From my audio archives: A Gatherin’ In The Live Oaks Four One-Hour Music Programs produced from mainstage performances at the 45th Annual Florida Folk Festival in White Springs, FL (including selections from the archives of other festivals and performances) Produced by Bill Beckett and hosted by Donna Green-Townsend with production assistance from Jim Bickerstaff, Ken … Continue reading A Gatherin’ In The Live Oaks 4-Part Music Series
Category: Arts
Aaron O’Rourke
Aaron O’Rourke Trio brings its unique acoustic style to Keystone Heights Aired on WUFT on March 16th, 2012 Music lovers had the opportunity to fill their desire for Irish music at a recent house concert in Keystone Heights featuring the Tallahassee-based Aaron O’Rourke Trio. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend takes us up close and personal with the … Continue reading Aaron O’Rourke
Always Patsy Cline
Always Patsy Cline The Hippodrome Mainstage turns into the Grand Ole Opry as Always …Patsy Cline, takes the stage. Based on the life of Patsy Cline, the woman who epitomized country music in the late ’50s and ’60s, Always…Patsy Cline is a song-filled evening and an intimate and uplifting look at the life of country music’s most beloved … Continue reading Always Patsy Cline
Archival Hippodrome State Theatre, Gainesville Community Playhouse and Acrosstown Repertory Theatre features
Click on a link below to hear archive theatre features produced by Donna Green-Townsend Always Patsy Cline (07/14/1999) A Christmas Carol at the Hipp (11/29/2010) Avenue Q at the Hipp (07/10/2013) The Big Bang (08/29/2004) “Carrie” at the Hipp (10/12/2012) “Come Back, Little Sheba” in Gainesville (12/06/2012) Costume sale at the Hipp (10/01/2010) ‘Dead Man’s Cellphone’ Opens … Continue reading Archival Hippodrome State Theatre, Gainesville Community Playhouse and Acrosstown Repertory Theatre features
Archival television program features many of Florida’s greatest folk songwriters
The 1988 Pines and Palms television program hosted by the late Don Grooms featured several singer songwriters who have since passed on. They may have left this earthly life, but their music lives on. Their songs can still be heard on the stages of many music festivals around the state. In 1988, Grooms who was … Continue reading Archival television program features many of Florida’s greatest folk songwriters
Archival videos of the Father of Florida Folk Will McLean
The Father of Florida Folk, the late Will McLean, loved to entertain and share songs, poems and stories of the lore and legends of Florida. Unfortunately, most of those performances were not captured on video or audio tape. When those performances were recorded, it was special indeed. Here are five such videos. The first is the … Continue reading Archival videos of the Father of Florida Folk Will McLean
Archive of the Winners and 2nd and 3rd place finishers of the Will McLean Song Contest Since 1992
The late Father of Florida Folk, Will McLean, wanted to save Florida through music. For more than 25 years, a festival named in his honor, has sponsored a song contest to help facilitate McLean’s passion. Each year a winner and two top finishers are selected by a panel of judges and are given the opportunity … Continue reading Archive of the Winners and 2nd and 3rd place finishers of the Will McLean Song Contest Since 1992
Artist Features
(Click on an artist’s link to view and hear a feature about them) Jessie (Townsend) Armstrong The Currys Garrison Doles Willie Green Chris & Red Henry Mike Jurgensen Will McLean Walter Parks Punch Brothers Gamble Rogers Pete Seeger Shana “Banana” Smith Tom Shed Walter Strauss Lee Townsend “Doc” Watson Jesse Winchester The Bills De Lions … Continue reading Artist Features
Billy Dean, Florida’s Country Star From Quincy
He’s had many songs top the Country Music Charts, but Quincy native Billy Dean never forgets his roots. Dean was the headliner at the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs in 2008. Donna Green-Townsend reports on the man and his music. After his popular appearance at the Florida Folk Festival in 2008, Billy Dean was scheduled … Continue reading Billy Dean, Florida’s Country Star From Quincy
Bluesman Willie Green- The Real Deal
UPDATE: Sadly, Willie Green passed away on June 14th, 2021 at the age of 85. He will be greatly missed. The Yearling Restaurant where Willie performed for 18 years issued this statement on their website: It is with heavy heart that we announce the passing of Mr. Willie Green June 14th, 2021, at 85 years of … Continue reading Bluesman Willie Green- The Real Deal