It seems like ages since I began working on the schedule for the upcoming season of concerts at the Hurdy Gurdy, but our “opening night” is finally here! This Saturday, September 9, the Hurdy Gurdy will proudly present Bob Franke in concert.

Bob has been a guest on Traditions a number of times over the years. I first met Bob at Speak Easy, the legendary folk club in Greenwich Village that spawned a folk revival of sorts in the 1980’s. Jon Stein, a former radio host on WFDU and a singer-songwriter as well, invited me to come down to Speak Easy to see him open for a “fantastic” (Jon’s favorite descriptive expression)songwriter from the Boston area.

This was the day of vinyl records. I had yet to hear his music when I stepped into Speak Easy that night. Bob had recorded an independent LP back in the 70’s, and he just released a new LP on Great Divide Records called “One Night in Chicago“. (Flying Fish would later release the recording to wider distribution.)

Jon Stein’s opening set was fun to watch, but I did not know what to expect from Bob Franke. The quiet and unassuming man who I met before the show came on stage and gave a powerful performance.

While the audience was sparse that night, Bob Franke opened his heart and soul with a set of songs that had us laughing, crying and thinking. This was a time when introspective songwriters were beginning to crowd the stages of such establishments, but Bob was different. His songs were personal, yet there was a commonality that all of us were able to share. That evening would be the first time I heard songs such as “For Real” and “Alleluia, The Great Storm is Over” – just two songs from this man that entered the soundtrack of my life.

Bob Franke is a perfect example of what makes a great singer-songwriter. His songs impart a spirituality that is not condescending or judgmental. While Bob is now closely associated with New England, he began his career when he was a student at the University of Michigan in the mid-60’s. Bob was one of the first performers at the now legendary Ark Coffeehouse in Ann Arbor. He moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts upon graduating college in 1969 and quickly became involved in the still vibrant folk music scene of the region. Bob was the founding director of “Saturday Night In Marblehead,” the weekly coffeehouse in Marblehead, MA that ran concerts for 28 years.

He was also honing his skill as a songwriter. His intelligent and moving songs would capture the attention of established performers and soon Bob’s songs would go on to be sung by artists such as Peter, Paul and Mary; Priscella Herdman; Gordon Bok; David Wilcox; John McCutcheon; Sally Rogers; Lui Collins; Garnet Rogers; June Tabor and many others. Asked what makes Bob Franke such a gifted songwriter, Tom Paxton would say “It’s his integrity. I always think of Bob as if Emerson and Thoreau had picked up acoustic guitars and gotten into songwriting. There’s touches of Mark Twain and Buddy Holly in there, too.”

Songs like “Thanksgiving Eve,” “Hard Love,” “For Real“, “The Great Storm Is Over“, and “Beggars to God” would become staples on the contemporary folk scene. Here in New Jersey, The Folk Project would produce a book called “The Songs of Bob Franke“, a collection that quickly sold out all copies.

He can also switch gears and offer topical songs that highlight his delightful sense of humor. Who else but Bob Franke can turn a song about a bicycle into a hot and sexy blues? Could anyone besides Bob Franke deliver a song like “The Acid Polka“?

In the 40+ years that Bob has been presenting his songs on stage, he has found himself singing in a variety of venues – from concert halls to coffeehouses, festivals to street corners, bars to churches, as well as house concerts across the nation. He is a performer that bonds quickly with his audience and an evening with Bob Franke will become a fondly remembered event.

I hope that many of you will visit the Hurdy Gurdy for our season opener this Saturday. The Hurdy Gurdy is located in the Central Unitarian Church at 156 Forest Avenue, in Paramus, NJ. The venue is easy to get to – less than a mile from Route 4 (and also easy to reach from other major highways such as Route 17, Route 80 and the Garden State Parkway) and less than a 10 minute drive from the George Washington Bridge.

You also have my personal guarantee that the Hurdy Gurdy brews a fine cup of coffee! What more could you ask for – a nice club, good coffee, wonderful people, and a great performer!

For more information on the Hurdy Gurdy you can check out our website – www.hurdygurdyfolk.org

Also, I posted a preview of our entire season –

2006-2007 preview