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| The Folk Singer Issue |
Most of them have rambled off this Mortal Coil. But we still have their music and memories.
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| Pete Seeger |
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| The Almanac Singers |
Their songs criticized workers problems of the day, such as “Which Side Are You On?”
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| The Weavers |
Unfortunately, as young men, Seger and one of the other founders had joined the American Communist Workers Party causing them to be blacklisted during the McCarthy Era.
Pete later went on to do remarkable work in cleaning up the area around the Hudson River.
The Folk Era lasted from the 1940’s through the early 1960’s and gave us such groups as The Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul, and Mary, The Tarriers, The Chad Mitchell Trio, and The New Christy Minstrels.
Individuals such as Gordon Bok, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Buffy Sainte Marie, Tom Rush, Jeanie Ritchie, Odetta, Phil Ochs and later John Denver, John Stewart, Harry Chapin, and John Hartford.
Most of these artists have passed away leaving us with their music.
Bob Dylan went electric in 1965 and never looked back.
Woody Guthrie passed away leaving us his wonderful songs, and passing his legacy to his son, Arlo.
Burl Ives had a career singing folk music but is mostly remembered as an animated Snowman singing Holly Jolly Christmas.
Harry Belafonte recorded a lot of songs but is most remembered for his version of The Banana Boat Song.
The Smothers Brothers were known for the comedic folk songs, but due to their controversial ranting against the Vietnam War and the government they lost their television show.
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| Noel Paul Stookey |
Noel Paul Stookey is the surviving member of Peter, Paul, and Mary and due to his age, he only occasionally performs.
When I think of the Folk Music Era I am reminded of the 1982 Film biography of the Weavers called Wasn’t That A Time. It was indeed!
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| Street Talk! |
This week’s Street Talk is brought to you by The
Letter J. This stands for Joni, Joan, and Judy. Three
remarkable folk artists.
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| Joni Mitchell |
Joni Mitchell is probably one of the most important folk artists. At age nine, she suffered from polio, which had a bad effect on her left arm and hand. Most alarming was the cure at the time which was smoking cigarettes.
She eventually started to get better, despite smoking. Joni was born with a musical soul. She began playing music and eventually writing her own songs.
Joni first started playing with a ukulele to accompany herself. Because of her weakened hand, Joni devised multiple ways of tuning the instrument. She eventually transferred these to guitar.
She began performing in folk clubs and coffee houses in her hometown of Saskatoon Canada. But she was told repeatedly, “You Can’t Sing That” because that is my song by other performers. Eventually this caution led her to writing her own music.
Joni did not have an easy life when she first began performing, however she was determined she wanted to play music.
David Crosby heard her performing at The Gaslight Club in Florida and he was very impressed. He got her in touch with David Geffen which resulted in her first album. The tracks on that recording included Clouds aka Both Sides Now, and Tin Angel. Many of her later songs had more of a pop feel but her initial songs propelled her to fame.
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| Joni Mitchell |
Despite age and health issues, in 2022 Joni Mitchell returned to performing concerts that are supported by a number of her friends. Because of Joni's unique guitar tunings (she has over 50 of them), Joni is my favorite.
Joan Baez was born into a religious and very well educated family. Her grandfather was a Methodist minister who concentrated on serving his Spanish speaking congregation. Her father contemplated going into the ministry but instead chose to study mathematics and physics. Joan’s mother was the daughter of a Scottish Anglican priest.
Since Joan’s father was involved with UNESCO, an organization that promoted world peace, her family moved all around the world. Because of this Joan absorbed many cultural influences.
She began her musical journey by learning to play the ukulele. When she was 13 years old, her aunt took her to a Pete Seeger concert. This was quite an inspiration for young Joan. Joan graduated high school in 1958. By then her family had moved to Massachusetts where her father accepted a position at MIT.
Joan had a naturally beautiful singing voice. She began singing and playing guitar in Boston and Cambridge area folk clubs. It was there that she was making a name for herself and developed connections with some of the well-known fold artists of the day.
Joan made her concert debut in 1961 and released her first record album the following year.
By 1971 Joan Baez had a major radio hit with her version of The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.
Because of her political views, Baez had become a controversial figure by visiting Vietnam during the war, and participating with the Civil Rights Movement. She has spoken out against the death penalty, and the Iraq War.
During her career Joan has played small bodied Martin guitars. She was usually seen on stage with her 1929 Martin 0-45 which she has used since 1965. Due to it's value this guitar has since been retired.
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| Joan's 1880 Martin 0-40 |
This unique instrument had an ivory bridge. Up until 1918, Martin was using ivory as a material for some of it's high end guitars. The Martin Guitar Company acquired this instrument in 2015 for their museum.
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| Joan Baez |
It must have been done by a repairman years ago who disputed my politics."
When Joan Baez' 0-45 was replicated for a 1997 edition, a backwards label bearing the same slogan was adhered to the inside of the soundboard so that it could be read with an inspection mirror.
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| Judy Collins |
It was there that Judy contacted Polio at age 11 years old and spent two months in isolation in hospital. She spent days listening to her father’s show. He sang and played Irish folk music which piqued her interest in folk music.
At age 13 Judy was taking classical piano lessons. She was already developing an interest in Folk Music. By all accounts she was a gifted pianist.
Through her father’s connections she was able to meet contemporary folk artists, such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.
Her initial public performances occurred after her high school graduation at folk clubs in the Denver area.
In 1956, upon her marriage she moved to Connecticut with her husband, who taught at the university. She made further connections with other folk artists in this city.
After divorce Judy moved to New York City’s Greenwich Village and played her music at the popular club, Gerdes Folk City.
By age 22 Judy was signed with Elektra Records and made her first album “Man of Constant Sorry”. Judy continued in popularity recording many more albums.
Her 10th included her hit song, Stephen Sondheim's Send in The Clowns.
While in England in 1987 she recorded an acapella version of Amazing Grace.
Throughout her life Judy Collins has been active in promoting social and political causes.
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| Peter Paul and Mary Sing Trini Lopez' Greatest Hits |
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| Trini Lopez |
Around 1955/56, Lopez and his band, The Big Beats, worked at a Los Vegas Club, a nightclub owned by Jack Ruby. Yes, it was that Jack Ruby, the guy that killed Lee Harvey Oswald.
Trini and his band caught the attention of Norm Petty, who had first recorded Buddy Holly and the Crickets. The group drove to Clovis, New Mexico to record. Sadly this did not pan out, and the band eventually went their own ways.
Lopez got a follow-up offer by Snuff Garrett to join the new Crickets line up after Buddy Holly left.
Trini later landed a solo gig in Los Angeles at a nightclub called PJ’s. This led to a contract and a live recording for him, Live At PJ’s.
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| If I Had A Hammer |
His LP included Trini’s version of The New Christy Minstrels hit song Green, Green. It also included Trini’s up-tempo version of If I Had A Hammer. This song became Trini's signature number.
In 1968 another album featured the Peter Paul and Mary song Lemon Tree done in Trini’s style.
Throughout his career Trini Lopez garnered 13 chart topping hits. Many of these were reworkings of folk songs done by Peter Paul and Mary.
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| Trini Lopez Gibson Models |
Due to his rising success, Gibson Guitars created not one, not two, but three signature models for him.
Though Trini was not exactly a folk singer, most of his "hits" were folk songs.
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| The "Oscar Schmidt" Stella 12 String Guitar |
The 12 String "Stella" Guitar Made By The Oscar Schmidt Musical Instrument Company.
The Oscar Schmidt Musical Instrument Company was founded in 1899 in Jersey City, New Jersey. Their product line up was made up of stringed musical instruments that included mid-to-low range/cost guitars. One of their guitars was given the name of Stella. These consisted of "000" sized instruments.
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| Oscar Schmidt and Associates |
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| 1960's Harmony Stella 12 string |
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| 1929 Stella 12 String |
But it was the pre-Harmony Stella 12 string guitar was a favorite for Blues players, such as Leadbelly, and Blind Willie McTell, due to their cost and the instruments sound.
Players tuned these guitars down at least two whole notes to C to produce the tone they preferred, mainly for the fact that the heavy strings of the day put a lot of tension on the necks of those guitars.
Most all of these guitars were usually of Birchwood, which has always been relatively cheap. It was commonly used for fruit packing crates. Some of the more high end model guitars, like the one Leadbelly played, had Spruce tops. The look of wood grain was faux.
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| 1930 Stella 12 |
When Harmony took over these 12 string guitars changed a very little and they continued to be sold until 1975 when the company shuttered it’s doors.
Do I think any company will ever make a guitar comparable to the Stella 12 string? It is doubtful. Today's buyers are more sophisticated, especially when it comes to wood choices.
There have been a few attempts. A company called The Fretted Instruments Manufacturing Company tried to make Oscar Schmidt style guitars from 1935 to 1939.
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| 1973 Boys Life Ad |
But as of today most inexpensive acoustic guitars are being made in Asia and Pacific Rim countries. And they use wood that I have never heard of.
I have seen imported 12 string guitars that retail for less than the 1920 cost of a Stella 12 string. I am very doubtful that Stella 12 string guitar will ever make a come back.
SEVEN GUITARS THAT YOU CANNOT AFFORD
I have collected guitars most all of my life. There are more than I few I wish I had never sold or traded. I have been studying and learning about guitars since I first picked one when I was 13 years old. I have never had regrets about not owning a high-priced instrument. For me it is all about sound and function.
However, there are those who want to own the best. So take out your wallets and credit cards. Here are some guitars I can’t afford, but perhaps you might.
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| D-50 CFMIV |
1. The Martin D-50 CFMIV 50th Anniversary Model. The top is Bear claw Spruce. The back and sides are Guatemalan Rosewood. The V shaped neck is made of Mahogany with an Ebony fretboard. Inlays are all done in Abalone and mother of pearl. It is ornately done and has a beautiful embellishment on the back. Brand new it sells for $50,000.
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| Benedetto Sinfonietta |
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| Masterbuilt Strat |
3. Fender Custom Shop '50s Roasted Stratocaster Masterbuilt by Kyle McMillin and relic'd in Black Burst. This is handcrafted guitar individually built by Fender Master Builder Kyle McMillan and is based on a 1957 Stratocaster. The Ash wood body has been roasted. The AAA birds-eye Maple V-shaped neck has received similar treatment. The special Josefina Fat 50’s Strat single coil pickup were specially designed. The finish is gently relic’d It can be yours for only $10,475, which includes case and vintage-looking strap.
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| '64 ES-335 |
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| Private Stock McCarty 594 |
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| Taylor PS12ce |
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| Martin Custom Shop 45 |
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| Enjoy Your Guitar and Share Your Music |
Owning any one of these guitars would certainly be a pleasure. but remember, the guitar is just a means to express the music that you create.
Whatever guitar you own, whatever guitar you play, whatever brings out your music, whatever gives you joy, make that guitar a part of you.
©UniqueGuitar Publications - Parody Division (text only) 2026
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