Folk City was like 1960s American Music’s version of Noah’s Ark: TWO OF EVERYTHING
Virtually overnight, Gerdes Folk City became the most coveted gig by every hopeful singer/songwriter to make their way to New York
YES, friends, My grandfather's world renown Folk Music stadium - Gerde's Folk City - opened for business under the name Folk City for the first time exactly 64 years ago. For just 5 months prior to that, it was called THE FIFTH PEG. It was the brain child of three complete strangers: Mike Porco, Tom Prendergast and Israel Goodman Young. Actually, Mike had nothing to do with making his restaurant into a Folk cabaret, but we're glad he kept it open when Izzy handed the idea to Mike Porco in late May 1960.
It's just one topic in the DOCUMENTARY about Gerde's Folk City and its illustrious owner, Mike Porco.
As Suze Rotolo put it: Gerde’s was where "the cross-fertilization of different styles and musical eras forged important links in the chain of American musical history."
Mike Porco offered up his Italian restaurant to be the headquarters for the 1960s Folk and Blues Revival. It was HOME to traditional artists and it became HOME BASE for aspiring Singer-Songwriters from all over the country.
The documentary is called POSITIVELY PORCO.
The Gerde’s Folk City DOC is on Substack. If you have any interest in the music spawned in the restaurant, you will want to see it. Basically, the American singer/songwriter genre has its roots planted at Gerde's.
All music lovers should know. Your mother should know. And somewhere in Cincinnati, there's a kid waiting for the school bus, listening to ''his parents music'' on his headphones, and he hears the 1960s in his head. HE SHOULD KNOW.
Help this story reach EVERY GUITAR STRUMMER AROUND THE WORLD with some press for me, please.
PASS ON THE FOLK CITY DOC Substack to any local or foreign scribe who likes the Washington Square REVIVAL
Over time there will be more HEADLINES praising the thought and effort that went into this film.
Executive Producers with large pockets should know. Though, it’s not the goal anymore. The GERDE’S FOLK CITY DOC will have its day because of what it is:
THE DEFINITIVE STORY ABOUT MIKE PORCO
and
NEW YORK’s CENTER OF FOLK MUSIC
Love that. Two of Everything. And your film. 🩵