Larry Long

 For the past thirty nine years, a quiet unassuming organization has been very busy ‘saving’ what they call America’s old-time music.  Located in the very Midwestern State of Iowa, it was founded by Smithsonian Institution recording artists Bob & Sheila Everhart who make their home in the Corn State.  Over the years they have managed to build a Performance Arts Theater, a Pioneer Music Museum, a Fiddler’s Hall of Fame, an Old Time Music Hall of Fame, and an Ag-Expo Festival of acoustic old-time music to support it all.  One of the major responsibilities of the 501(c)3 corporation is to recognize contributors to the music they are saving. 

 According to Bob Everhart, the President, “This year, Minneapolis resident, Larry Long, enters a Hall of Fame with the likes of Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, Sr., the Carter Family, Roy Acuff, Johnny Cash, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, even Patti Page, already in it.  Selection is not determined by a popularity contest, neither is it determined by huge record sales or miles traveled.  It’s determined by ‘talent’ and how it is used to enhance the choices offered in todays hodge-podge music world.  Old time ‘real-deal’ acoustic music is perhaps the most discriminated genre of music in America today, and that makes it doubly important to us to make sure that those who actually perform it, play it, share it, enhance it, promote it, create it, gets a pat on the back, and a standing ovation of appreciation from our membership.  We will be doing that this year at our 39th Annual National Old Time Festival of Traditional Music & Rural Lifestyle at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in LeMars, Iowa, August 25-31, 2014, and Larry Long is the centerpiece. “

According to Everhart, “Larry Long of Minneapolis, will certainly be a deserving addition to America’s Old Time Music Hall of Fame.  Larry is a troubadour, much like the medieval singers who traveled from court to court, town to town, delivering messages in songs.  For 40 years, Long has sung at protests, festivals, union actions and political rallies around Minnesota, the nation and the world.  He writes, and in his lilting voice sings in the social justice tradition of Pete Seeger.  He hews to Seeger’s belief that everyone has ‘a sacred obligation to do their best at what they’re called upon to do.”  According to Larry, “When I was younger, I lived life like a bullet.  A quarter-credit shy of graduation, I took off with my friend Fiddlin’ Pete.  We rode the rails just like Woody Guthrie.  According to Atesh Sonneborn, the Associate Director for Programs at the Smithsonian, “Folk music isn’t easily defined, but we know it when we hear it.  That’s one of the reasons I keep tabs on Larry Long’s personal project, “Elder’s Wisdom, Children’s Songs,” which is based intensely in place.  Larry goes into a community, working with the children and elders to find their own traditions – their music traditions in that place.”  According to Larry, “When I’m doing the best of this work, I’m pretty anonymous.  This systemic work is tougher to write about than say,sulfide mining issues.  At heart, the work is rooted in love and empathy and core values.  Out of core values, we tend to make decisions about what touches our hearts.” This wonderful creative artist certainly will be a welcome addition to those we have honored in the past for keeping America’s rural and traditional music alive.

 Some of the activities Larry will participate in during his time at the Iowa Festival is a Guitar Pull, a Harmonica Howl, a Fiddler’s Jubilee, a Carl Sandburg Reading, a Banjo Jamboree, an Autoharp Gathering, a Dulcimer Do, a Mandolin Pickin’, an Accordion & Concertina Get Together, a Songwriters Circle, and a Poet’s Corner, as well as main stage performances.  

The Everharts honor many different contributors to the music they love.  “We are very happy to be able to have John Carter Cash with us at this year’s event,” Everhart said, “he is the only child of John and June Carter Cash, and is more producer and director than he is vocalist and instrumentalist, but he does it all incredibly well.  He is a staid supporter of America’s old-time music.  After all, his grandmother was Maybelle Carter.  Joining John are other interesting performers of America’s great old time music.  LuLu Roman, the funny lady from Hee Haw will be with us, however not as the comedy figure she portrayed on that very popular television show, but as an extremely lovely vocalist of old-time country Gospel music.  Terry Smith the composer of “Far Side Banks of Jordan” for Johnny & June Carter Cash will be with us, and Hugh Moffatt who wrote “Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You” will also head up the Songwriter’s Circle.  Add to that terrific bluegrass bands like David Davis and the Warrior River Boys from Alabama, Larry Gillis and Swampgrass from Georgia, and well over 650 other musicians and music makers and you begin to realize why this event lasts seven days, on ten stages, from 9am to midnight every day.” 

The facility where the event is held is an alcohol-free drug-free venue, with over 350 RV parking spaces with hook-ups.  A number of food vendors on the grounds assures delightful dining options, along with arts & crafts, a flea market, a rendezvous village in an old ghost town, even an old log cabin front porch which is ideal for some of the old-time music makers.  “We did a television show for PBS,” Everhart noted, “called Old Time Country Music.  It aired in 22 states and became a household name in our state.  We’re still keeping that very pleasant idea of America’s music alive and well.  This music is from the hill folk, the sons of the soil, dirt farmers and cowboys and coal miners, sailors, and troubadours, and their music should not be relegated to the dust bins.  This is part of our heritage.  America’s heritage, and we’re doing our part keeping it alive. “

Bob & Sheila Everhart, P O Box 492, Anita, Iowa, 50020  – 712-762-4363  –   bobeverhart@yahoo.com

National Traditional Country Music Assn.

“Thank you all so very much for coming to For Pete’s Sake: Celebrating Pete Seeger’s 95th Birthday at the Fitzgerald Theatre. The portals of heaven opened up for this moment of time and we were able to catch a glimpse of dreams fulfilled through the life-work of both Pete and his beloved wife, Toshi.  If the audio and film footage turned out as good as the concert, we will most certainly produce a film for those weren’t able to attend. But for now – for Pete’s Sake – I’m going to take the day off, work in the garden and give back a little thanks to this beautiful earth of ours.”    Larry Long   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvnsB_kVNYI

Saturday, April 26, 2014, 7:30 PM

Earth Day at Festival Theatre means Dan Chouinard and special guest musician Larry Long take the stage for music and stories celebrating our most constant neighbor, the St. Croix River.  Pianist, accordionist and occasional storyteller Dan Chouinard is a Minneapolis native who plays, tours and records regularly with an ever-expanding roster of musicians and writers. Larry Long is an American singer-songwriter who has made his life work the celebration of everyday heroes. Returning to direct the 35- voice Festival Singers chorus is Marty Harding. The choir will perform a selection of songs based on the river theme, including The Lone, Wild Bird; The River is Flowing and Let the River Run.  Tickets $21 in advance, $26 at the door, Flex Pass eligible http://www.festivaltheatre.org/once-upon-a-river.html

For Pete’s Sake: Celebrating Pete Seeger’s 95^th Birthday 

A collection of singers, musicians, spoken word artists, social leaders, and filmmakers will honor one of the world’s most influential folksingers, Pete Seeger, May 3rd, 7:30 PM – 9:30 Pm, at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. The event will celebrate the many phases of Seeger’s life in multimedia and with an abundance of music from across the cultural spectrum on what would have been Seeger’s 95th birthday. Members of Pete Seeger’s family will be in attendance. The concert will also be ASL Interpreted.

Pete Seeger was involved at crucial moments in the Civil Rights struggle in the south. In keeping with Pete Seeger’s commitment to social justice, proceeds from For Pete’s Sake will be going to the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom School in south Minneapolis.

 TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FITZGERALD THEATER BOX OFFICE, ALL TICKETMASTER OUTLETS, AND ONLINE AT WWW.TICKETMASTER.COM. TO CHARGE TICKETS BY PHONE, CALL 800-982-2787.  All tickets are $30, plus service fees.

Featuring: ROBERT ROBINSON  PRUDENCE JOHNSON  JOHN GORKA  ESTAIRE GODINEZ  CHASTITY BROWN LARRY LONG  JOYFUL NOIZE  PETER OSTROUSHKO  WAUBANEWQUAY DAY  ANN REED  DAN CHOUINARD  TONIA HUGHES  CYRIL PAUL  KEVIN FUHRMAN   BRIAN BARNES  BRITTANY DELANEY  MITCH WALKING ELK  COURTNEY YASMINEH  AIMEE BRYANT PATTY KAKAC  BARB TILSEN  POP WAGNER  TONY GLOVER  CHARLIE MAGUIRE  MARC ANDERSON  JOE SAVAGE  CAMERON WRIGHT  LORNA HER MANY HORSES  TIMOTHY FRANTZICH and ASL INTERPRETED

Minneapolis filmmaker William Eigen will share footage from his critically acclaimed documentary movies about Seeger.  The event will include words and poetry of Pete Seeger recited by community leaders of the many nations of people who call Minnesota home.

“For  Pete’s Sake grew out of encouraging hometowns and communities across  the country to honor Seeger on his 95th birthday. And people responded from Israel to Norway,” says Long. “Our celebration was rooted in Pete’s concept to think  globally and act locally. When I look at the bill, I feel like we’ve really accomplished that. If our featured artists — many of whom have national reach – can fill the house, we will have also succeeded in creating  something that can be replicated by others in other communities.”

RADIO HEARTLAND RECORDING CONCERT; PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE CHILDREN’S DEFENSE FUND AND FREEDOM SCHOOL

Radio Heartland will record the concert, and in the week leading to May 3, it will feature Pete Seeger and his inspired music. The 24-hour folk, roots and Americana music stream over 89.3 The Current can is available at www.radioheartland.org. It is also on HD radio at KNOW 91.1 FM HD2 in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Pete Seeger was involved at crucial moments in the Civil Rights struggle in the south.

In keeping with Pete Seeger’s commitment to social justice, proceeds from For Pete’s Sake will be going to the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom School in south Minneapolis. ** Link to Seeger Interview: http://video.pbs.org/viralplayer/2365165330

For Pete’s Sake: Celebration for Pete Seeger’s 95^th Birthday is being produced by Larry Long’s American Roots Revue.

In the past, Seeger has fondly said, “I would be proud to be known as ‘the Larry Long of New York.'” Long has been a longtime friend since the ’70s with the legendary folk singing figure whose towering height and simple banjo-strumming tunes could move thousands of festival goers, or roomfuls of schoolchildren to all sing along. Long was also the only Minnesota performer invited to perform at Madison Square Garden in New York for Pete’s 90th birthday celebration, which included an all-star music tribute (http://tinyurl.com/l58cn9e).

• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/events/1431305907108278/

For more information — or to interview Larry Long, or feature select participating musicians in studio — please contact Martin Keller, Media Savant Communications Co., 612-729-8585, mkeller@mediasavantcom.com

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*MORE ABOUT PETE SEEGER, FROM HIS NEW YORK TIMES OBITUARY

“Mr. Seeger was a prime mover in the folk revival that transformed popular music in the 1950s. As a member of the Weavers, he sang hits including Lead Belly’s “Goodnight, Irene” — which reached No. 1 — and “If I Had a Hammer,” which he wrote with the group’s Lee Hays. Another of Mr. Seeger’s songs, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?,” became an antiwar standard. And in 1965, the Byrds had a No. 1 hit with a folk-rock version of “Turn! Turn! Turn!,” Mr. Seeger’s setting of a passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes.

A Generation’s Mentor

Mr. Seeger was a mentor to younger folk and topical singers in the ‘50s and ‘60s, among them Bob Dylan, Don McLean and Bernice Johnson Reagon, who founded Sweet Honey in the Rock. Decades later, Bruce Springsteen drew from Mr. Seeger’s repertory of traditional music about a turbulent America in recording his 2006 album, “We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions,” and in 2009 he performed Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” with Mr. Seeger at the Obama inaugural

In his hearty tenor, Mr. Seeger, a beanpole of a man who most often played 12-string guitar or five-string banjo, sang topical songs and children’s songs, humorous tunes and earnest anthems, always encouraging listeners to join in. His agenda paralleled the concerns of the American left: He sang for the labor movement in the 1940s and 1950s, for civil rights marches and anti-Vietnam War rallies in the 1960s, and for environmental and antiwar causes in the 1970s and beyond. “We Shall Overcome,” which Mr. Seeger adapted from old spirituals, became a civil rights anthem.

READ MORE AT: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/arts/music/pete-seeger-songwriter-and-champion-of-folk-music-dies-at-94.html?_r=0

**About the Freedom School

The “Mississippi Freedom Summer Project” of 1964 was organized by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO), two leading Civil Rights organizations.  The Freedom Schools movement was reborn in 1992 under the leadership of Marian Wright Edelman and the Children’s Defense Fund’s Black Community Crusade for Children® (BCCC®) program to advance this transforming vision of education for all children through the CDF Freedom Schools program.

Links to both Freedom School and Children’s Defense Fun:

•    http://www.cdf-mn.org/programs-campaigns/cdf-mn-freedom-schools-program/
• http://www.childrensdefense.org/programs-campaigns/freedom-schools/about/history.html

Sponsored by:   Community Celebration of Place   www.communitycelebration.org

Larry & Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott will be playing at the Festival of Giving with Dean McGraw, Marc Anderson, Louis Alemayehu, and Alex Goldfarb, September 7, 2013, 11:00 – 3:00 at Common Ground Meditation Center, 2700 East 26th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406.

The event is offered free of charge though donations are appreciated ( all goes toward local non – profits).

The Festival of Giving is a community event put on by Common Ground Meditation Center: http://commongroundmeditation.org/
in Minneapolis 2700 East 26th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406

Common Ground Meditation Center

Larry Long & Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott have been playing music together for over 40 years. They have played music extensively throughout the United States—hitchhiking and hopping freights—and in the mid seventies they traveled in the much-beloved Lone Prairie Schooner and the Red Caboose down the back roads of America, passing the hat for a song. Since those early days, they’ve both become established and notable artists in their own right.

Though these friends now live thousands of miles apart, they continue to get together twice a year to play music and celebrate life with family and friends.

Thursday, September 5th, at Merlins Rest, is one of those rare occasions that shouldn’t be missed. Other musical friends and family who’ll be joining them include Prudence Johnson, Joe Savage, Larry Dalton, Melvin James, Bobby Vandell, and Melvin III.

Where: Merlins Rest Pub, 3601 E. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55406   (612) 216-2419  www.merlinsrest.com  When:   Thursday, September 5, 8:00-11:00 PM

On Saturday, September 7th,  Larry Long and Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott will be playing for the Festival of Giving, from 11am-3pm, at Common Ground Meditation Center, 2700 E 26th St  Minneapolis, MN 55406.       Contact:  651-528-2937  <commongroundmeditation.org>

The Festival of Giving is a day of music, food, and community. Other acts include Dean Magraw, Marc Anderson, and Louis Alemayehu. It’s a free event with donations gratefully accepted in support of 6 wonderful non-profits doing good work in our neighborhood and the world: Buddhist Global Relief, Center for Earth, Energy, and Democracy, Juxtaposition Arts, St. Stephen’s Human Services, Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership, and Wellshare International.

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We Fest 2013:  Larry will be showcasing his new song, Welcome Home, in honor of deployed veterans and their families, at We Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, this Saturday evening, August 3^rd.   Long will be performing from main stage with a Color Guard before Carrie Underwood’s performance.   Rod Volker, a Marine Vietnam War Veteran, is the inspiration behind ‘Welcome Home’.

Welcome Home

Serving those who serve us
Welcome home! Welcome home!
Serving those who serve us
Welcome home! Welcome home!
Serving those who serve us
In times of need can’t give enough
Welcome home! Welcome home! Welcome home!

From the Army, the Marines
Welcome home! Welcome home!
From the Air Force, the Navy
Welcome home! Welcome home!
From the National Guard
Who serve us when times get hard
Welcome home! Welcome home! Welcome home!

From Iraq, Afghanistan
Welcome home! Welcome home!
From Korea, Vietnam
Welcome home! Welcome home!
From across the seven seas
From Japan to Germany
Welcome home! Welcome home!  Welcome home!

Welcome home! Welcome home! Welcome home! Welcome home!

Time to study war no more
Welcome Home!  Welcome Home!
That’s what we’ve been fighting for
Welcome Home!  Welcome Home
To our mother’s and our dad’s
Time to lend a helping hand
Welcome home! Welcome home! Welcome home!

Welcome home! Welcome home! Welcome home! Welcome home!

With a job for honest pay
Welcome home! Welcome home!
In the good ‘ole U.S.A.
Welcome home! Welcome home!
To our daughter’s and our son’s
Always know you are loved
Welcome home! Welcome home! Welcome home!

Welcome home! Welcome home! Welcome home! Welcome home!

Yellow, black, white, red, and tan

From every nation of this great land

Welcome home! Welcome home! Welcome home! (3x)
Words & music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long Publ. 2013/BMI

On Friday, July 27^th, I performed with Soul Asylum on their finale song, Stand Up & Be Strong, as part of Skyline Music Festival.  Michael Bland  and Dave Pirner asked that I bring other singers with me to join them, center stage, on the 3rd base line of Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins!  The other singers included my son, Jake Long; Adara Thomas and Rachael Okerlund from remarkable faith based vocal group, Joyful Noize; and traditional Anishinaabe songwriter and vocalist, Dorene Waubanewquay Day.

I love Target Field.  I love baseball and I love Soul Asylum.  10,000 people were on their feet in the bleachers singing “Stand up and be strong!”   It was a power surge that hasn’t stopped.

Maybe it’s the endorphins kicking in.   Maybe it’s just the pure joy that music brings – the bliss of happiness that promotes the healing.

In late June I had laser surgery to remove a polyp on my vocals cords.  It’s been quite the healing process, both physically and emotionally.  Long periods of silence, unable to answer the phone, minimizing laughter, and communicating one on one through writing on clipboards and computer screens.  Fearful that the polyp might return, after momentary lapses of laughter, screams, and moans.

One thing I’ve found through this journey is the more I keep my mouth shut, the more my heart keeps singing.  I’m still not supposed to talk on the phone, in a room with television on, or in the car.  I’m still not supposed to force my voice beyond the breath, nor whisper, but allow it to glide out with ease. Talking is actually harder on the voice than singing.

My vocal coach has me doing vocal slides three times a day with ascending and descending scales.  She has given me permission to sing publicly, but only with a microphone and no more than one or two songs.

Since this permission was granted, I’ve sung at a dear friends memorial service, Steve O’Neil, in Duluth, but had to flee as soon as it was over, so I wouldn’t be in a crowded situation talking.

Now three days after singing with Soul Asylum,  I woke and sat in the sun with my guitar on the front steps of my home and worked on two new songs I’ve been writing.  I discovered that my range has increased by at least one full octave since this operation on my vocal cords.

Last night I received a call about possibly singing a new song, Welcome Home, in honor of returning Veterans from overseas at We Fest  in Detroit Lakes with a Color Guard before Carrie Underwood takes the stage.

I feel nothing but gratitude.

Steve O’Neil was called the “Mother Teresa of Duluth” for his work with the homeless and poor. His wife Angie and he lived their life in the proud Catholic Worker tradition of Dorothy Day.

Steve and I have been friends for over thirty years. When I heard that he had terminal cancer I drove immediately up to his home in Duluth from Minneapolis to see him.

I expected… the worse, but he was in great spirits. All of his children had come back home to be with him. We sat around the kitchen table with his wife Angie, shared stories, and broke bread together.

When I asked Steve what song was in his heart that had yet to be sung, He replied, “The song that should be sung is from Micah 6, Verse 8, which I have to say, (is) my foundation of life. Micah is a little known Prophet, one of the lay Prophets. Says basically, “What does God want from us? When is God pleased? God is pleased and loved when we as human beings, his creation, work for justice, love mercy and compassion, and walk humbly. If we can work for justice, love people and creation and do it humbly we are on the right path.

On Tuesday at 6:49 PM I received word from Angie that Steve had passed. His memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

Yesterday at three in the morning I completed writing the song that Steve wanted to be sung. From Steve O’Neil with love:

Song of Micah
(Honoring Steve O’Neil)

When I heard the news
Afraid to go inside
With no time to lose
This old friend and I
Broke bread and shared a glass
From a song yet to be sung
From his heart to each of you
From Micah with love

To do justice
To love kindness
To walk lightly
With your God

To fall in love
To not let go
To not stand above
To not stand below

“This the foundation of my life.”
Steve said.
“Upon these words of Micah
I lay my head.”
“What does God want from us?
When is God pleased?
When we fight for justice,
Love, compassion, mercy.”

To do justice
To love kindness
To walk lightly
With your God

To fall in love
To not let go
To not stand above
To not stand below

To do justice
To love kindness
To walk lightly
With your God

Words & music: Larry Long
(Inspired by Micah 7:6-8)
Copyright Larry Long Publishing 2013 / BMI

Larry Long will be featured on the Mary Hanson Show July 1st, Monday, on Channel 6 at 9 PM,
Metro Cable Network (MCN).   For more information: www.maryhansonshow.com

Elizabeth Hall International Elementary School students from Minneapolis Public Schools, under the direction of music teacher Rebecca Totzke, recorded three original songs written with Larry Long at the Minneapolis Media Institute.  This was a wonderful opportunity for young people to work in a historic studio, formerly known as Flyte Tyme Studios, owned by Grammy Award Winning producers Jimmy Jam Harris & Terry Lewis.

Paul Peterson, Program Chair for Recording and Music Technology at Minneapolis Media Institute, oversaw the arranging, recording, and production of these three original songs with assistance from Anthony Galloway and Caleb James (a.k.a. K.B.), who programmed & created beats for each of the tunes!

These original works will be released at the first annual Youth & Elders’ Circle, April 30, 2013, North Community YMCA Youth and Teen Enrichment Center.

100% of the proceeds from these recorded works will go to support arts in education at Elizabeth Hall International Elementary School.

Larry Long and Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song are featured on the front page of The Circle, March 2013.  The article talks about honoring Anishinabe Ojibwe elder Pat Bellanger on February 12th at Sanford Middle School in Minneapolis.

– See more at: http://www.thecirclenews.org/