: Peter Seegar
The recent passing of Pete Seeger triggered off some deep memories. While I avoid politics in these little ramblings, it should be no great surprise to anyone who has been following along that I come from a long line of left wingers, radicals, and fellow travelers – including my dad Irwin Heilner. Irwin was a life long rebel. He was a classically trained composer and was friendly with (among others) Aaron Copeland back in the 30s. After WWII he went to Juilliard and studied composition, but dropped out because he refused to compose the type of atonal music that was required at the time. At one point (I am told) he considered joining the Communist Party, but the Party also wanted him to compose a particular type of music. Seeing as how he had dropped out of the almighty Juilliard rather than do what they wanted, he would be damned if he would do what some petty politicos wanted.
So he went his own way and eventually made a living as a librarian, however he never stopped composing in his spare time. In the late 1950s and early 60s he branched out from classical instrumental music, taught himself guitar, and started writing what you could very loosely call folk music – although harmonically and melodically his music was not folk music in the traditional sense. From his left wing associations, he got some of his pieces published in Broadside Magazine which (among others) published Bob Dylan’s very early pieces. If you’re curious, they’re now posting back issues of Broadside at http://singout.org/broadside. Anyway, while never famous, Irwin was on familiar terms with many of the folk legends from that time. I’ve attached a private tape of Pete singing one of Irwin’s more accessible numbers – a protest song called A Letter from the Draft Board. The lyrics are by Irwin’s life long friend and collaborator, the poet Aaron Kramer. I hope you enjoy it.
BTW – if you’ve never heard Pete Seeger coughing in the middle of a song, this may be your only opportunity.
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This Saturday I am doing another one of these wacky “double headers”. I start off by setting up most of my equipment at The Great Notch Inn. I then hustle over to Glen Ridge:
Mar 8, Saturday, 8-9:30 PM – Lunatic Fringe, Glen Ridge Community Center @ The Glen Ridge Train Station, 228 Ridgewood Avenue (corner of Bloomfield Avenue), Glen Ridge, NJ Reservations: (973) 429-1527
Sometimes I am laughing so hard I forget that I am on stage. Then the director, Deb, whispers over to me, “Eric, Eric! Music!”.
http://www.lunaticfringeimprov.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53938723078&ref=ts
I then pack up my piano, scoot down Bloomfield Ave onto the Parkway North over to 3 West over to 46 to:
Mar 8, Saturday, 10:00PM-1:00AM – Better Off Dead at The Great Notch Inn, Route 46, Little Falls (973) 256-7742
The weather is looking good for this weekend and the bikers may be out, but they are very mellow bikers. VD has a few new tunes in his hip pocket. I believe he also keeps his tunes in his front pockets, back pockets, and his hot pockets.
http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htm
http://www.agreatertown.com/little_falls_nj/great_notch_inn_new_jerseys_rockin_roadhouse_00089580
March 21, Friday, 6:30->?? – Jump, Shuffle, and Moan at Centenary Blues Bash 2014, Lackland Center, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 (908) 979-0900
This is the opening night of a two day blues festival. Jump, Shuffle, and Moan will be playing on a real stage in a real theater and you will need to purchase actual tickets. In exchange for purchasing said tickets, you will get to sit in a comfortable seat in a real auditorium. We’re opening up for Samantha Fish who is tearing up the blues circuit. I don’t know what time we actually go on (I believe there’s an act going on before us). Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
http://www.centenarystageco.org/05SpecialPrograms/MiniBluesFestival/index.asp
March 22, Saturday, 7-9:30ish PM – Eric Heilner, Raffle/Fund Raiser for Playhouse, 88 Franklin Ave, W. Orange, NJ 07052 (973) 736-9451
Many moons ago my kids went to Playhouse Nursery School. In one of those coincidences of life, my wife Lisa is now a director at said same school. This is their annual fund raiser. There will be raffles, silent auctions for various goodies, food, and entertainment by yours truly. Come on down and maybe you’ll win a prize or two while donating to a worthy cause. I will be playing piano from roughly 7 to 9:30 or so. And afterwards, you can go across the street and have a drink at The Franklin Tavern.
http://www.playhouseonline.org/