Category Archives: Features

These Diamonds

August 4, 2013SpecialsAmy Carol Webb, Bob Patterson, Dale Crider, Donna Green-Townsend, Florida singer songwriters, Frank Thomas, Grant Livingston, Ken Skeens, Mary Ann Dinella, Mem Semmes, Mindy Simmons, Paul Garfinkel, Steve Blackwell, These Diamonds, Will McLean FoundationDonna Green-Townsend

The late Will McLean spent his life writing songs to save Florida through music. Now the foundation named after the father of Florida folk is marketing an environmental CD trying to continue McLean’s lifelong mission. The acoustic CD features musicians from across the Sunshine State singing about a wide variety of environmental stories and issues. As Donna Green-Townsend reports even the CD title, These Diamonds carries a story behind it.

Florida musicians included on the CD are:

The Eagles Fly – Mindy Simmons

Lullaby of the Rivers – Bob Patterson

Rose and the Gold – Mem Semmes

Cracker Cowman – Frank Thomas

Florida Pines – Paul Garfinkel

Paw Prints in the Sand – Ken Skeens

These Diamonds – Grant Livingston

Turtle Tears – Amy Carol Webb

Rand McNally Map of Florida – Jim Bickerstaff

Plumes – Steve Blackwell

Apalachicola Doin’ Time – Dale Crider

Song For Our Children – Mary Ann Dinella

George Tortorelli and Lisa Lynne

August 1, 2013ArtsDonna Green-Townsend, flute music, George Tortorelli, harp, Lisa Lynne, New Age musicDonna Green-Townsend

: Flutist George Tortorelli performing with harpist Lisa Lynne

Flutist George Tortorelli and harpist Lisa Lynne can often be found at Gainesville’s Downtown Arts Festival each November. You can also often find them performing at the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs on Memorial Weekend…that is when they’re not touring across the country with their New Age Music. For many years George Tortorelli played music in a rock ‘n roll band. These days he prefers the soothing sound of his homemade flutes from his bamboo forest around his Gainesville home. Along with music partner Lisa Lynne, they’ve had a number of CDs top the New Age charts. He talked with Donna Green-Townsend about the switch in his musical taste.

Tortorelli talking about one of their latest projects, a Christmas CD performed on ancient acoustic instruments:

Mem Semmes

August 1, 2013Arts, SpecialsDonna Green-Townsend, Dunnellon, Florida, Florida singer songwriter, Mem Semmes, Sunday Sampler, Will McLean Folk Festival, Will McLean FoundationDonna Green-Townsend

Folk friends 002 — Mem Semmes and her son Jon

The late Mem Semmes from Dunnellon loved music. Not only did she write hundreds of songs, but she also helped provide a long time venue for Florida’s singer songwriters through the monthly concert series, The Sunday Sampler. Just a few years before she died her son Jon Semmes helped Mem produce her first CD. Mem talked about songwriting with Donna Green-Townsend in this one hour special aired on WUFT in December of 2007 on Across The Prairie.

Mem Semmes on These Diamonds CD Project

The Eagles Fly – Mindy Simmons

Lullaby of the Rivers – Bob Patterson

Rose and the Gold – Mem Semmes

Cracker Cowman – Frank Thomas

Florida Pines – Paul Garfinkel

Paw Prints in the Sand – Ken Skeens

These Diamonds – Grant Livingston

Turtle Tears – Amy Carol Webb

Rand McNally Map of Florida – Jim Bickerstaff

Plumes – Steve Blackwell

Apalachicola Doin’ Time – Dale Crider

Song For Our Children – Mary Ann Dinella

Early band photo of Mem Semmes

Donna, Mem Semmes and Harriett Meyer at Apalachicola Doin' Time Celebration in 2000 — Donna, Mem Semmes and Harriett Meyer at Apalachicola Doin’ Time Celebration in 2000

Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen

August 1, 2013ArtsCindy Mangsen, Dale Crider, Donna Green-Townsend, Florida, Gamble Rogers, Singer songwriters, Steve GilletteDonna Green-Townsend

Dale Crider performing at the Will McLean Folk Festival in 2012

Singer Songwriters Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen from Bennington, Vermont often tour in Florida. While in the Gainesville area for a house concert the popular duo met up with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend.Gillette, who has had a number of his songs recorded by national recording artists, has ties to one of Florida’s legendary guitar players. Steve and Cindy recalled how they first met the late Gamble Rogers. Rogers, who is in the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, is nationally known for his quick wit and guitar playing ability, all while weaving stories about a mythical Oklawaha County in Florida. He died in 1991 trying to save a drowning man off Flagler Beach. Gillette and Mangsen talked with Donna Green-Townsend at the home of environmental troubadour Dale Crider from Windsor, Florida about their mutual friend.

Cousin Thelma Boltin, Gamble Rogers and Will McLean 1988 50th Anniv of The Yearling in Cross Creek

Rod MacDonald

July 23, 2013ArtsAcoustic musician, Donna Green-Townsend, Political Singer, Rod MacDonaldDonna Green-Townsend

Rod MacDonald performing at the Will McLean Folk Festival in 2012

Singer/songwriter and educator Rod MacDonald‘s name is synonymous with the 1980s folk revival in Greenwich Village clubs in New York City. He’s a graduate of the Columbia Law School. Following law school he joined the staff of Newsweek magazine, but his heart was really in music, choosing to write and sing about today’s issues through song. In the 1990s he gained national stature performing at folk festivals and coffeehouses around the U.S., Canada, and Europe. He currently lives in Delray Beach, FL.

Donna Green-Townsend has this profile of singer songwriter Rod MacDonald who’s not afraid to tackle social and political issues through song.

In March, 2014 MacDonald asked several other musicians and the audience at the Will McLean Folk Festival to join him in a tribute to the late Pete Seeger:

Here’s a 21 minute 13 second radio special with Rod MacDonald recorded before a Gainesville performance a few years after 9/11 which includes his songs, “My Neighbors In Delray,” “American Jerusalem,” and “The Man Who Dropped The Bomb on Hiroshima” in their entirety.

Rod MacDonald performing a funny, yet provocative song about pythons taking over the Everglades. (Recorded at the 2017 Will McLean Music Festival)

And one of MacDonald’s recent political songs called, “I’d Love To Be Wrong.”

Rod MacDonald in an interview before performing at the Theatre of Memory in High Springs

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Jon Semmes

July 22, 2013Arts, Video, Videographer and EditorDonna Green-Townsend, Dunnellon, Ingrid Ellis, Jon Semmes, Jon Semmes and the Florida Friends, Pete Hennings, Pete Price, Will McLean Folk FestivalDonna Green-Townsend

Jon Semmes and Ingrid Ellis have been performing together in the band, “Jon Semmes and the Florida Friends,” for more than a decade now. Band members also include Pete Hennings and Pete Price. Jon currently runs Singing River Tours on the Rainbow and Withlacoochee Rivers in Marion County.

Jon Semmes talking with Donna Green-Townsend before one of his scheduled performances at the Florida Folk Festival.

(Above) Jon Semmes of Dunnellon leads educational singing river tours of the Rainbow and Withlacoochee Rivers in Marion County, FL. Trent Kelly and Donna Green-Townsend give a snippet of what those tours are like.

Jon Semmes singing a song written by his mother Mem Semmes called, “My Dunnellon” at a Sunday Sampler on September 9th, 2012 at the old Train Depot in Dunnellon,FL.

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Walter Parks

July 22, 2013ArtsDonna Green-Townsend, guitarist, swamp blues, Walter ParksDonna Green-Townsend

Swamp blues guitarist Walter Parks performs at Shake Rag Art & Culture Center

By Donna Green-Townsend- WUFT-FM Aired on June 15th, 2012

Veteran blues guitarist Walter Parks with Florida's 89.1, WUFT-FM's Donna Green-Townsend. — Veteran blues guitarist Walter Parks with Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend.

Veteran blues guitarist Walter Parks who built and international career as the lead guitarist for Woodstock legend Richie Havens recently brought his unique style to Melrose. Parks is also the leader of the southern swamp blues group Swamp Cabbage. He talked with Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend.

Danny Wooten & Southern Slang

July 22, 2013ArtsDanny Wooten, Donna Green-Townsend, Southern SlangDonna Green-Townsend

“Danny Wooten & Southern Slang” performs for “Free Fridays” concert series

By Donna Green-Townsend – WUFT-FM Aired on August 5, 2011

Danny Wooten, lead singer and songwriter of Southern Slang (picture by Donna Green-Townsend)

The Country band “Danny Wooten & Southern Slang” takes to the stage tonight for the “Free Fridays” concert series in downtown Gainesville. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with lead singer and songwriter Danny Wooten about the style of music the band will bring to the Bo Diddley Downtown Plaza.

Deep Behind the Music- The Campfire Tapes from White Springs

July 20, 2013SpecialsBecky Palmer, campfire picking, Dale Crider, Donna Green-Townsend, Florida Folk Festival, Florida singer songwriters, Frank Thomas, Gabe Valla, james hawkins, Lis and Lon Williamson, Raiford Starke, Rod MacDonald, White SpringsDonna Green-Townsend

Deep Behind the Music- The Campfire Tapes from White Springs

This one-hour special features music gathered from around the campfires of the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs. Musicians include: Gabe Valla, Greg Turner, Dale Crider, Raiford Starke, James Hawkins, Rod MacDonald, Becky Palmer, Clyde Walker, Lis and Lon Williamson and Frank Thomas.

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Songs in this program in chronological order:

1. Gabe Valla, Greg Turner and friends jamming

2. Sweet Sunny South- Dale Crider

3. Girl From Immokalee- Raiford Starke

4. Kiss Your Baby Goodbye- Becky Palmer

5. Swept Away- James Hawkins

6. Ballad of a Black-haired man- Rod MacDonald

7. Gabe Valla, Greg Turner and friends jamming

8. No Trouble Doc- Raiford Starke

9. Devil Eyes- Becky Palmer

10. Deep Down In The Everglades- Rod MacDonald

11. Wind and Water- Clyde Walker

12. Sweetheart of the Pines- Lis and Lon Williamson, Gable Valla and Greg Turner

13. I Remember Gamble Rogers- Dale Crider (written by Steve Gillette)

14. Macclenny Farewell- Clyde Walker (written by Will McLean)

15. Old Folks at Home- Frank Thomas & audience at Ann Gazebo stage (written by Stephen Foster)

16. Bonus Track: Did Bill Really Show Her His Willy- Rod MacDonald

Mike Jurgensen

July 20, 2013Arts2PM, Donna Green-Townsend, Florida Folk Festival, Florida singer songwriter, Mike Jurgensen, Myriad, Pete Hennings, Pete Price, Song contest winner, Will McLean Folk FestivalDonna Green-Townsend

Singer-Songwriter-Musician Mike Jurgensen From New Port Richey Continues to Entertain Mike Jurgensen has won the Will McLean Best New Florida Song Competition three times. Now he serves as one of the contest judges. It’s a testament to his talent. Whether singing solo or performing in the band 2PM, Mike’s smooth “James Taylor-style” voice captivates the audience. Two of his songs, “Margaret” and “Music Drifts Along This River,” were included in the national Edward R. Murrow award-winning documentary, “Apalachicola “Doin’ Time” produced by Donna Green-Townsend in 2000.

Mike currently performs with the trio, “2PM” which includes musicians Pete Price and Pete Hennings. During the group’s latest appearance as part of the Sunday Sampler Series at the historic train depot in Dunnellon, FL they performed one of Mike’s latest songs, “Let’s Just Play One More.” The song captures how music can go late into the night around campfires at music festivals around the state because it’s just hard to pull yourself away from a great jam with friends.