Caffe Lena 60 Years of Song

An artist honed his craft in the Paris Metro, and another was largely self-taught, even though her great grandfather lived and worked with Lester Flatt. This is episode 40 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thanks to Sarah at the Caffe for selecting the artists and songs for the feature. After college, Richard Shindell took his guitar headed to Europe. He played in the Paris Metro, his repertoire consisting of fingerpicking, flatpicking and d rowing in endless open tunings. He discovered an

A musician who contributed to the development of the banjo and a way of playing that bears his name, and a band named after a piece of road leading out of Boston. This is episode 39 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for this feature. How do you know you brought about change in music? Bill Keith made significant stylistic development to the banjo and introduced a way of playing that would later be called “Keith Style”. He also

A janitor whose love of movies got him to appear in the Big Lebowski and a musical virtuoso who went on to win a Grammy with Old Crow Medicine Show. This is episode 38 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Jimmie Dale Gilmore recorded his first album in 1972 and took a break that lasted for 16 years. During that time he joined an ashram in New Orleans and worked as a janitor in a synagogue in Denver. For the film buff

An invitation to see the opening act at what would be the final Tom Petty performance resulted in an album, and laid back blues from a Philly artist who got his start in music after moving to Boston. This is episode 37 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah for the list of songs and artists for this feature. G. Love and Special Sauce formed in Boston in 1993 . Their music is a unique, laid back blues sound that encompasses classic R&B. In 1994 they released their debut album on

Busking on the streets of Boston helped develop an artist to be who he wanted to be, and a Kentucky artist travels to Iceland to make her album. This is episode 36 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Martin Sexton left Syracuse for Boston to crash with his brother while he auditioned for some bands in the 1990’s, thinking he could play in a funk band. It never panned out and he found himself busking on sidewalks and

Transporting a harpsichord across a continent by train, and spending Canadian Tire money on making an album. This is episode 35 of Caffe Lena: 60 Years of Song. Thank you to Sarah at the Caffe for the list of songs and artists for the feature. Lou and Peter Berryman met in high school. They graduated in 1965 and started performing as a duo. A few years later, they were married and moved from Wisconsin to Vancouver, lugging a harpsichord Lou built while crossing the continent on a train. The

Songs that guitars sing , and a guitarist who played with THE Tommy Emmanuel when he was just 11. This is episode 34 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thank you to Sarah for compiling the list of artists and songs for the feature. With a hollow neck and Hawaiian origin, the Weissenborn guitar is an unusual instrument. Ed Gerhard was captivated at first sound in the 90’s. He once said when you realize you sit and make the sound yourself, you’re hooked for life. He doesn’t write instrumental

The resonant sound board of the hammered dulcimer helps make beautiful music. The instrument is being redefined for the modern age by artists who’ve played at Caffe Lena. This is episode 33 of the Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song podcast. Thanks to Sarah at the Caffe for coming up with the list of artists and songs for the feature. Paul Van Ardsdale was a hammered dulcimer player. John McCutcheon is a multi-instrumentalist. Ruth Rappaport is a rhythm guitarist and pianist. Together, they recorded

An artist who has leant her voice to many causes, a feminist icon , and an artist who didn’t let a horrible accident as a baby stop her from playing her guitar – upside down. This is episode 32 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song. Thanks to Sarah at the Caffe for creating the list of songs and artists for the feature. In addition to music, Ani DiFranco has been an activist for countless causes. From the earliest days of her career, she has lent her voice to benefit concerts and albums. As a

Sisters who aren’t sisters, and a musician who continually defies categorization. This is episode 31 of Caffe Lena : 60 Years of Song . Thanks to Sarah for creating the list of songs and artists for this feature. The Chenille Sisters are three uniquely gifted women , who aren’t even sisters. Their quirkiness and harmonies appeal to all generations. Their country-folk sounds originally targeted big kids like us, but they have made albums specifically for kids and a PBS special led to a children’s