peter
siegel, the OFFICIAL timeline...
1971
peter siegel is born in new rochelle, ny
1971–73
his sister torments him in his crib by singing constantly
and making faces
1976
peter first sets foot on the hudson
river sloop clearwater which leads to him later
become an educator and cook on the boat
1977ish
he constantly listens to fiddle tunes on an lp that
some folks named jay
ungar and lynn hardy give his dad, an optician
at his
grandfather’s
optician shop on canal st in nyc (they say they go
there because it’s the only shop that still
carries the old wire rim
glasses
that his grandfather refuses to throw out…)
1976ish
peter attends occasional sunday “pancake breakfasts”
at gus hall’s house (the general sect. of the
communist party) with his
family. he sympathises
but he’s only 5
1978
peter learns first parody-- the oscar myer bologna
song with words for jimmy carter “my president
has a first name it’s…..”
1980
reagan is elected, peter unfortunately begins a life
with easier lyrical political targets
1988
he begins singing with the hudson river sloop singers
because pete seeger says that they need basses (he
approaches the
stage at a strawberry
fest with his sister and says in an extra low voice
“I’m a bass..”)
1983-89
middle and high school in the suburbs of nyc, peter
listens to led zepplin, the beatles, run dmc, bach,
andres segovia, depeche
mode, etc, he watches far too much television hangs
out in the mall, has a mullet, and is obsessed with
“pacman fever”(the song and the game)
1988
peter takes up the banjo and drives everyone crazy
noodling
1991
peter, his sister laurie, and chris iversen found
the “harmonious hogchokers”, playing through
the hudson valley for a few years
1992
peter takes up the mandolin and goes to ashokan fiddle
and dance for the first time, becomes obsessed with
fiddle tunes
1990’s
he hosts an open stage at the
eighth step with his sister in albany ny, learns
among other things what not to do on stage
1993
peter plays first contra dance for a bunch of girl
scouts in schenectday, ny with a group that will later
become the beverwyck string
band. this all leads to a life of dance music….
1996
peter joins the greenfield
dance bandin greenfield, ma with david
kaynor, stuart kenny, and mary cay brass
2000
he moves to vt, founds the short lived old time triounderbellywith
michael davesand
alicia jo rabins
NOW?
Peter Siegel has been a mainstay of
the traditional dance scene of the pioneer valley
of western mass. playing dances and concerts and with
david kaynorand
the greenfield dance band; upstate new york's beverwyck
string band as well as the new old time trio underbelly
with alicia jo rabinsand
michael daves.
he’s been touring the continental usa. he's
been seen and heard on the nationally syndicated etown,
wamc’sdancing
on the air with jay
ungarand molly
mason, in venues such as the kennedy center in Washington
dc and the chicago cultural center, and festivals
from the
great hudson river revival, to the
american festival of fiddle tunes. he is an annual
teacher of traditions at the john
c. campbell folkschoolin brasstown, nc, and played
in colleges nationally
from new york university to the university of indiana.
among other places he has performed in the iron horse
music hall in northampton,ma to the
walkabout coffeehouse in katonah, ny, caffe lena in
saratoga, ny. his songs and tunes have beeen published
bysing
out! magazine, and the
portland collection
recorded on numerous cds. he’s collaborated
and worked on recording projects with, michael
daves,
alicia
jo rabins ethan
hazzard watkins karen tweed,
stuart kenney, noami morse, elvie miller, , david
kaynor,anna
patton
Quotes:
"Peter Siegel is a skillful, thoughtful, witty
and insightful, singer and songwriter...and a darn
good guitar player too! He can keep you entertained,
while touching your emotions and giving you something
to think about at the same time. "
--Jay Ungar,_Hudson Valley Fiddler and composer of
Ashokan farewell, theme to The Civil War
"(Peter) approaches his music with insight and
perceptivity that might make people change their way
of thinking about the environment and the
world's political scene.....his music is both enjoyable
and thought-provoking. His songs delve into social
issues that many singer-songwriters
choose to avoid, and he tackles these with a sense
of compassion and forward thinking that is unusual
in this day and age...."
--Wanda Fischer_Host of Hudson River Sampler, WAMC-FM
_"Peter Siegel knows how to incite and delight
through his words and music he evokes the (folky)
politics and humor of Phil Ochs and Tom Lehrer.
Siegel's latest, Move the Mob, is witty, timely, topical,
and eloquent. A thoughtful artist in the effort to
blow open and validate the consciousness
of his audiences and our time."
--David
Kupfer, Whole Earth Magazine
"Siegel's work is a superb blend of musicianship
and education. He has the rare gift of raising awareness
about controversial environmental and
social issues through humor and irony. In this way,
his music compels you to think and act. I know this
because I have seen him do it countless
times in my classes."__
--Mitchell
Thomashow_Chair, Department of Environmental Studies_Antioch
New England Graduate School_Author, Ecological Identity
and Bringing the Biosphere Home
"Keen
observations of life’s absurdities, solid songwriting
and all-around great musicianship, that’s Peter
Siegel; his delivery is low-key and
hilarious, his satire dead center. Somehow he is at
once irreverent and respectful, and can aim a zinger
with the best of them…"
-Margie
Rosenkranz_The Eighth Step at Cohoes Music Hall_
"Peter Siegel has a lyrical gift that makes me
giggle uncontrollably. He's one of the best songwriters
of my generation and has a gift for showing
you just enough tragedy to get out of your seat and
the road to a better way of life."
-Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, The Mammals
For more info on where Peter will be, check his schedule
or www.realpeoplesmusic.com
For
more info on where Peter will be, check his schedule
or www.realpeoplesmusic.com
c
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