MILK CARTON KID

HAVE YOU SEEN ME?

This is Village stalwart Michael Mann. Once a budding Greenwich Village star, he is more remembered for being 'THAT GUY' whose past, present and future has escaped documentation. The Roche sisters remember him as does Erik Frandsen, Peggy Duncan and George Gerdes. I've put a small piece together in a video clip that most certainly won't find its way into the documentary on Gerdes on-a-count-of time running short to begin with. I'm already hard pressed to mention all the wonderful people to play Folk City. 

Mike Mann was a side question of mine during the interviews. 

~Bob P

Michael Mann, 2010
(Photo courtesy Peter Bengston)

WINNER of inaugural MIKE PORCO SONG INITIATIVE

My sincere THANKS to those who entered the contest. 

It was launched in August to encourage writers to pen a song of UNITY.

The rules were adjusted to allow ANY artist, not just duos or groups, to submit an entry.

I'm happy to announce the winner of the very first MIKE PORCO SONG INITIATIVE is:

Mr. JOE VIRGA

Joe wins studio time to record his song and to make a VINYL pressing.

Stay tuned for more details on the release.

For now, here are Joe's lyrics.

WELL DONE, JOE!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rod MacDonald, Joe Virga, Frank Christian, Guy Davis
at the Folk City at 50h Anniversary
June 7, 2010

  LET'S LIGHT A CANDLE

Joe Virga

capo 2 = A

Intro: G Am D7 G

G

Let's light a candle for the old and insecure.

D

Let's light a candle for the homeless and the poor.

B7 C Em A

Let's light a candle for what we're living for.

G D G

Let's light a candle for love.

Let's light a candle for the children who were slain.

Let's light a candle for their parents who remain.

Let's light a candle for a world that's gone insane.

Let's light a candle for love.

G7 C

The simple act of lighting a candle.

Em D C

Shines a beacon in the dark.

Em B C C/G

There's not a sorrow we can't handle.

G D

With faith burning in our hearts.

Let's light a candle for those who died in war.

Let's light a candle and lay down the sword.

Let's light a candle, peace is our reward.

C B C

And if there's a God above.

G D

Then He would light a candle.

Bm C

I'm sure He would light a candle.

G D C G

He would light a candle... with love.

Outro: G Am D7 G

SONG CONTEST LAUNCHED

In the name of my grandfather Mike Porco- a man who was a champion for aspiring acoustic musical talent for two decades- I am launching a contest where 

the winner shall earn studio time and production costs paid for as the prize.

Bob Gibson, Mike Porco
(Photo Doug Yeager)

THE MIKE PORCO

SONG INITIATIVE

Rules, of course, shall apply. 

Here is a first draft of the rules: (Dated August 7, 2016)

RULE ONE:

Rules are subject to change as well as 

the name of the contest

RULE TWO:

Music created will have an identifiable and undeniable POSITIVE sound. 

(whatever that means…you know it when you hear it)

The songs created should fit relatively in the FOLK and BLUES sound category 

Or genre. 

(Not a limiting factor. Not excluding Bluegrass, Rock etc. Keep it real.

Keep it original)

RULE THREE:

Song Lyrics must have UNIFYING theme that can be read aloud, sans music, and 

still get the juices flowing

RULE FOUR:

Entrants may be

Bands or Duos only

WHOM HAVE NOT RELEASED OR REFINED

the SONG ENTRY

NOR HAVE A RECORD LABEL TO REPRESENT

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RULE CHANGE
(September 2016)
ANY musician on Earth willing to enter a song
are eligible

RULE FIVE:

Band or Duo must not suck

Fast Folk

RULE SIX:

Winning Band or Duo will record in New York City

arriving on their own expenses to get there 

(some concessions may be made in support of the artist at judge's discretion)

Local bands and acts traveling through

 need apply 

RULE SEVEN:

Other rules not yet written or even thunk about must be considered.

Including and not limited to:

Final ownership or recording,

number of units for sale,

type of final product release,

ancillary live performances of winning single

RULE EIGHT:

This song contest is not some low-rent, Wi-Fi song "drop."

We're not just gonna fatten up the Internet. 

We're pressing a vinyl record. An actual tangible item. 

Two sided by nature. 

Length will be determined by money raised.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cart is before the horse, admittedly. But where's your sense of excitement?!

The Producer and studio are not even yet sewn up.

In New York, I've got friends downtown.

However, my job is to get the costs covered

by an as-of-yet decided social funding site.

No biggie.

WHY VINYL

Vinyl... because it's gonna sound better.

So the winning entry should 

be a wonder to the ears.

Hence the exclusion of solo artists. Extra tracks and instruments of sound

 will sound better.

An electronic/digital (youtube video or otherwise) track may and will be used to promote the ultimate sale of the single/EP/45

A song of UNITY will win. 

That is the parameter for subject matter in this contest. 

Use your own words and music. 

 UNITY or FELLOWSHIP

or something to that effect should be the message.

Don't bother to refer to anyone in this election season.

The song should be timeless.

Won't you feel like a fool when neither of the current candidates win. People are already asking "Bernie who?"

Don't do it. Songs referencing Slovenian wives or serial raping husbands shall be disqualified. 

Sammy Walker, Mike Porco
(photo Theodore Lee)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be on the level with you;

the gist is that 'we' record the song(s) and YOU own them and take them with you.

I'll help promote the message and thusly the song.

If the song is worthy, then it will create its own rolling thunder (pun).

If the Band or Duo are bad dressers, difficulty may need to be overcome.

Matching dress….maybe not

In a wild daydream, this may seem like the first pressing of 

a budding recording company.

I've truly got too many other things to do such as completing the first documentary

on Gerde's Folk City.

 Perhaps you've heard of the place. 

Songs by emerging artists need to be recorded because

record companies today are not willing to break even anymore.

They don't want to just perpetuate business.

They need 

to make a KILLING.

They would never want to be accused of starting a 

positive movement.

They would never want to be accused of UNIFYING people.

They want money.

NEWSFLASH:

I want money, too.

But cashing in on one Band or Duo's song is, 

not only impossible but also, uncouth.

If some Band or Duo or SOLO
ARTIST out there thinks that they can write a song

all by their lonesome and enter it into the CONTEST, have at it.

START YOUR ENGINES!!!!

Rules on submission are simple (I think)

Dropbox or email or Wetransfer or 'whatever'

your entry to Bob Porco at

Folkcity50@gmail.com

That simple.

I will reply 'Thank You' upon receipt

and the next email to contestants will be to announce the winner.

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED OCTOBER 23RD

2016.

(Mike Porco's Birthday, doncha know)

One winner. Everyone else comes in second. 

Hate to be the first to break the news.

All second place song entries shall be deleted from my possession. 

Digital expunge.

Names will be kept on file for merry invites. Reciprocate should you wish.

THE DREAM

The dream ending is that this song leads to 

something on the order of

World peace. Not kidding.

Not to make this post any more political than it has to be, I will state that there have  been counterfeit and fraudulent grown-up human beings on the streets attacking other fellow Americans for having opinions of their own.

Some of these brats claim that they are 'activists' or 'inclusive' as they rip other protestors' signs and otherwise force them away. 

I've been active at protests. I've done street actions. I do them every year. I'm no professional at it but if any one came over and ripped my sign…well that would be a problem. If I went and grabbed another person's sign, that would start quite a fight. In other words, it's just not done unless the streets are filled with phony humans acting like fucking children.

AS IF we have time to battle each other of the streets of our country…

sheer idiocy and social suicide.

If societal suicide is your thing, then maybe this contest 

is not for you and your lone friend. If pissing in your neighbor's yard is 

more inviting than pissing in your own,

then maybe this contest is not for you.

It's preferable to have a song and message that

may cause some widespread compassion. 

Hindrance of free speech should not be tolerated by any

peacenik.

This song should be worthy to show your momma

and your landlord.

This song should be good enough for me to send to my lovely 

12 year old daughter.

This song should swing.

This song will be the first of many

done this way

should the planets stay on course.

CONTEST JUDGE:

Bob Porco, writer of this blog

Folk Music Journalist
Artful Dodger
Instigator

How will I know if the winning song has a Folk quality?

To paraphrase Supreme Justice Frankfurter 

and to directly quote Israel G. Young,

''I'll know it when I hear it.''

 I know that music is the way to bring people together.

I know that I have a small, humble platform here on this blog and here on social media and I know that if I did something to promote UNITY 

then something good may come of it.

In addition, some ACOUSTIC GROUP OR DUO will get studio time and a product to show for their efforts.

My politics don't matter. The winning musicians' politics don't matter. 

In my opinion, Bob Dylan's 'Masters of War' or "Union Sundown" is a song of unity: the artist and the listener join against the folly of war and greed. 

Phil Ochs' songs 'There but for fortune' and 'I ain't marching anymore" are songs of freedom. 

If I could change one thing about

Music leading the way…as per norm

John Lennon's songs, I would say "Power OF the People" instead of "to" the People. "We can work it out," "All you need is Love..." Yes yes Yes!

The People already have the power to end wars and negotiate prosperity. Music has led the way forever!

From drums of war to the drummer and fife player to the march in Selma to Occupy. 

Arlo educated me dearly during our time together by saying:

"That's what the music was doing in the 1960s. That's what it has done and what it will ALWAYS continue to do."

Believe it.

BEFORE THE FLOOD

A concert to benefit….

Future
Earthquake Situations 
in countries 
Ravaged by 
Economic Hardship and Famine 
due to 
Austerity Measures imposed on the poor 
After the Crash 
Before The Flood


~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's a long title for a Benefit Concert. I'll probably just refer to it as "BEFORE THE FLOOD.''

When my next concert is held, the performers shall be paid by ticket sales AND
each ticket will support victims of The Flood of 2015.

If a flood or earthquake is not manufactured and provided prior to the concert date, (lettuce spray) then each ticket shall support music lessons for adolescents in the town of the concert.

Great idea…I know.

~Bob

THE most patient man in New York- David Massengill

An

interview

wuz

done

with 

David

Massengill

yesterday

in

the 

lowereastside

.

David

wuz

kind

and 

noble

in

his

deed

...

providing

me

with

great

conversation

despite

the

sounds

of

a

helicopter

invasion

of

Manhattan

.

Veryfuckingnoisy

.

but

Dave'swords

given

are

those

of

a

dreamer

.

still

dreaming

.

still

here

.

still

giving

POSITIVELY PORCO- Mike Porco's vinyl collection WOW

Jim McGuinn, banjo

These albums can no longer be found in stores. In other forms, yes. But these are artifacts.

The recordings have become digital for all to purchase for their own listening pleasure, but you'll need to search for these albums still in plastic, handled with care, mostly by me.

40 and 50 year old vinyl…once owned by Gerde's Folk City originator, Mike Porco.

Many of what you see below are gifts TO Mike Porco, not necessarily bought BY Mike Porco, but these are his very ones left behind for me to find.

They sit where Mike left them 22 years ago, in the bedroom where dear old Dad now lives and sleeps.

pristine

unopened

I guess it would be assumed by the 300,000 readers of my blog that I love my Pop. Of course I do, but that's not the point. The point is that I wonder: Does or did my dad love his dad? My guess would be no. But that's ok. They were family to each other. And my father not only inherited Mike Porco's records, but also his bed, his 'stuff' and his Lauderhill, FL condo.

practically sitting on the albums

I just returned last night. I photographed some of the albums and I took a gasp at the pictures. I wondered, who would really treasure these things besides me??

I have plans to mail a few to myself….but I said that LAST year when I last went to FLA to interview my dad, Bob Sr. and Mike Porco's other son, Angelo. The interview is part of the Mike Porco/GERDE'S FOLK CITY documentary.

In 2013, I took video of my discovery of Grandpa's collection, but it was staged. I had gone through them years ago only to find them again and again every time I visited my father. But they are SO FUCKING WOW that I definitely must UPS some of that shit to myself.

I will keep them for 'safe keeping' but I just don't have the room nor can I claim that they are more valuable to me than to the artist on the label….or to the fans and collectors of COOL SHIT.

Thanks to my father for keeping the place 'just so' as if it were all a museum, when really, it's just that he sweeps away the path that he has already worn day after day. Dust will collect elsewhere in the room with the vinyl. 

I can collect dust from Mike's time there if you truly want something to remember him by.

Lucinda Williams, not for resale

not for sale

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can, however, say that these albums ARE worth something to me now. (Thank you Grandpa! They may come in handy…)

I have begun another, (YES, ANOTHER!) crowd funding campaign. My 69 blog followers and 40 twitter followers and I will fund my FOLKUMENTARY ourselves and savor to premiere when we bring it around the world!….right?

''Crowd'' as in: People who know Mike Porco, know the scene, know about the people in the scene, care about the people in the scene and want to see the scene get a feature length documentary completed about the scene….as in $$$$

I don't have a slew of big time (not small time) producers to call. Does one simply just call Scorsese or Ken Burns? No, silly. They need my number, or I need theirs. Help wanted.

So in the meantime, I'm selling some 'stuff' to get BREAD to hire some BIG GUNS to dress POSITIVELY PORCO up in a sweet tart package and tote the film world wide. Believe it.

And for those who say 'Bob, you're stealing from Mike' or 'you're pimping Mike's stuff' I say, yup. Fuck off and put my project under someone's nose instead of complaining. Make yourself useful…or buy a sticker and shut up. 

And for those who 'dig it'….if you know me, I'll give you your album(s) for yourself to keep. For those who may want Mike Porco's personally owned Dylan albums, here is a place to open discussion: ROCKETHUB

Here's the catch: you gotta know who Mike Porco was, know that these were his personal items, know that Dylan, Simon, George Harrison, The Clancy Brothers and nearly every one in his collection were once his friend. You must also take utmost care in preserving the album, or else I'll just let them sit where they have for the last 22 years. Included may or may not include: Introducing the Beatles, The Basement Tapes, Bringing it All Back Home, Another Side of Bob Dylan, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Blood on the Tracks, Still Crazy After all These Years, STILL IN ORIGINAL PLASTIC MINT COND. Many other rare pressings also available. Make offer pay through rocket hub.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On display (with all varying combinations of product and price considered) are:

VINYL IN PLASTIC:

Introducing the Beatles

Vee-Jay recording 1062

Bob Dylan- Basement Tapes, Blood on the Tracks, Another Side of Bob Dylan, Bringing it All Back Home, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (possibly others)

Simon and Garfunkel- Greatest Hits

George Gerdes- Obituary

Tom Intondi- House of Water

Jack Hardy- various titles

Judy Collins- Hardtimes for Lovers (with hole punch)

Paul Simon- Still Crazy

Peter, Paul and Mary- Late Again

Many other artists. List provided.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OPENED VINYL

Dozens including very good condition:

Dylan live at Budokan, Blonde on Blonde, Infidels, Shot of Love

Jimi Hendrix- Electric Lady Land

(not for sale)

Simon and Garfunkel- Wednesday Morning 3AM, The Graduate, Parsley, sage, Rosemary and thyme 

Knob Lick Upper 10,000

Jose Feliciano

Chad Mitchell Trio w/ Jim McGuinn

The Clancy Brothers- A few albums, worn nicely

Brother John Sellers- Baptist Shouts (actual album known to have once hung behind the stage at original Gerde's)

The Song Project- In Rome

The Beatles- A Hard Days Night soundtrack

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SLEEVE ONLY, NO JACKET

Several 

Fast Folk Musical Magazine pressings.

Other acetates and first pressings given to Mike by several artists.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PS- Those albums signed by the artists inscribed ''To Mike'' are certainly precious and not for sale. Thank you Lucinda Williams, Victoria Spivey, Sally Spring, Vinnie Vok

PPS- It occurs to me that there may be only a few albums in such condition unopened for decades such as The Basement Tapes, Bringing it All Back Home, Introducing The Beatles Vee-Jay 1062, another Side of Bob Dylan and Blood on The Tracks…..The Beatles album or the Basement Tapes may not have a price you can think of. But do try. Contact me: folkcity50@gmail.com

FRANK CHRISTIAN - A man with no equal

A word from Lisi's heart...

'RIP: Frank Christian, of sudden pneumonia, brilliant international singer-songwriter based in NYC, writer and singer of "Where Were You Last Night?", member of original creative renaissance of Folk City and Cornelia Street troubadours and bohemians of the late 70's through 80's and continuing now, a true friend, the consummate gentleman, a reliable and sardonic cheerer-upper even when his own spirits flagged. He always had a good word, a bon mot, a spontaneous joke, a sly wink and considered thought for each person. He was suave, sweet, had impeccable grace and manners and felt things deeply. What a talent. Played on Nanci Griffith's Grammy-winnning CD, backed Odetta and made his own series of incredible jazz-tinged, virtuoso CDs. Insightful thinker, serious when appropriate, man of conscience, smart as a hoot owl in the highest rafters of this barn-with-its-roof-blown-off of ours, this soulful and eternal collection of cosmopolitan chuckle-makers, visionaries and poets. Oh, Frank. We love you. You are the best and we miss you.'

Odetta, Frank Christian, Folk City (Photo Teddy Lee)

FRIENDS OF MIKE PORCO AT THE GASLIGHT

Voices of The People return to MacDougal St!


A true folk singer at heart, ROD MacDONALD's place in the Folk hall of fame is assured by his hymn-styled 'A Sailor's Prayer,' a tune mistaken for a traditional song. His one of a kind sound has hints of rock, pop, country, light jazz, and blues.

Honorably discharged from the service as a conscientious objector in August 1972, his calling to be a professional musician rang louder than a path practicing law…to our benefit!!

Rod is also a co-founder of the Greenwich Village Music Festival and an original member of the Fast Folk Co-op.

He's made 35 tours in Europe since 1985, nearly all of them with NYC bassist Mark Dann, an accompanist and engineer with hundreds of recording credits to his name.

MacDonald tours South Florida with the Bob Dylan cover band, Big Brass Bed, but his original classics can fill the night with song.

Veteran singer/songwriters BEV GRANT and INA MAY WOOL recently joined forces as WOOL&GRANT, a rousing new duo that celebrates both intimate and political themes with rocking, funny, poignant songs, featuring beautifully constructed, heartfelt lyrics. They love singing together and it shows.

Bev lead her band The Human Condition to national prominence in the early 1970s.She was one of the radical upstarts in Greenwich Village coffeehouses when the Village still felt bohemian and revolution was in the air.

Strains of rock, Latin music, R&B, pop and more easily fused with the essence of smoky folk clubs.Grant was on the bill of Ochs' 1973 festival, "An Evening With Salvador Allende" at NYC's Madison Square Garden.

New England native INA MAY WOOL has also spent years on the road with bands as well as in studios doing session work. She serves up an eclectic mix of the jazz, blues and country influences with a wry, unmistakably urban sensibility.

Since joining forces, WOOL&GRANT have earned an ever growing group of fans for their unique mix of two very distinct voices.

COME JOIN US for some mid-summer fun!!

Advance tickets on sale here



.

LADIES NIGHT AT THE GASLIGHT CAFE

TONIGHT three veteran Greenwich Village Folk artists bring their collective decades of songwriting and life experience to the stage at 116 MacDougal Street, the original Gaslight Cafe.

Their careers reach back into the glory days of the Greenwich Village Folk scene of the '70s. All three have graced the stage at Mike Porco's Center for Folk Music, Gerde's Folk City.

PEGGY ATWOOD's music caught the attention of an Aspen local named Jack Hardy. They both would eventually take their talents to New York and make historical recordings with the Fast Folk Co-op: A collective group bent on recording new songs every month. She keeps the Songwriter Movement alive by spearheading the well known "Northern Country Music" shows near Woodstock.

Recording artist, singer/songwriter, LYDIA ADAMS DAVIS weaves a beautiful voice with her captivating melodies for audiences of all ages. Called a "Splendid performer" by The New York Times, Peter Yarrow has also said “Lydia combines warmth and magic to bring the long history of folk music home to your heart.”

JUDY GORMAN's personality shines through in her bold-as-brass delivery. Yet she can sing in a quieter, more compassionate tone to express her original songs.
Pete Seeger praised Judy's music and spirited message by saying that she "Shoots the arrow straight to the heart; a wonderful singer & musician."

All three of these FRIENDS OF MIKE PORCO cut their musical teeth on the streets of the Village and they're back on MacDougal for this heartfelt evening at 116!


ADVANCE TICKETS ON SALE!!!!

A LIFETIME BETWEEN 117 AND 116 MACDOUGAL STREET

Here's a riddle:
What's the difference between 117 and 116?
Answer: 34 years.

Well, at least that's the answer when we're talking about Tom Pacheco and those MacDougal Street addresses. Tom rented an apartment at 117 MacDougal Street and hosted some of the most star-studded songwriter's circles back in the mid-to-late 1970s. On Saturday, February 25th, 2012, he'll be doing a gig on his old street for the first time in over three decades, performing at the club at 116 MacDougal.

That club, of course, was the world famous Gaslight Café. After several other alterations of that very space, it is now more conspicuously known simply as 116 MacDougal. The music and spoken word-driven venue has re-opened its doors fancying itself on becoming the proud custodian of the history and tradition of the diverse artistry once on display there.

Pacheco will be sharing the stage with another name familiar to the Gaslight: Amram. Legendary composer and Jack Kerouac collaborator, David Amram, will have his Family name represented by his daughter, Alana Amram. This will be Alana Amram's first time gracing the stage at 116 MacDougal. She was practically raised "on the road" having musicians as parents and over the years, she has been able to carve out a Folk Rock style she can call her own. With her band, The Rough Gems, she's toured the country and currently is in support of her latest album release, Snow Shadows. It's a spirited album illuminating the songs of another Village luminary (and fellow Brooklynite), Vince Martin.

Oddly enough, even though Tom Pacheco lived practically across the street from the Gaslight, this will only be his second appearance at 116 MacDougal. Some recording stars didn't play the Gaslight very often because they were regular performers at one of the several other clubs in the Village. Tom Pacheco was one such performer. He was loyal to the Gerde's Folk City crowd and when he took paying gigs in the Village, they usually were there. Richie Havens also can be described that way. He played Gerde's occasionally but not as often as the Cafe Wha?, a club that became his home turf.

THE VILLAGE GASLIGHT CAFÉ

First open in 1958, The Gaslight was a relative latecomer to the MacDougal Street coffeehouse circuit. Even so, The Gaslight holds the distinction of being ground zero for Greenwich Village's pivot from the 1950's Beatnik Era into what became known as the Folk and Blues Revival era. Spoken word and bongo drumming became less popular as artists expressing themselves through song took over the Village crowd. It drew aspiring singers from all over the country as the 1960's "Folk Scare" grew and grew. Its location on the street may have played a large role in its popularity with the musicians. At night, it was (and still is) the most heavily traveled part of the Village. On top of that, it was directly downstairs from the alcohol-serving bar, The Kettle of Fish. One only need to walk upstairs for a swig and walk back downstairs to play on stage.

Even my grandfather's place, Gerde's Folk City, couldn't claim such distinction as it was known strictly as a Folk, Roots, Blues and Gospel venue. Although it had a liquor license, it was somewhat of a "destination" bar as it was all the way across the Square on 4th and Mercer. Not until the 70s did Gerde's welcome spoken word and comedy onto its stage.The Gaslight Café, however, offered its patrons diverse entertainment from the get go. Personalities the likes of Jack Kerouac, Bill Cosby, Mississippi John Hurt, Allen Ginsberg, Dave Van Ronk, Tom Paxton, Gregory Corso, Jimmy James (later known as Jimi Hendrix), and Gerde's favorite son, Bob Dylan, overlapped as booked acts on the Gaslight stage.

Several of the 1960s Folk stars who were playing for a hat full of quarters at places like the Café Wha? and the Gaslight graduated to what Dave Van Ronk called in his memoir "the first honest-to-God Folk club in the Village," Gerde's Folk City. Once Folk City was up and running in early 1960, Singer/Songwriters looking for a shot at super stardom, aspired to play its Union wage-paying room for the increase in exposure. Performers like Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, John Hammond Jr. and Peter, Paul and Mary would be discovered on the Gerde's stage, but they started out by playing the baskethouses to gain recognition with the music lovers of the street. As Peter Yarrow relayed to me, the Gaslight, Cafe Wha? and Gerde's were home to him as the 1950s became the 1960s. Even still, some Folk Singers continued to play pass-the-hat rooms like the Gaslight well into their recording careers.

Tom Pacheco remembers those magical days in the Village well. Part premonition, and perhaps part fate, Tom has been putting the finishing touches on a new song entitled, "MacDougal Street." I was in the audience when he played it on stage for the first time just two months ago. That's when I told him about my new venture, FRIENDS OF MIKE PORCO, a production company looking to bring Gerde's Folk City veterans to the stage at 116 MacDougal. Having Tom be the inaugural headliner was not only timely and logical, it was meant to be.

PACHECO'S EARLY YEARS

Like Alana Amram, Tom grew up the offspring of a famous musician. His father, Tony, toured pre-WWII Europe along side master Jazz guitarist, Django Reinhardt. Learning Flamenco and Classical styles early on, it soon was 1950s Rock and Roll that Tom played the most. Later, the Folk music that spawned out of New York beckoned him to Greenwich Village to become an artist.

Tom first showed up on MagDougal Street from his hometown of New Bedford, MA in 1965. His first all-original Folk vinyl release came out that year when he was just 19 years old. Later, known more as a Rocker in a band called The Ragamuffins, he occasionally shared the stage at the Wha? opening up for Jimmy James and The Blue Flame (AKA Jimi Hendrix) in Greenwich Village before Jimi exploded on the UK scene.

It wasn't long until Tom was known to all the other musicians in the Village and in 1974, two of his gems were recorded by Richie Havens and Jefferson Starship. Co-written with Victorio "Roland" Mousaa, "Indian Prayer" landed on Havens' Mixed Bag II album. "All Fly Away" was recorded on the Starship's Dragonfly disc. Tom, meanwhile, never stopped writing original material, and around that time, started to host Songwriter gatherings in his apartment on MacDougal Street. Friends and acquaintances would sit in the round, drink wine and polish off songs that would later become part of the historic fabric woven into the Music scene that is still buzzing in Greenwich Village.

With a handful of albums under his belt, it was time for a change of scenery for Tom. In 1978, he moved to Woodstock but his songwriter exchange concept was carried on in the Village by fellow Folk City performer, Jack Hardy. Tom's un-named 117 co-op was the forerunner to the songwriter exchange later known as Fast Folk. Jack would become legendary as host of songwriter workshops in his Bedford and Houston apartment that lasted every Monday for 35 years until his unexpected death in March 2011.

As Richard Cuccaro wrote in Acoustic Live in March 2009:

Right as Tom was leaving the Village for Woodstock (then later, Texas, Nashville and Ireland), a group of songwriters would gather at The Cornelia Street Cafe to critique each other and eventually record their music. Before that, however, Tom's apartment at 117 MacDougal Street was the first place the Fast Folk crowd would gather to play. The list includes Jack Hardy, The Roches, Rod MacDonald, David Massengill, and Steve Forbert. Tom stayed up late and everybody came through there. He heard all their new songs. One night Roger McGuinn came by to play "Chestnut Mare," a classic Byrds song. Another night in January, 1976, writer Larry "Ratso" Sloman, brought Phil Ochs over. Phil had already gone through a severely depressed episode. He picked up Tom's guitar and asked if he could play a song, asking Tom what he'd like to hear. Tom requested "Pleasures of the Harbor." Phil, appearing eerily calm and quiet played it. He said, "Inspiration used to strike. It doesn't strike any more." Soon afterward, in April, he hung himself. Tom was shattered.

LIFE AFTER 117 MACDOUGAL

Between 1978 and 1986, Tom based his operations in the musical hubs of Woodstock, Austin, TX and Nashville. In 1987, a six week invite to Ireland became a 10 year stay. Tom never stopped writing and had 6 album releases in Europe.

By 1997, Pacheco had returned to Woodstock once again and has been there ever since. In the year of his return, he recorded one of his seminal albums, Woodstock Winter. Friends and Woodstock locals, Levon Helm and Rick Danko of The Band, leant Tom a hand in the recording. Danko would record two more of Tom's songs on his posthumously released album, Times Like These and in 1998, The Band would record "High Cotton" and "If I should fail," two more songs co-written by Tom on Jubilation, their final studio album. In 2002, the Pacheco and Roland Mousaa composition "Indian Prayer" received new recognition, this time with Ol' Pete Seeger playing banjo on the new recording. Tom Pacheco's new CD, Luminol, is the latest release in a recording career that started over four decades ago. Luminol exemplifies Pacheco's extraordinary ability to weave an inspiring message into the fragile subject matter of today's world.



The circle is almost complete. He'll be playing songs from his storied odyssey on Saturday, February 25th at 116 MacDougal -the former Gaslight- just a stone's throw from where it all began for one of the most prolific songwriters of our generation.


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ABOUT FRIENDS OF MIKE PORCO



This will be the first in a series of unique "one night stands" hosted by FRIENDS OF MIKE PORCO the production company started with the intent on carrying on the tradition and legacy of Gerde's Folk City's original owner, Mike Porco. For two decades, Folk City offered a stage to established stars but also allowed the next generation of Folk, Rock and Roots musicians to blossom and flourish.


Doors open at 5. Show at 7. $10 at the door. SPACE IS LIMITED. Two for one drinks 5pm-7pm


Advance tickets may be purchased here:

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2772034229/efblike



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