People remember what Mark Dvorak sings. His roots are in Chicago but since 1981, he has been crisscrossing the country performing, teaching and learning all the while. He's visited big cities where his concerts and recordings have been hailed as "a refreshing portrait of the living folk tradition," and he's traveled many a back road to some little town or out-of-the-way place where the sounds and songs of the American experience seem more deeply rooted; where his performance comes across like a friendly conversation with neighbors.
"No one spins a yarn or sings an old timey song with more skill and respect than Mark Dvorak. He's a builder of the folk world, in Chicago, the region and the continent. His voice and song writing bring the heart of folk music into our contemporary world with humor, authenticity and a great warm voice.” - Bill’s Blues
Mark Dvorak is a modern day troubadour who has never stopped performing, writing and recording. His most recent CD, Every Step of the Way, features ten well-crafted and often poignant originals and was hailed as one of Waterbug's outstanding releases of 2006. Dvorak has been called a folk singer's folk singer who has an encyclopedic knowledge of traditional songs and is a superb guitarist and banjo picker.
“...one of a vanishing breed... Although all of us benefit from the tradition, Dvorak is one of the few who keep it alive. Listen. Join in.” - Utah Phillips
Dvorak continues to be an integral member of the faculty at Chicago's venerable Old Town School of Folk Music. When he's not on the road, you can find him there teaching, jamming with students and passers by, or just hanging out and soaking in the vibe. Since 1986, several thousand music students have passed through his classes. He has helped many a beginner get through their first chords and strums, and has hosted a catalogue of master classes and workshops on a range of subjects from old-time banjo picking to the legacy of the great Lead Belly, to just about every other topic related to the study of American folk music.
“...a modern day troubadour and Chicago folk treasure... equal parts Big Bill Broonzy, Win Stracke and Art Thieme...” - Chicago Second Sunday
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EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
A long, long time had passed before I could write Every Step of the Way. It sounds a little like a Carter Family tune and I swear to God, I once had a dream where Johnny Cash sang it in duet with Emmy Lou Harris. That's a lovely thought, but it was finished after Mr. Cash had left the earth, and Emmy hasn't responded to any of my attempts to reach her.
Looking back, the main inspiration for the song must have been Joseph Campbell's The Hero's Journey, an important work, which I hope to completely digest before I leave the earth. I hope the song is singable and memorable. It has been reported that Every Step is a staple in at least two song circles in the Chicago area and it was played to open radio shows in both Boston and Alaska. A hobo singer "The Baloney Kid," aka Dennis Ostrowski from Sandwich, IL, regularly includes it in his sets and Every Step is now also the theme song and title of a public service television show in Rockford, IL.
Whatever.
This video was taken at The Baked Tomato, a funky joint on the north side of Chicago.
Lance Brown, a brilliant songwriter, cartoonist, artist and Will Rogers interpreter, hosted The Chicago Songwriter's Showcase at the Tomato for about a year. So thank you Lance for your wonderful work and for posting the video. Please visit www.lancestunes.com and tell him I sent you.
RUBEN YOU CAN PLAY YOUR BANJO
This video of Ruben You Can Play Your Banjo was shot the morning of July 12, 2007 on the historic Ripson Bridge in Sorento, near Greenville, IL. Video Bob planned, shot, produced and edited the video seen here for Archival Productions' collection of Illinois folk musicians. Am honored to now be a part of the collection. Also present at the shoot was Swamp Weiss a great musician and Craig "Bozo" Baumberger a fine banjo picker. It's too bad Video Bob didn't put our jam session into his collection, because it was a good'n.
Many friendly and talented folks make up the music scene in that part of the world and I am glad to have met them. There's Craig and Swamp, who I mentioned above, and there's Erin O'Toole, a powerful singer who runs a couple of open stages. There's all the good people from Goose's Tavern in Panama, who put on a fantastic feed and a very excellent night of music featuring all the local talent.
Each October the Ripson Bridge Fall Festival is held by these folks and many others. There's lots of music and a crafts fair and food. Maybe I will see you there.
I've been singing Ruben You Can Play Your Banjo since around 1989 when I learned it from Lee Ruth of Columbia, MO. The song was written by Bartholomew Bean, now also of Columbia. If anyone is in contact with either of these fellows, please put me in touch. Enjoy.
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EL-A-NOY
The Old Town School of Folk Music has released an epic collection - 4 cds in all - documenting the songs and the musical community in this, the school's 50 th anniversary year. For volume 4, co-producer John Abbey asked if I would like to sing along with Win Stracke on one of his signature pieces, "El-a-noy." Win learned the song from a great book, "The American Songbag," by poet Carl Sandburg, and recorded it on an historic record, "Songs of Old Town" in 1968.
The session was video taped and edited together with a montage of lovely images of a lovely man; a true pioneer and visionary. I wish that session went as easily as it looks in the clip.
SUMMERTIME
In October 2007 I was honored to be invited to perform as part of an arts-in-education residency in the greater Cincinnati, OH area. One of my assignments was to address two different groups at Northern Kentucky University in Covington, KY. Towards the end of the program someone in the audience asked if I knew the song "Summertime," from Porgy and Bess. I allowed that it had been years since I tried it and wasn't sure I could get through it. A woman in the crowd raised her hand and said, "I know it." I invited her down to sing it and the result is captured here. She is Tara Sturgill and a wonderful singer. The gentleman in the foreground who turns smiling towards the camera is Mr. Robert Dinerman of Cincinnati, OH. Robert is a good friend and a generous sponsor of many folk music events in the area. Enjoy.
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
These beautiful chalk drawings were made by Peggy Lipschutz of Evanston, IL. I use them often to close family shows and arts-in-education performances. I have been singing "What a Wonderful World" since I don't know when, and it is now the title track of my latest CD, "What a Wonderful World: A Family Folk Sampler," due out on Waterbug this summer.
The disc includes 22 family friendly tracks, 18 of which are from past, now out of print CDs. I was fortunate to be able to record 4 new songs to add to the collection with my friends Sue Demel, Deb Lader and Bruce Roper from The Sons of The Never Wrong. They're wonderful and I hope you'll stay in touch and order a copy. Check in with www.waterbug.com, or my homepage www.markdvorak.com, or this space.
Well, after Prince William gave us plugs in the Enright Fashion magazine we have become, for the week at least, according to Under The Radar, New Zealand's no. 1 most popular artist. Prince William also said that his favourite song of ours was GROUND COFFEE so we put that up for free download on our myspace profile.....check it out! How's the world treating you?
Mark, Please let me know when you do make it to my part of the world. I want to be there to see and listen! Thank you and have a wonderful week ahead. Peace and love ~ Sarah
The Craic Festival 2009 has invited FairplayCollective to play at this years Festival. All members will be playing in the round. The show is at The Mercury Lounge, March 14th at 8pm. This is the last night of the festival and Foy Vance is also on the bill.
What more can I say, a great night for music and film, with the odd star thrown in. Come show your support.
