Hey There!
I recently discovered a copy of the article written by an NYU student who was covering the Gerde’s Folk City 50th Anniversary. It brings me back…
Here are some passages:
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Like his grandfather 50 years before, opportunity fell into Bob Porco’s lap.
He recalls the moment the plan for the 50th Anniversary Concert took shape. On February 19th of this year, (2010) he sat upstairs at the corner of the bar in the very space that was once Folk City, The Fat Black Pussycat.
"I met Vincent Vok for a drink before going to watch Richie Havens at Carnegie Hall. We thought it would be cool to just get everyone together again. Then we thought it would be better if they brought their guitars.”
Vok, along with Emmylou Harris and sisters Maggie and Terre Roche, have the distinction of not only performing for Mike Porco, but also being on the Folk City payroll as employees during the 1970s. A friendship between Vok and the younger Porco budded quickly. Stealing a line from the movie, Field of Dreams, Vok told Porco, "if you build it, they will come." Laughter ensued but, in their minds, the Anniversary party had been born.
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During his welcoming speech, Mike's grandson predicted that Folk City's finest moment has yet to take place. "I think we're all about to witness it tonight and experience it together as it happens."
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A few dozen die hard music lovers were still hanging around to hear Rod MacDonald pay tribute to Phil Ochs with a tranquil and heartfelt "Pleasures of the Harbor.” David Massengill performed his timeless masterpiece "Road to Fairfax County." The evening finally wrapped up some 6 hours from showtime and forty five minutes after closer Mr. Frandsen left the stage.
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door," a song written by Gerdes' favorite son, Bob Dylan, closed the show just as it did the last day of Folk City’s operation in 1987.
None of the guests that night will argue that Gerde’s Folk City appears to be carving a new place for itself in today's world. Vince Martin, one of the night's many highlights, said that the Reunion “satisfied a long time itch.”
The scores of patrons who got wind of the event are likely to never forget it. It was as joyous and cheerful as many a year at the old Folk City was said to be.
Only time will tell how many others will claim to have "been there" to witness the magic of the parade of stars as it unfolded.
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THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT was filmed in the old downstairs of
MIKE PORCO’s Folk City where it sat between 1969 to 1987.
🍿🍿🍿Your PAID SUBSTACK Subscription now offers The Gerde's Folk City Doc AND the Folk City at 50 Anniversary Reunion Concert from JUNE 2010 🚨🚨🚨
✅ SUBSTACK provides an easy value for your buck
Because a $5 minimum gift or monthly subscription (5 DOLLARS !!!!)
will get you NOT ONLY THE GERDE’S FOLK CITY DOC
BUT IT will also get you
Part ONE of the THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT (Eight videos)
Part TWO (FIVE videos) will be released here on Bob Porco’s Substack soon
Part THREE (THREE MORE videos) will also be released in due time
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https://bobporco86.substack.com/p/gerdes-folk-city-fiftieth-anniversary
THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT is THE COOLEST ARCHIVE of the day!!!
In order of main appearance
(EVERYBODY sat in through the night with many others)
BOB PORCO
ROLAND MOUSAA
DAVID AMRAM
JOHN MCEUEN
DAVID BROMBERG
JUDY GORMAN
ROGER SPRUNG
HAL WYLIE
BEV GRANT
POEZ
SYLVIA TYSON
VINCENT VOK
WILLIE NILE
WILLIE NININGER
RANDY BURNS
PEGGY ATWOOD
RICHARD CHANEL
SUZZY ROCHE
TERRE ROCHE
BIFF ROSE
BOB HORAN
LYDIA ADAMS DAVIS
HAPPY TRAUM
ERIC WEISSBERG
GUY DAVIS
STEVE BEN ISRAEL
THE DIRDIE BIRDIE JUG BAND
JOE VIRGA
VINCE MARTIN
JONATHAN KALB
SALLY SPRING
JACK HARDY
BOB FASS
DOMINICK CHIANESE
SU POLO
DAVID GOODMAN
PETER STAMPFEL
NICK HOLMES
HEATHER WOOD
DAVID MASSENGILL
ROD MACDONALD
THE VILLAGE DUDES
FRANK CHRISTIAN
ERIK FRANDSEN
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