Tag Archives: Mary Ann Dinella

Archival material: Florida folk musicians and Vassar Clements record “Old Folks At Home”

October 1, 2017VideoDonna Green-Townsend, Florida Folk Festival, Frank Thomas, Jim Bickerstaff, Jrobert Houghtaling, Mary Ann Dinella, Old Folks at Home, Vassar ClementsDonna Green-Townsend

In 1997 fiddler Vassar Clements and a variety of musicians and singers gathered in a mobile studio at the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs to record Florida’s state song, “Old Folks At Home” by Stephen Foster. The recording engineer in the mobile studio was Jim Bickerstaff. Florida Artists Hall of Fame winner, Frank Thomas, suggested the recording idea. Thomas is known for closing out the River Gazebo Stage each year at the Florida Folk Festival by singing all verses of the Florida state song. In this recording he leads the chorus. Other musicians include Clyde Walker, Sonny Edwards and Ron Litschauer. Various singers added their voices including Mary Ann Dinella, Donna Green-Townsend, Grant Livingston and Priscilla Bingham Hall. (If you were a participant in this unique endeavor contact Donna at dgtmultimedia@gmail.com to be included in the credits.)

Here is that incredible audio with archival video added of the Suwannee River showing short video clips and pictures taken of the river and performances on the Ann Thomas River Gazebo Stage in White Springs.

The Gatherings (26-Part Music Series Recorded at various Florida festivals and venues)

July 16, 2014Arts, SpecialsAnn Thomas, Art Crummer, Bill Beckett, Bill Wharton and the Ingredients, Bobby Hicks, Boom Slang, Carrie Blackwell, Clyde Walker, Dale Crider, Don Grooms, Donna Green-Townsend, Florida Folk Festival, Florida folk performers, Florida singer songwriters, Folk and Blues From The Land of Flowers, folk festival, Frank Thomas, Grant Livingston, Harvey Reid, james hawkins, Jeanie Fitchen, Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys, Jim Bickerstaff, Ken Skeens, Lis and Lon Williamson, Magda Hiller, Marie Nofsinger, Mark Smith, Mary Ann Dinella, Mindy Simmons, Pam Laws, Paul Garfinkel, Rod MacDonald, Ron and Bari Litschauer, Roy Bookbinder, Sam Pacetti, Sno Rogers, Steve Blackwell, Sue Grooms, Tammerlin, TC Carr and the Catch, The Gatherings, The Spiritual Consolators, Valarie Caracappa, White SpringsDonna Green-Townsend

The Gatherings – Folk and Blues From The Land of Flowers 26 part live-music series

(Producer- Bill Beckett and Host- Donna Green-Townsend)

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Program #1- Dale Crider & Roy Bookbinder

Program #2 Al Scortino – Carrie Blackwell – Lon and Lis Williamson

Program #3 Sue Grooms & Ron and Bari

Program #4 Mark Smith – Grant Livingston – Paul Garfinkel

Program #5 James Hawkins & Frank and Ann Thomas

Program #6 Valerie Caracappa – Boomslang – Bobby Hicks

Program #7 Under the Water Lilies – Rod MacDonald – Blue Velvet

Program #8 Patchwork & Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys

Program #9 Steve Blackwell & Marie Nofsinger

Program #10 Don Grooms Tribute

Program #11 The Spiritual Consolators & Pam Laws

Program #12 Art Crummer & Bill Wharton and the Ingredients

Program #13 The Spiritual Consolators & TC Carr and the Catch

Program #14 Upsala and Sno Rogers

Program #15 Tammerlin

Program #16 Mindy Simmons

Program #17 Dinella and Gieger & Ken Skeens and Leigh Goldsmith

Program #18 Jeanie Fitchen

Program #19 Clyde Walker

Program #20 Magda Hiller

Program #21 Sam Pacetti

Program #22 Harvey Reid

Program #23 Destination Still Unknown

Program #24 CD Sampler

Program #25 Campfire Tapes

Program #26 Studio Tapes

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

The Sights and Sounds of the Florida Folk Festival

May 30, 1997ArtsChief James Billie, Dale Crider, Dennis Devine, Don Grooms, Donna Green-Townsend, Florida Folk Festival, Frank Thomas, Mary Ann Dinella, Seminole Chief, Sue GroomsDonna Green-Townsend

Aired on WUFT on May 30, 1997

Thousands of visitors “came home to Florida” last weekend. That was the theme of this year’s 45th Annual Florida Folklife Festival in White Springs. Many of the state’s well-known recording artists as well as the “not-so-famous” entertained audiences on a variety of outdoor stages. Donna Green-Townsend attended this year’s festival and reports the success of the event can be felt through the three senses: smell, sight and sound.