WFDU-FM’s TRADITIONS
Playlist for May 23, 2010
HOST: Ron Olesko (www.ronolesko.blogspot.com )

My guest today was Bob Porco, grandson of the original owner of Folk City,
Mike Porco. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Mike Porco’s decision to
offer folk music at his neighborhood Italian restaurant in Greenwich
Village. Okay, it wasn’t his idea – in late 1959 Izzy Young of the Folklore
Center and Tom Prendergrast approached Mike about presenting music at the
bar, and Mike realized that he might be able to sell a few drinks to those
thirsty people who were gathering in Washington Square Park. The rest is
history. Gerde’s Folk City became a mecca for folk music to several
generations of singer-songwriters and folk musicians who traveled to NYC to
discover the incredible scene that was taking place. Mike sold the club in
the early 1980’s and it had a good run for another few years until the
market made it impossible to operate.

In honor of the legacy, Bob is writing a book about his grandfather and
organizing a concert that will take place at 130 W3rd St NYC- Folk City’s
home from 1970 until the closing in 1987. The venue is now the home of the
Village Underground and the Fat Black Pussycat, but for one night it will
host a reunion of artists that span the clubs run. Jack Hardy and Dominic
Chianese (you know him from the Sopranos, but did you know he was an emcee
at Folk City during the 1960’s?) will emcee the evening and over 30
performers will be there – including Rod MacDonald, Willie Nile, Roger
Sprung, Eric Weissberg, Syliva Tyuson, Terre & Suzzy Roche, David Amram,
Peter Stampfel, Frank Chrisitian, and many more. For more info, visit
www.folkcityatfirty.blogspot.com

New and recommended – Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem “Ranky Tanky”, Nora Jane
Struthers – self titled

(Tune in to TRADITIONS every Sunday from 3 to 6pm Eastern Time over WFDU-FM
89.1 in the NYC/Northern New Jersey area, or on the web at www.wfdu.fm where
our shows are archived for two weeks on the website. A Sing Out! Radio
Partner )

ARTIST Tune / Song
ALBUM LABEL – Website
Theme: HARVEY REID Dirty Dish Rag
Solo Guitar Sketchbook Woodpecker Records – www.woodpecker.com
RANI ARBO & DAISY MAYHEM If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out!
Ranky Tanky self – www.raniarbo.com

TRIPPING LILY California The Day Everything Became Nothing
self – www.trippinglily.com
WILD CARROT & THE ROOTS BAND These Songs
Crowd Around the Mic Blue Jordan Records – www.wildcarrot.net
CROOKED STILL Sometimes in this Country
Some Strange Country Signature Sounds – www.signaturesounds.com,
www.crookedstill.com

JOE IADANZA American Dream
All in Good Time self –www.joeiadanza.com
PHIL MINISSALE Fighting a Losing Battle
Young Fool self – www.myspace.com/philminissalemusic
BEAUCOUP BLUE Make Me A Pallet on Your Floor
Hearts at Home self – www.beaucoupblue.com

ERIC ANDERSEN Close the Door Lightly When You Go
Vanguard Visionaries: Eric Andersen Vanguard Records –
www.vanguardrecords.com, www.ericandersen.com
JOHN SMITH Scotch Pine
Gravity of Grace self – www.johnsmithmusic.com
CARRIE RODRIGUEZ Waltzings for Dreamers
Love and Circumstance Ninth Street Opus – www.ninethstreetopus.com

MADISON VIOLET Crying
No Fool For Trying True North Records – www.madisonviolet.com
SALLY SPRING I Still Miss Someone
Made of Stars Sniffinpup Records – www.sallyspring.com
NORA JANE STRUTHERS Mocking Bird
Nora Jane Struthers Blue Pig Music – www.norajanestruthers.com

GRAND PICNIC Saint Joseph’s Reel / Puilaski Skyway / Little Red Brick
House in Georgia
Grand Picnic self – www.jodykruskal.com

GUEST: BOB PORCO, grandson of Mike Porco – founder of Folk City. Bob is
putting together a 50th Anniversary Reunion at the site of Folk City’s final
home in NYC. www.folkcityat50.blogspot.com

ROD MACDONALD Sailor’s Prayer
No Commercial Traffic self – www.rodmacdonald.net
THE ROCHES Face Down at Folk City
Another World out of print LP – www.roches.com
DAVE VAN RONK Another Time and Place
Fast Folk Smithsonian Folkways – www.si.edu/folkways

Preview of upcoming concert at the Hurdy Gurdy in Fair Lawn, NJ – June 5,
2010 – www.hurdygurdyfolk.blogspot.com :
THE SECOND FIDDLES That’s The Way I Do
The Second Fiddles self – www.secondfiddles.com
THE SHIVERS Eight More Miles To Louisville
On the Air self – www.theshivershow.com
THE SHIVERS Bluebirds are Singing
On the Air self – www.theshivershow.com
THE SECOND FIDDLES Don’t Sell It, Don’t Give it Away
The Second Fiddles self – www.secondfiddles.com

JAY UNGAR & MOLLY MASON Hit’s of the Sixties: Kingdom Coming/ Battle Cry of
Freedom / Dixie / Battle Hymn of the Republic
Civil War Classics Fiddle & Dance Records – www.jayandmolly.com

THE JOHN HARTFORD STRINGBAND Homer the Roamer
Memories of John Red Clay Records – www.compassrecords.com
RED MOLLY Gulf Coast Highway
James self – www.redmolly.com

ED MCCURDY Hush Little Baby
A Ballad Singer’s Choice Tradition – out of print
======================
Ron Olesko
WFDU-FM
1000 River Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666
www.ronolesko.blogspot.com
www.wfdu.fm
www.facebook.com/ronolesko