*** Deb Cavanaugh, artist/educator, singer/songwriter, teacher in alternative education and a fascinating folk artist, makes music a part of everything she does. She performs her own music, as well as a full range of folk material, and plays a variety of instruments, including mandolin, dulcimer, guitar and limber jack. She incorporates her extensive travel around the U.S., via thumb, VW bus and more, and her experience with many styles of music, from classical voice and piano to jazz and rock and roll, into her songs and performances. She was a founding member of “General Eclectic,” a psychedelic folk/rock band based in Albany, NY. Having been the recipient of a “Meet the Composers” grant, she developed a songwriting workshop for young people and has taught and continues to teach that workshop in various summer camps, libraries and schools. Her other workshops include simple instrument construction from recycled materials, and folksongs and dances from different cultures in different languages. She is very committed to cultural diversity. She is also a registered Music Together teacher and owns and runs Heldeberg Music Together in Albany, NY, teaching music to young people ages birth through 4 years with their parent or other caregiver. As a teen, Deb was involved with a choir working with Duke Ellington and much later sang back-up with Melanie in Albany and Saratoga Springs, NY. Deb teaches and performs for all ages, specializing in teaching ages 2 through 8th grade, and is available for private lessons for all ages.
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*** Dick Kavanaugh began playing music as a teenager. His interests have centered on folk music with a political twist. He was introduced to folk music at Caffe Lena in the 60s and soon became a fixture there. His first serious musical endeavor began when he joined up with "Old Songs", a group dedicated to the preservation of traditional music. For 5 years, Dick was the rhythm guitar player for the “Silver Strand Band” a popular contradance band in the Capital region. He later became the first president of the board of directors at Caffe Lena. He plays guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and pennywhistle. Dick also writes fiddle and banjo tunes, is very knowledgeable about the history and construction of those and other instruments and does repair work on various string instruments. He worked as a DJ on a popular folk program at the community radio station WCUW in Worcester, MA. His commitment to "the folk process" is obvious in his teaching style. His complete respect for and openness to all people, regardless of their struggles, is equally obvious in his interactions with young people.
Cavanaugh & Kavanaugh perform original songs and tunes on guitars, mandolin, fiddle, mountain dulcimer, banjo and more. Much of the traditional music Deb and Dick perform is in the Irish and Southern Old Time tradition. They also perform original songs and tunes. Life partners, as well as musical partners, who coincidentally share the same last name, they enjoy performing together and sharing their stories and songs with an audience. A subtle blend of ethnicity, humor and more, they bring their varied experiences to life on the stage. Caffe Lena has described them as follows: “this … duo, who just happen to share the same last name in pronunciation if not spelling, have been a long time part of the Capital District music scene…talented multi-instrumentalists (banjo, guitar, piano, mandolin, dulcimer, limber jack) who share a commitment to music as a way of life.”
Ever wondered what to do in the event of a nuclear threat?
A while ago I found stuff that inspired me to make this film:
Living Under the Shadow of the Nuclear Umbrella
Both artistic (ensure you get the background music!) and educational, it primarily comprises official British government civil defence advice.
Though source materials are quite aged, much remains relevant today.
I encourage all to visit the YouTube page to learn more (Show support! Rate! Comment!) and responsibly circulate as widely as possible, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaIim3Rj7L4
Good to have you as a friend! So great to see the internet in action this way, shortening distances between people.
I hope all's well with you and that you enjoy checking out my web site some time.
For occasional, new, refreshing, insightful and (possibly?!) valuable content, I encourage you to sign up for my free newsfeed/email newsletter (using the form on site at page right - high quality, low quantity, no spam!).
You might enjoy watching some of my films (use the on screen controls to skip between them):
I may be the only one that's grateful your show was canceled, Deb. I was planning on going to the show; it's down the road from my sweetheart; we both were planning on going. But I got delayed with a visit to a student's family and by the time I got to Brooklyn, it was 10 PM and I was beat. So it buoys me somehow to think it can be rescheduled and I can see you play! Let me know.
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