What's New?

3/23/08: The Barefoot Boys now have their very own website! Effective today, you can go to www.thebarefootboys.com and get all the latest news, performance schedule, photos, and other information. Some of the features of this new site are a guestbook, where you can send us a note, an email list, where you can sign up to receive emails about upcoming shows and other news, links to our CD pages on CDBaby, and also song files where you can listen to tracks from our CD’s. The song files will take about 10 days to be uploaded, so you won’t be able to listen to them at the new site until early April, but you can still hear them at CDBaby.com. Please check it out when you get the chance, sign our guestbook, and let us know what you think of our new home on the web!  

1/15/08: Well here it is, the day has FINALLY come, and I’m proud to say “The NEW Barefoot Boys CD is HERE!!”. Over the next week or so, I will be setting up the “Recordings” page with pictures of the CD cover and back, putting up the link to CDBaby.com where you can buy it online AND hear 2 minute clips from ALL the tracks, and hopefully adding more dates for special “CD Release Concerts”. In the meantime, we will be appearing LIVE on Wanda Fischer’s radio program, “Hudson River Sampler” on WAMC-FM (see performance schedule for stations it’s broadcast on). The show is this Saturday, Jan. 19th , beginning at 8pm. We’ll probably be on sometime during the first segment between 8-9pm, and we’ll be playing some of the songs on the recording both live in the studio and from the CD itself. It’ll be a great opportunity to hear the music from the CD, so please tune in if you have the chance! And please keep checking back here as information on the recording is added to the site.  

12/29/07: The NEW Barefoot Boys CD, “Sweetwater Passage”, is right on schedule for a mid-January release! It is currently at the manufacturer where it’s being put together even as we speak!! We should have it by January 15th, just in time for all the “CD Release Concerts” we have lined up (see performance schedule). Along with the CD, we’ll have other “goodies” like t-shirts, free chocolates, and other “surprises” at these shows to make them real special events. Watch (and listen) for announcements here, in your local newspapers, and on the radio. Here’s wishing you all the very best for the new year, and I hope to see you sometime during 2008!   

11/9/07: The new Barefoot Boys recording is almost done!! Titled “Sweetwater Passage”, it will have 16 tracks of both songs and tunes about the inland “superhighway” of the Hudson River and the Erie Canal. Tracks titles are:

Songs: Shove Around the Grog, Erie Canal (Low Bridge, Everybody Down), Simon Slick (Whoa Mule, Whoa), Mary Powell Waltz, Lifeline to the Heartland, Rio Grande, NY Gals (Can’t You Dance the Polka?), With a Big Bow Wow, Fifty Sail on Newburgh Bay, Storm King, & Rolling Home.        

Tunes: Billy in the Lowground/ Over the Waterfall, Staten Island Hornpipe/ Cuckoo’s Nest, Tailor’s Hornpipe/Kitty’s Wedding, Midnight on the Water, & Fisher’s Hornpipe.

The mixing was completed recently by Pete Sutherland, and now the only things left are the mastering, some of the graphic design work, and then shipping it off  is for duplication and manufacturing! We’re hoping to have it ready for release by mid-late January, and are currently lining up lots of gigs for the big event! So stay tuned, because we’ll be posting more news as its completion comes closer to reality! We’ll also update the performance schedule around this time next month. Until then, here’s wishing all of you and your loved ones the very best of Thanksgivings!

9/3/07: First, the REALLY BIG NEWS!! The NEW “PHOTO GALLERY” is finally up and running! Check it out and let me know what you think. There’s still some “kinks” and “glitches” to work out, especially when trying to view it using all the various browsers (DAMN YOU BILLY GATES!!). It’s also still in the preliminary, formative stages,  but in the near future you will be able to click on a photo from the main page and get an “album” or series of shots from the particular event or subject, and then be able to click on those photos for larger versions. Please let me know if you are having ANY problems viewing the gallery. Your input will be most helpful in working out the bugs!

There are some really big festivals that I’ll be performing at this month. The first is the Waterford Tugboat Roundup on Saturday, 9/8. The entire waterfront in front of the Waterford Visitor Center will be lined with tugboats of different shapes and sizes from various eras. It takes place at the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, and also where the Erie and Champlain canals meet. It’s a beautiful location, and a great event for boat lovers! The Lois McClure, a canal sailboat from Lake Champlain, will be there also, and there are lots of activities, music, craft booths, food, exhibits and displays for the whole family to enjoy. There are also boat rides and many of the old tugs and barges will be open for boarding, viewing, and tours throughout the event.

The second big festival is the Garlic Fest on Saturday, 9/29 and Sunday, 9/30 at Cantine Field right in the heart of Saugerties, NY. This is the 2nd largest garlic festival in the country, with 5 stages of continuous entertainment throughout the weekend, along with craft booths, cooking lectures and demos, and LOTS of food booths and vendors selling everything you could possibly think of that you can add garlic to, as well as some you’d never imagine (how ‘bout garlic ice cream!!).

Check my performance schedule and the websites listed there for more info on these events, and all the other concerts and performances I’ll be doing during September and October. Be sure to check back often as more performances are added when they’re confirmed, and more info is firmed up on the existing ones. I hope you all enjoy these last days of summer, and have a great autumn as well. As always, please stop by and say “hi” if you come to any of my shows!  

7/21/07:  I just wanted to give you an update on the NEW “Barefoot Boys” CD! Things are progressing slowly but surely. We’ve been recording at Tom’s new, state-of-the art recording facility, and we have about ½ the songs recorded. It looks like it’s going to have a nautical/maritime “theme”, only with a twist! Instead of the usual type, with lots of shanties and forebitters (or foc’s’le songs ….. gawd how I LOVE sailor lingo!!), there will be LOTS of songs from and about rivers, lakes, canals, and seaports included. Some of the songs we’ve recorded so far are “New York Gals (Can’t Ya Dance the Polka?)”, “Simon Slick (Whoa, Mule, Whoa!)”, “The Mary Powell Waltz”, “15 Miles on the Erie Canal”, “The Raftmen’s Song (Shove Around the Grog)”, “Lifeline”, “With a Big Bow Wow”, and  “Away Rio (Rye-O)”. We’ll also have a good amount of instrumental hornpipes, jigs, and reels, plus a few “surprises”! No release date yet, but probably sometime this year. We’re taking our time, and making sure it sounds as good as possible. Many of the songs have 3 part harmonies, a couple are “acapella”, and most have a wide variety of instruments, thanks to “over-dubbing”. I’ll try to have a few tracks on the site as soon as my webmistress/wife figures out how to do that!!

Speaking of putting things on the site, watch for some new “features” to be added in the near future! My wife, Cathy, who is also the site’s “webmistress”, is working on creating a page that will have all kinds of photos of myself, The HR Ramblers, and The Boys, including “early” photos, concert shots, and others we think might be of interest to you. So keep an eye on the site for updates and new developments. I try to update at least the performance schedule about once a month, and there are some BIG things that will be happening later on this year on that topic as well. So check back “early and often”, and here’s hoping you all enjoy the rest of your summer!    

2/3/07: A Look at the Year Ahead – 2007 is already looking like it will be an exciting and interesting year! Jonathan and I (aka The HR Ramblers) have started working on a BIG Arts-in Education residency about the NYC Water Supply System, through a grant from the Catskill Watershed System. It involves 4th grade students from 2 schools, one in the Catskills and one in Queens, and will culminate probably sometime in May with the students from both schools getting together to share the songs, stories, and letters they will be writing as part of the project. I can’t wait to see how it turns out!

This year is also the bicentennial of Robert Fulton’s “invention” of the steamboat, marked by his “Clermont”, or “Fulton’s Folly” (as it was called) voyaging up the Hudson in August of 1807. Jon and I are hoping to be involved in some of the events planned to commemorate the occasion, like one at Clermont State Historic Site in August, and perhaps a concert at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston. The official state celebration won’t happen until 2009, when it will be combined with events celebrating Henry Hudson’s historic voyage up the Hudson, and also Samuel De Champlain’s “discovery” of the lake that bears his name.

Be on the lookout for a NEW Barefoot Boys CD sometime later this year! We’re going to start preliminary “pre-production” work on it this month, and probably start recording in March. Details are still up in the air at this point, but it just might be a recording of songs and tunes about the “working waterways” of the area, including the Hudson, Mohawk, Erie and D&H Canals, and Lake Champlain as well.

Also, “the Boys” now play sometimes as a trio (again!), with the addition of Rick Hill on standup, “doghouse” bass. Rick is a great addition, as he can also sing harmony, which allows us to add an extra dimension to our repertoire by doing 3-part harmonies on many of them!

I’ve also been doing lots of research and collecting of songs written in the mid-1800’s by a fellow named Henry Backus, known as the “Saugerties Bard”. He was quite an eccentric character who wrote songs about current events of the day, and sold them as “broadsides” or penny sheets. I’ll be doing a few of the songs I’ve found when I play in Saugerties in April. Check the calendar for more details posted about this!

Here’s hoping 2007 is a good year for ALL of us!

 7/2/06: This is just a short note to let all of you in the greater Poughkeepsie area know that my 2 solo recordings, “Hudson Valley Traditions” and “Home for the Harvest” are now available at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on Rt. 9 in Poughkeepsie! They are located in the folk music section (duh!) with my very own divider that says “Regional Artist – Rich Bala”, which is right behind Joan Baez’s CD’s. For directions and more info, their phone number is 845-485-2224.

Here’s more news about Dylan! His new CD titled (at this time) “Modern Times” will be coming out at the end of August! He actually spent 1 week back in February at the Bardavon Theatre in Poughkeepsie, rehearsing new songs with his band before going into the studio in NYC to record!

And in yet another piece of “Dylanformation”, he will be coming back to Dutchess Stadium on Rt. 9D in Fishkill for a concert on Friday, Sept. 1st! Tickets go on sale on July 15th at 10am, and retail for $49.50 (the actual cost will be more like $55 with fees and taxes). Tickets can be purchased at the stadium box office or through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com). My wife and I saw him the last time he played there 2 years ago, and it was a great show!! The stadium’s capacity is only 8,500 people, so you can get up pretty close to the stage, and if you’ve never seen him live, or haven’t seen him recently, I would highly recommend this as a “must see” concert for anyone who likes his music!

That’s it for now. Have a great summer, and if you come out to any of my performances, make sure you come up and say “Hi!”.       

4/30/06: Bob Dylan (that’s right, The One And Only!) will premiere his new radio show “Theme Time Radio Hour”, this Wednesday, May 3rd, on XM Radio! Details on the show, and its schedule, can be found at www.xmradio.com/bobdylan/index.jsp. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m a BIG fan of Dylan (hearing him back in 1963 is what originally inspired me to become a folksinger!), and I find this to be totally incredible, and almost too good to be true! He won’t be playing his own songs, but music from his own private collection that has inspired and influenced him over the years. Also, as the title implies, there will be themes to the shows, with this week’s being “Weather”. There’s a 3 part article by Lee Abrams (head of XM Radio) explaining how XM got Dylan to do a show, and a description of the unique (to say the least!) format the program will use. You can find it on http://leeabrams.blogspot.com. That Dylan, what a guy!!!!     

2005 Year in Review: As a performing artist, I never know how the year is going to turn out until it is almost over. The uncertain, unpredictable nature of this line of work, and the month-to-month variation in quality and quantity of performances, leaves one guessing through most of the year whether it will be a good one or not. Even when things aren’t looking too good, one never knows when a last minute gig will suddenly turn up, or what the next phone call will bring. Every year is different, and the outcome can never be predicted or determined based on the previous years. Fortunately, I haven’t had a really bad year (yet!). At the same time, I haven’t many really great ones either (yet!). 2003 was one of those very special, career high points, as a result of getting to play with the folks in the photo above, which is why I keep it at the top of this page!  Most years, however, seem to fall somewhere in the middle area, with some high points along with a few disappointments. 2005 seemed to be another one of “those” years. But being the eternal optimist (albeit a cynical one at times), I’m happy to recount the following as the biggest and best highlights of this past year:

Ø      The Barefoot Boys had the pleasure and privilege of playing at The Sounding Board Coffeehouse in West Hartford, Ct., a highly esteemed “bastion” of folk music where many well-known and legendary performers (mostly traditional) have played.

Ø      We also performed for the 10th year in a row at the wonderful Tavern Concert Series run by Historic Richmondtown Restoration in Staten Island, NY. This has always been one of our favorite, and most unique, places to play, because the concerts take place in a “historic building that dates back to the 1820’s! What makes it truly unique is that the building is “preserved” in its original condition, meaning that there’s no electricity (just candles for light), no running water (hence no toilets!), and the only heat is from a Franklin stove that sits in the middle of the main room! As you can imagine, it’s a VERY cozy, intimate space, with just enough seating for about 60 people.

Ø      In May, The Hudson River Ramblers gave a performance at the New York Historical Society in Manhattan, right across the street from Central Park on one side, and the Museum of Natural History on another. It was definitely the most “upscale” neighborhood in which I’ve EVER played!

Ø      In September, “The Boys” played at a Harvest Festival that was held on the site of the original Woodstock Festival in Bethel, NY. It only took 36 years, but I finally got to “Woodstock”!

Ø      Last but certainly not least, I performed at a Farm Festival held on the grounds of the FDR National Historic Site in Hyde Park, NY. The site not only includes FDR’s home, but also the very first presidential library!

Well, that’s it! Not too shabby, if I do say so myself! As far as what next year holds in store, we’ll just have to wait and see. I do hope I get a chance to see and meet many of you in the next 12 months, and I wish you all the very best, with many of your own personal “highlights”, for 2006!!

7/23/05 – John Herald (1939-2005) – It was with shock and sadness that I learned yesterday of John Herald’s death earlier this week. For those of you not familiar with him, John was the lead singer and guitarist for the pioneering bluegrass group, “The Greenbriar Boys”, which was probably the first and certainly most successful and respected “urban” bluegrass band in the Northeast. He also was a great songwriter who wrote, among many wonderful songs, the version of  “Stewball” that was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, and also “High Muddy Water”, recorded by Linda Ronstadt.

Born and raised in NYC’s Greenwich Village, he became part of the “folk revival” that was happening there in the late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s, becoming friends and playing with people like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Ralph Rinzler, Eric Weissberg, Frank Wakefield, John Sebastian, and Maria Muldaur. Later, when he moved to Woodstock, NY, he again became an integral part of the “folk scene” there, and with people like Happy and Artie Traum, Bill Keith, Pat Alger, Eric Kaz, Cindy Cashdollar, and others mentioned previously, formed the “Woodstock Mountain Revue”, which took its name from a song he wrote.

But above all this, John had a reputation for being the sweetest, kindest, gentlest, most gracious and generous man and musician around. I had the great privilege of meeting, talking, and playing with him on a couple of occasions back in 2003. The first was at the rehearsal, and later that day at a concert of Catskill Mountain Folksongs that we were both a part of, along with many others (see photo above) in Woodstock, NY. The other time was when I organized a workshop on the same subject for the 2003 NERFA conference. Most of our conversations consisted of nothing more than “small talk”, and stuff that musicians usually talk about when they get together, but what struck me was how unassuming, ego-less, and humble he was. I mean, here was a person who knew and played with all these “legendary” folks, and he himself being one of them, talking with me, with literally no “status” or “stature” of any kind in the world of folk music, and I felt none of that mattered in the way he related to me. We spoke with mutual respect and regard for each other, simply for the fact that we were fellow human beings! Apparently, that’s just the way he was with people, no matter who they were, because that sentiment is repeatedly expressed and echoed over and over again in the many messages left by folks in the “guestbook” of his website, www.johnherald.com, which I urge you to visit.

He was most certainly a most gentle man, and we are not likely to encounter one like him again anytime soon. I know my life has been enriched, not only because of the wonderful, joyous, exhuberant, and passionate music he created, but more importantly because of his honesty, sincerity, and genuine regard for people.

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 11/1/04 – Ahhhhh!! Autumn in the Hudson Valley! And what a glorious autumn it has been! The colors have been spectacular, and have lasted longer than in the past few years. Fall is usually my busiest time of year, and this year has been no different. There have been a few events that I’ve been part of that stand out above the rest, and are worth noting here.

The first was the Garlic Festival in Saugerties on 9/25 & 26. This is a HUGE festival, the second largest of its kind in the whole country, with something like 20,000 people attending each day! It was named “Best Food Festival” by USA Today, and is one of the very best run, family oriented festivals I’ve ever been to. The folks who put this together really have their act together. Everyone has a great time, and even though it gets really crowded, everyone seems to get along. The organizers credit this to the fact that no alcohol is served, but it is also to their credit that they do a terrific job. Special credit must go to Pat Reppert, the “Garlic Queen” for her positive energy! The highlight for me is getting driven around in a golf-cart, like a real celebrity! It’s the best VIP treatment I get all year!!

Then, in October, it was my pleasure and privilege to present workshops again (for the 3rd year in a row) at the New York State Historical Association’s Annual History Teacher’s Conference at The Farmer’s Museum in Cooperstown. Again, credit goes to Catherine Gilbert and Mary Margaret Kuhn for doing an excellent job of organization, and for making one feel “special” with their kind and gracious teestment. They put me up at a great place in town, The Inn at Cooperstown, and are always very appreciative and just plain fun to be with!

Finally, I was honored by being asked to perform at The Hudson Valley Folk Guild’s 25th Anniversary Concert Celebration on October 23rd  at the Vassar Institute Theatre in Poughkeepsie. Although I haven’t been a member for some time, I was extremely involvd back in its early days, bring the first treasurer on the BOD, serving as newsleteer editor for 1 ½ years, and even helping to write its by-laws! It was a memorable evening, seeing old, familiar faces that I hadn’t seen in years, and feeling that sense of community and togetherness that originally drew me to the guild.

It is being part of events like these that truly rejuvenate and invigorate one’s spirit with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication to the spirit of the music I play, and I’m sure it will sustain me through the long, lean winter, and those times when I am struggling just to get gigs and to make ends meet, and wondering why I am doing this and if it’s worth all the effort for what seems like so little in return. It’s experiences like these that definitely make it all worthwhile!

3/21/04 - The following are some reviews of my "Hudson Valley Traditions" CD that I've received recently:
SingOut! Magazine (#48/1 Spring '04) said, "Fascinating selections. Rich Bala, with his fine voice and historical perspective, is the perfect tour guide for a 300 year journey  through the region."
Hudson Valley Magazine (March '04) wrote, "Bala's pleasant baritone serves the lyrics well. An important addition to Hudson Valley lore."
Chronogram Magazine (March '04) had this to say, "Bala has an expressive voice, by turns elegiac and playful, which makes these numbers more than mere museum pieces. He conjures up the grit and heartbreak of everyday life.... Still, a pride of place for the beautiful valley bleeds through."

Now, I don't really know why all 3 reviews seem to focus on my voice, which I personally don't think is all that great. Heck, I even had to look up what "elegiac" meant (expressing sorrow or lamentation, as in an elegy)! But I'm not about to argue with them! However, if you want to see (or hear) for yourself, just go to my "Recordings" page, click on the CDBaby icon next to "Hudson Valley Traditions" and you will ba able to listen to parts of ALL the songs on the CD. Then, if you agree with the critics, and wish to buy a copy, you can either do it there at the CDBaby site, or send a check to me personally. It's as easy as that! As Tom Carvel used to say, "Please buy this delicious, non-dairy product"!   

2003 Year in Review - Last year was the most productive one I've had since I started doing this full-time. I had more gigs (and more income!) than any other year! I must be doing something right! Here are some highlights:

  • To bring in the New Year, we (The Barefoot Boys) played at Caffe' Lena as part of First Night Saratoga, which we did again this past New Year's Eve to end the year! (How's that for "coming 'round full circle"!)
  • In February, I bought a NEW Martin OM28-V (for Vintage Series), and I LOVE it! (I'm still trying to sell the old one though; but I just lowered the price  by $300!! I'm a real motivated seller!!)
  • In April, I was part of a stellar line-up of performers (see photo above) who played folksongs of the Catskills at a concert in Woodstock, NY (probably the highlight of my LIFE  and whole career, as well as the year! I actually had Pete, Jay and Molly backing ME up on "Big Bill Snyder"!!!)
  • In September, I re-issued my first recording, "Hudson Valley Traditions", on CD for the first time. It had only been on cassette until then. I also added 3 new songs not on the cassette version, and re-designed the cover, adding a beautiful painting of the river at Storm King by renowned artist len Tantillo
  • In November, The Barefoot Boys showcased at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference, and for the 2nd year in a row, I organized and participated in a workshop on "Catskill Mountain Folk Music", which this time included John Herald, Geoff Kauffman, Penny Nichols, and Siobhan Quinn.


There were many more high points than these, but rather than going on and on endlessly, I thought I'd just mention the really BIG ones! I hope your year was a good one too, and that this coming year is good to us all as well!

11/30/03 - I'm organizing a benefit for the financially strapped Clearwater organization, to help raise money for the purchase of a new sail, which the sloop desperately needs. Check out the link to the Clearwater website on my "Links" page for a letter from Capt. Samantha Heyman and photos on the subject. The "sail-raising" concert will be held at Caffe' Lena in Saratoga Springs on Sunday, January 11th, at 7pm. In addition to myself, other performers will be Capt. Rick Nestler, who wrote "The River That Flows Both Ways"; Rik Palieri, a muti-instrumentalist from Vermont; and Betty & The Baby Boomers. Admission is $12, and $6 for children.


My new CD, "Hudson Valley Traditions", is now available from CDBaby. The nice thing about that is you can actually listen to sound clips of each of the 14 songs on  it! I will have a link directly to it on my "Recordings" page soon. In the meantime, you can go directly to it on CDBaby's site at www.cdbaby.com/bala3.

Lastly, I'd like to wish all you a safe and happy holiday season! Try not to get caught up in the frenzy of what I call "Giftmas", like the woman in Florida who was trampled and knocked unconscious by a mob of shoppers! I hope you can all keep the true spirit and meaning of this special time of year in your hearts, and share it with your loved ones. All that other "stuff" is just a distraction from what it's really all about anyway! Happy Holidays!

9/17/03 - THE NEW CD, "HUDSON VALLEY TRADITIONS", IS HERE, FINALLY!! There will be photos and other info on the "Recordings" page soon. The cover looks great! It's got a painting of the Hudson Highlands by Len Tantillo, and in addition to the songs on the original recording (released only on cassette in 1989), it's got 3 newly recorded songs; "The River that Flows Both Ways" by Rick Nestler, "Sailing Down This Golden River" by Pete Seeger, and "I Walk the Road Again", a traditional song collected from Catskill Mtn. native George Edwards. So, those of you who have been waiting patiently to have this recording on CD, come and get it!! If you're on my mailing list, you'll be getting a flyer from me in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, if you'd like to order it, just send $16.50 (plus sales tax if NYS resident) to me at PO Box 179, Billings, NY 12510, and I'll send it right out to you!

8/7/03 - I'm selling my guitar! The page with photos and information is up. Check it out under "Guitar for Sale".
Also, my redone, updated, improved version of my first recording, "Hudson Valley Traditions", was sent to the manufacturer yesterday! I should have the CD, with 3 NEW songs, and a totally new cover, photos, and liner notes, back in about a month. Watch the "Recordings" sections on this site for the grand announcement when it is ready, probably in early September. Those of you on my mailing list will be getting a flyer in the mail on how to order it.

6/1/03 - In the next week or so, I will be adding a page to my site, which will include photos and other information about my 1987 Martin HD-28, which I am selling. I am FINALLY getting it back from the repair shop this week after dropping it off back on 2/13 and being told it would "only take 6-8 weeks"!! So if you know anyone who is looking for a great guitar, tell them to check out my site for details.

Also, I am getting ready to re-issue my recording, "Hudson Valley Traditions" on CD! Originally released only cassette in 1989 (my first recording), I am adding a few songs ("River That Flows Both Ways", "Sailing Down My Golden River"), and changing the cover. The NEW cover will have a painting called "Afternoon at Storm King", by renown artist Len Tantillo, and the graphics work is beig done by Ron Tolke, who did such a terrific job on "Revolution on the River". Keep an eye here for the announcement when the CD is finally ready!

3/1/03 - Well, the big news for me this time around is that I bought a new guitar!! Yup, a brand-spankin' new Martin OM-28V (Orchestra Model 1930's Vintage Re-issue). It's still in the "break-in" phase, but it sounds really great already!! And the nice thing about Martins are that they usually just keep sounding better as they age! Sooo ...... if you or anyone you know might want to buy a 1987 Martin HD-28, get in touch with me. That's the guitar I've been playing for the past 15 years (that's right, I'm the original owner!), and the one I'm holding in all the photos on this site. I will be posting other, more detailed photos of the guitar here in the very near future, along with detailed information about its condition, so if you're interested, keep checking back.

The other big news is the concert of Catskill Mountain Folk music that will be taking place on April 5th at the Klienert/James Arts Center on Tinker St. in Woodstock. The show will be an "extravaganza" of folk artists, such as Happy Traum, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Eric Weissberg (writer of "Dueling Banjos"), Joe Hickerson, Geoff Kaufman, myself, and Pete Seeger!! ALL of the material performed that night will be from the "Camp Woodland Collection", meaning authentic Catskill songs that were collected from local residents by the camp's staff and attendees from 1949-1962. Check my performance schedule for more details and information.

1/5/03 - Happy New Year to all! 2003 gets off to a good start as "The Barefoot Boys" return to "The Tavern Concert Series" in Staten Island's Historic Richmondtown area. This is the 8th year in a row that we've performed in this 1820's tavern building, with only candles for lighting, and a woodstove in the middle of the room for heating. It's one of our favorite places to play, because the music feels right at home in this 19th century atmosphere! Then in February, we return to Caffe' Lena, after having played there on New Year's Eve to a full house for each of our 3 sets! This is a wonderful place to play AND hear music; the room is small and intimate, and still retains much of its original charm and ambiance. At 43 years old and still going strong, this is the oldest, continuously run coffeehouse in the country, so there's plenty of that charm to go around!

I'm also adding a few new links to my site here, which I hope will be of some interest to you. One is for a new, online business called "Made in the Hudson Valley", which has all kinds of gifts, crafts, books, prints, food,  music, and other items. All of these products share a similar origin; they were all made, you guessed it (the company name sort of gives it away!), right here in the Hudson Valley! The other link is to a site maintained by the Hudson River Institute at Marist College, and is a MAJOR "gateway" site that leads to many other sites covering many diverse aspects of the Hudson Valley! Check them out if you get the chance, and I hope I get a chance to see you all at  my performances  sometime this year!

10/27/02 - There are a few events coming up that I'm really excited about. The first one will be on Friday, Nov. 15th, when I conduct a workshop on "Catskill Mountain Folk Music", along with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, and Happy Traum! This will be part of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference, being held this year at Kutsher's Resort in Monticello.

The other event that I'm so pleased to be a part of will happen on New Year's Eve, when The Barefoot Boys will perform at the legendary Caffe' Lena for Saratoga's First Night Celebration. We'll be alternating sets throughout the evening with a talented contemporary musician, Kate McDonnell, so there should be plenty of good music, both old and new, for everyone to enjoy! Check out my performance schedule for more details and contact info. What an exciting way to end a year full of many highlights!

10/8/02 - Autumn has arrived once again, and with it comes the usual flurry of activity! I'll be traveling to Rochester for my first house concert, then it's over to Cooperstown where Jonathan and I are giving a presentation for the NYS Historical Association's annual Teacher's Conference. Then, on the weekend of Oct 19th-20th, "The Barefoot Boys" will play at Hunter Mtn.'s Harvest Fest, and on the evening of Sat., Oct 19th, Jonathan & I will give a concert at a new venue, The Uptown, in conjunction with the 225th Anniversary of the Burning of Kingston. By the way, if you can make it to Kingston that weekend, it should be really exciting, as the city is "invaded" once again by the British, like it was 225 years ago, when it was the state capital and "a nest of rebels"! Check some of the Rev War sites on my "Links" page for more info.

9/8/02 - There are a few things coming up in the next few weeks that I'd like to mention here. First, there will be an article I wrote in the next issue of Sing Out! Magazine, which should be out by the end of the month. It's the one with the photo of Ralph Stanley on the cover. The article is about the origins and background of the song, "Yankee Doodle", and is the featured article in the "Behind the Song" column. If you read it, please be sure to let me know what you thought of it!

The other thing I wanted to mention is an event during the first weekend of October (the 5th & 6th). That is when the opening of the State's NEWEST historic site, Fort Montgomery, will take place. The site is located just north of the Bear Mountain Bridge on Rt. 9W (on the west side of the river). An important battle took place there exactly 225 years ago from when the site will open to the public! There will be historic re-enactments and an encampment of Rev War re-enactors, you will be able to walk the grounds of the fort for the first time, and there will be other events and activities going on that weekend as well. Check some of the Rev War sites on my "Links" page for more information. (Huzzah!!)

6/20/02 - "The Boys" have returned from a successful, 2-engagement "tour" of the historic, scenic, and otherwise lovely area around Beaufort, North Carolina. We found out that one of the towns in which we played, New Bern, is where Pepsi-Cola was created back in 1898! And Morehead City (just over the drawbridge from Beaufort) is the home of the World Championship Marlin Fishing Tournament (a world's record 1,600 lb. marlin was caught here!).
Beaufort reminded me of a quaint New England seaport, with it's colonial architecture dating back to the early 1700's, and it's main street running parallel to the inlet. We saw dolphins and wild horses, and on nearby Harkers Island, the natives still speak with an accent reminiscent of Elizabethan English (they're referred to as "hoi toidors", or "high tiders")! I'd go back there in a heartbeat!
Now I'm preparing for the BIG July 4th weekend, with concerts of Rev War songs  at Clermont State Historic Site (the home of the influential Livingston family) on the 4th, and another at the Schuyler Mansion (another powerful colonial family) in Albany on the 7th. In between, The Boys will return to one of their favorite venues, the Rosendale Cafe' on Friday the 5th, for an evening of music celebrating Hudson Valley history. See my schedule page for  more details. Here's hoping your summer gets off to a terrific start. Be sure to say "hey" if you come to these shows!

6/2/02 - The big news this week is that "The Boys" (Tom White and myself) will be traveling down to North Carolina for our first performances below the Mason-Dixon Line! Next weekend, June 7th & 8th, we'll be playing for the Down East Folk Arts Society in New Bern and Beaufort, along the coast. We're really excited about heading down there, especially since learning that Beaufort was reportedly a "hangout" for Blackbeard the Pirate! In fact, in 1996, Blackbeard's ship, "Queen Ann's Revenge", was found about 2 miles from Beaufort, and the maritime museum there will be opening an exhibit of artifacts recovered from it on the day we arrive in town! Like Beaufort, New Bern also bears the distinction of being one of the state's oldest towns, dating back to early colonial times. It should be quite an adventure!

4/20/02 - There are a few noteworthy events coming up this week I thought you might like to know about. First, next Tuesday and Wednesday, April 23rd & 24th, PBS will be showing a documentary (9-11PM EST) called America's First River: Bill Moyers on the Hudson. Part one explores the cultural, historical, economic, and spiritual importance of the river, while part two focuses on the more recent battles against such threats as PCB's, power plants, and urban sprawl. The special includes an interview with Pete Seeger, among others, and I highly recommend watching/taping it!

Later in the week, we will celebrating the 225th anniversary of the Paul Revere-like ride of Sybil Ludington. On April 27th, 1777, Sybil rode through parts of Putnam County to alert the local militia that the British were attacking and burning nearby Danbury, Ct. Actually, her ride was nothing like Paul Revere's! Paul, a 40 year old man, rode 16 miles, had 2 other men to help him, and failed in his mission, as he was captured by the British. Sybil, on the other hand, was a 16 year old girl who rode 40 miles, and raised a force of about 200 men on her own! It kind of makes one wonder why Paul Revere is so famous, and why Sybil and her heroics ("heroinoics"?!) are relatively unknown! If you'd like to learn  more about her and her ride, there will be a lecture at the SouthEast Museum (Brewster) by Sybil biographer James D'Aquino, on the very day of her ride! Call the museum at (845) 279-7500 for details. Of course, you could always learn about it by listening to Jonathan's stirring version of the story on our recording, "Revolution on the River", but I bet you already knew that!!

3/26/02 - I've added 3 new links which should give those of you who are interested in events concerning the Revolutionary War's 225th Anniversary all the information you need! As I mentioned previously (see 1/27's entry), there's LOTS happening in the Hudson Valley with regard to this anniversary, and I'll be posting more as the year progresses. I've already been booked to play at numerous events and locations, such as Fort Crailo State Historic Site (birthplace of "Yankee Doodle) on May 5th, Schuyler Mansion St. Hist. Site (Albany) on July 7th, Saratoga Nat'l. Historic Park on August 6th, with many more being negotiated at this writing. So keep checking the "Performance Schedule" page for updates!
 

1/27/02 - This year will certainly be the most exciting and significant one in a long, long time for historic events in the valley! Locations along the entire length of the river will be commemorating the 225th anniversary of the British Campaign of 1777, commonly referred to in history books as the "3-pronged attack", to gain control of the Hudson River. It was this campaign, designed by British Gen. Burgoyne, that resulted in the Battles of Bennington and Saratoga (the "turning point" in the war), the Battle of the Hudson Highlands, and the burning of Kingston.

In addition to re-enacting its infamous burning in October, the city of Kingston will also celebrate the 350th anniversary of its "charter" under the Dutch! And if that wasn't enough, in April it will celebrate the 225th anniversary of the state constitution!

Finally, this year marks the the Bicentennial of West Point as a military academy! Although it was a major fortification since 1780, it wasn't until 1802 that it began accepting "cadets" for officers' training! Look for a MAJOR celebration in October! And to coincide with this, the state will officially open a NEW historic site to the public, at Ft. Montgomery (just north of Bear Mountain), where the first chain was stretched across the Hudson, and where a battle took place during that Campaign of 1777.

So if you have any interest in history whatsoever, the Hudson Valley will be THE place to experience it in 2002! I'll be adding updates and links to websites about these events, so stay tuned!

1/6/02 - Greetings and Happy New Year!! As I'm sure it was for many of you, last year was a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows. I finally fulfilled one of my career dreams by playing at the legendary Caffe' Lena which, since 1960, has hosted some of the first concerts by the likes of Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, Don McLean, Utah Phillips, and Michael Cooney. It was also a year in which I lost 4 dear friends or colleagues.

In April my very good buddy, Bruce Morrison, lost his life-long struggle with diabetes. Bruce is the one who first encouraged me to make a recording, which resulted in "Hudson Valley Traditions", and I'll always be thankful for his encouragement and support. Bruce was always ready with a good joke or 3, a consummate professional and perfectionist when playing music, and one of the ONLY people I could talk with about our common interest in the open-wheel racing (Indy) cars of CART and Formula 1.

Eli Jaffe was still going strong at 88 years old when he suddenly left us. I'll ALWAYS remember those early days of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild open stages at the Amber Lantern, when Eli would invariably try to coax me up onstage to sing "This Land is Your Land" with him, or some other Woody Guthrie song. Eli, like Woody, was "the real deal"; what you saw was who he was, nothing more, nothing less. No patronizing, no bullshit, but always treating one with more respect and dignity than perhaps one deserved! Eli made me feel better about myself, just by being around him!

I wouldn't say that Vaughn Ward and I were "good" friends; we had talked a few times about folk music and her Black Crow Network, but she once gave me a piece of advice which has made a BIG difference in my attitude towards my work. I was supposed to do a gig up in Albany one night, but had some kind of stomach virus. I called the Wards, hoping to get George to fill in for me, but George wasn't home. I explained to Vaughn why I was calling, and she very simply said, "well, the amateur stays home, but the professional makes the gig!". So I made the gig, and haven't missed one since!

I never actually met or even spoke with Tor Jonassen, but we were kindred spirits in our love for the traditional song. He had a radio show in the Philly area, and wrote some wonderful comments about my music which I still use in my promotional material! I remember being extremely pleased and somewhat overwhelmed when I saw what he had written, because I immediately recognized his name, and knew he was a highly respected and very knowledgeable authority on folk music. He's the one who wrote, "the oatmeal cookie of folk music, none better in flavor". I'll always be in his debt for that quote!!
One of the best and greatest "benefits" of my work is in meeting, knowing, befriending, and being touched by people like these! The world is a better place, and we're all better people, for having had them around. I will carry their memories with me wherever I go. My deepest thanks and gratitude to them all.
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9/30/01 - I received a letter from Hudson Valley Magazine earlier this week, saying that the staff has chosen  "Revolution on the River" as the "Best CD" for its "Best of the Hudson Valley" awards.
Watch for the magazine's November, 2001 issue for more details. Jonathan and I were VERY excited to get this great news, and also a little shocked and surprised, being that we're not used to such recognition!
We've also received some very nice comments about the recording, from some very prestigious people! See the recordings page for who they are, and what they said!
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8/5/01 - This site is now set up so you can order 2 of my recordings ("With Boots On" & "Revolution on the River") DIRECTLY from CDBaby.com! The REALLY nice thing about this is that you can actually LISTEN to 4 tracks from each CD on their site! So, if you'd like to hear what the CD's sound like, just go over to the site by "clicking" on the CD icon to the right of the recordings, give a listen, then order directly from them, or directly from me!!
The "Revolution on the River" CD seems to be doing VERY well in just its first month! Chatham Hill Games is doing an excellent job at making sure just about EVERY historic site and museum in the valley stocks it, and people seem very interested in it at our performances as well!
And speaking of performances, Tom and I are VERY excited about playing at the "Family Concert" at Caffe' Lena on Sunday, November 18th,, at 3PM! For those of you who don't know about this esteemed and "legendary" caffe' in Saratoga Springs, NY, it is quite possibly the OLDEST, CONTINUOUSLY operated music coffeehouse in the country! It was opened back in 1960 by Lena Spencer, and gave MANY musical "legends" (like Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, and Don McLean, to name just a few) one of their first opportunities to perform on stage! It will be a privilege and an honor to perform at this venerated caffe'. I hope you can make it if you're anywhere in the area!
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6/30/01 - The NEW CD, "REVOLUTION ON THE RIVER", has FINALLY ARRIVED!!! Check out  the "Recordings" section of this site for ALL the details on this VERY unique project from myself and storyteller Jonathan Kruk (aka "The Hudson River Ramblers"). Also, you will be able to order this CD through Amazon.com, as well as on  CDBaby.com, as soon as the details on the arrangement are finalized! You'll know when that happens because there will be a direct link from this site to CDBaby, for your ordering convenience! Of course, you can always just order it the "old-fashioned" way, by mail order directly to me!!
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3/15/01 - GREAT NEWS!! The Spring 2001 issue of SingOut! Magazine (Vol. 45 No.1) contains a review of "...With Boots On"!! This magazine, for those who don't know, just celebrated its 50th Anniversary, was started by Pete Seeger (among others), and is WONDERFUL publication. I've always enjoyed and respected its integrity and dedication to folk music, and consider it an honor and a privilege to be included in its esteemed pages!! What follows are some of the "highlights" from the review:
(Tom and Rich) have created a recording of classic traditional tunes played expertly, that may serve as an ispiration to many future players. The recording features the duo as you'd likely hear them at a festival or house concert. (It) focuses on classic traditional tunes from the old-time and Celtic repertoire, simply arranged. It's delightful to hear the beauty of "Angeline the Baker" or the medley "Liberty/St. Anne's Reel" played solidly. "Cockoo's Nest/RedHaired Boy", two dance staples, are played with great authority and at a pace which allows the beauty of these classic melodies to shine. This music is highly accessible!" (not too shabby eh?!)
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10/29/00- Welcome to my brand new website; I hope you like it! It's been a long time coming, and I'm really excited about finally having it up and running. Right now it's just a basic, rudimentary site, but soon I hope to be adding some extra features, like links to other folkmusic sites, and sound bites (bytes?) from my recordings. This section will also be used for special announcements, keeping you informed about what I'm doing, and maybe an occasional rumination, or "diatribe", as my friend Jon Kruk calls it! So please check back often, and if you get a chance, e-mail me and let me know what you think of it!
 

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