traditional singers, one of whom was Ed Silberman. He wrote a song about the sessions, called In Harmony’s Way. We often sang it as a way of announcing that the mid-session break was over, and it was time for everyone to get back into a circle and start singing. Here are the words. I remember the tune, and can sing it for Casey or whoever else may be collecting tunes for Ed’s songs. I should also note that after the line about turning his head to the moon and baying, several of us would howl like wolves, and Wd hates it when we did that. Sorry, Ed! Guilty as charged! “In Harmony’s Way, by Ed Silberman When the rain clouds loom, all is dark and gloom And trouble is coming your way. Turn your luck around with a joyful sound By walking in Harmony's Way. Chorus: Are you walking, are you walking, are you walking in Harmony's Way? Are you walking, are you walking, are you walking in Harmony's Way? When the sky turns hail and best friends fail And you fear that you won't see light of day You can right that wrong with a rousing song If you're walking in Harmony's Way. Chorus Now I will not lie, sometimes I have to cry Turn my head to the moon and bay But I'll laugh and shout when the stars come out When I'm walking in Harmony's Way. Chorus” |
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29 Jan 25 - 06:56 PM (#4216224) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,David Brown The Sufganiot Song by Ed Silberman based on Dona Dona by Aaron Zeitlin and Shalom Secunda Take some flour and take some sugar and Fill a pot with a lot of oil Take match and make a fire Step back and watch the oil boil How the oil is sizzling, simmering with sweet delight And the rain is drizzling Through the day and half a winters night Donut donut donuts Donut donut dy Donut donut donuts Donut donut dee Roll the batter the shape of patties Drop them into the oil to float Watch them swimming round and round and Soon we'll have sufganiot How the oil is.. ... donuts dee |
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01 Feb 25 - 11:04 AM (#4216415) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,Tina Fields Oh, oh, this news makes me feel so sad. Years ago at the SFFMC, after we kept finding ourselves in the same rooms, Ed, Arlene, and others scooped me up and invited me to their stealth trad singing group, “Little Pink.“ I so enjoyed sharing ballads and other obscure trad songs with them each month over excellent snacks. No matter what the topic, Ed would have something wonderful or goofy to share. He was always generous and kind with praise for others, and that voice of his – oh my, impeccable harmonies in that beautiful bass voice. He was a deep and kind soul; we shared many conversations about important topics, and I know he cared deeply about the state of the world. I was very fond of him and will miss him. |
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01 Feb 25 - 11:09 AM (#4216417) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,Tina Fields — oh yeah, and I just remembered How proud he felt about his massive birthday birthday song collection! |
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05 Feb 25 - 10:49 PM (#4216759) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,GUEST Lewis Thanks Joe O for starting this off with a description that makes me think Ed remained spirited much as he was in High school. We were classmates at Pennsauken High, NJ '72 There he was founder and leader of a Kazoo club, which somehow fulfilled our club requirement for a small ragtag group. He discoursed on Irish folk music, and led us in developing a group repertoire. I recall Jim Kweskin's "Jug Band music" as especially vibrant on kazoo. A unique spirit who is missed. |
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08 Feb 25 - 06:45 PM (#4216906) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: Joe Offer Here's Ed singing "I Had an Old Coat" by Paul Kaplan. This video is a great example of his ability as a harmonica player. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cv9YdJwNsQ Gee, he's wearing a dress shirt and tie. I never saw him like that. |
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18 Feb 25 - 01:25 PM (#4217499) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,David Brown Ed singing with In Harmony's Way at the Freight 12/07 https://youtu.be/niuAnDlb00A?t=1995 Ed's contribution to the IHW CD (NJ song Eloisa Moore) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dms_nbyfvjE&list=OLAK5uy_k-MgVALGRQo78cqQ_0WIOm0y051Ekak-s&index=18 lyrics here: https://web.archive.org/web/20070806112820/http://www.inharmonysway.com/lyrics_files/eloisa.html Ed's bio on the IHW CD https://web.archive.org/web/20070514202944/http://inharmonysway.com/singers.html |
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18 Feb 25 - 01:47 PM (#4217500) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: robomatic Are CDs/ DVDs/ Online recordings available? |
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18 Feb 25 - 02:00 PM (#4217502) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,David Brown There will be a memorial (he didn't want us calling it a Celebration of Life) this Sun 2/23 2pm-5pm at St Clement's Church in Berkeley (top of Ashby, across from the Claremont Hotel tennis courts. Also on Zoom If you can't attend but would like to share some memories to be read, post them here. Facebook invite at https://www.facebook.com/events/1346572906534866/ (this includes the Zoom link) To honor our friend Ed Silberman: A musical and storytelling gathering to see him on his way Feb 23 2025 2pm-5pm Community room, St. Clement's Episcopal Church 2837 Claremont Blvd, Berkeley CA 94705 (across from the Claremont Hotel tennis courts) Bring: Potluck, Instruments, Ed's friends (can you stay after and help clean up?) |
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19 Feb 25 - 12:56 AM (#4217533) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: GUEST,diplocase HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ED SILBERMAN z"l SONG COLLECTION. IT'S STILL OPEN FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS OF SONGS AND ANECDOTES ! SILBERSONG - The Songs and Parodies of Ed Silberman Here you'll find around forty of the songs we associate with Ed, most with lyrics. Thirty of them he wrote or co-wrote, There's a (still-growing) list of other people's songs Ed liked to sing and was known for. Many songs have recordings of Ed singing the song, and still others have recordings of Ed's friends singing them, or links to the Tube. And yes, we have The Shuls of Erin! Maybe there is a song in this collection that you'd like to sing at Ed's memorial on Feb 23, 2025? And check back from time to time at the link above, for the latest contribution from the people who knew Ed. Keep his songs in circulation! Please email your song contributions to Casey Casebeer at diplocase9919@yahoo.com. sincerely, Casey and Arlene |
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19 Feb 25 - 01:08 PM (#4217598) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Ed Silberman, SF Folk Music Club From: Joe Offer I think Ed would be very pleased with this collection, Casey. |