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David Wilson

Bio:

In the ‘60s, David Wilson was the publisher and editor of Broadside of Boston, one of the founding directors and sometimes editor of Boston’s underground newspaper, Avatar. He started a record distribution company, Riverboat Records, left it for several years and and later returned to be its manager. He also managed at one time or another two Boston coffeehouses, Café Yana and The Odyssey and a short lived video theater, The Video Frontier. He was director of Folk Music for MIT’s FM station, a writer for WGBH TV’s “Folk Music USA,“ and the Peabody winning ‘What’s Happening Mr. Silver?” He has an abiding interest in the field of traditional, Americana, roots and folk music while still finding much to his liking in many other forms as well. Off and on, these days, he works at developing his concept of video as gallery art.

Recent Articles:

  • Solarference - Lips of Clay Music

    One Possible Face of Future Folk Music

    By: David Wilson - Dec 09th, 2012

    Our contemporary pop music will be traditional music in the future. Lips of Clay by Solarference may well be one of the paving stones leading to even more startling forms.

  • Franklin County Cider Days 2012 Food

    Cider Salon A Palate Pleaser

    By: David Wilson - Nov 07th, 2012

    Drawing an audience from as far away as Europe, this event in 18 years has become a phenomenon.This year introduces the first Annual Amateur Cider Making Competition. Cider Days is so amorphous and wide spread that it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where it is being held.

  • Franklin County's 18th Annual Wassail Food

    Cider Days Are Upon Us

    By: David Wilson - Oct 28th, 2012

    "Old Apple tree, old apple tree; We've come to wassail thee;" ...with cider salons, cooking classes, harvest dinners, cider-making demonstrations and all things apple.

  • The Vespers At Eagle Hill Cultural Center Music

    Nashville Band a Solid Hit.

    By: David Wilson - Oct 16th, 2012

    What began as a delicate and subtle seeking of a fragile melody on the dobro by Bruno Jones, was shattered as the group’s hoyden, Callie Cryar, stepped to the microphone and let loose...

  • Riverside Blues and Barbecue Festival - Part II Food

    The BBQ Competition

    By: David Wilson - Oct 12th, 2012

    Caravans of competitors are driving back and forth, up and down back roads and Interstates weekly, heading for one of the many competitions of which this is only one example.

  • Riverside Blues and Barbecue Festival Music

    Greenfield Hosts 2nd Annual Contest

    By: David Wilson - Oct 12th, 2012

    Part I - Blues In this subculture, mention the three B's and everyone knows you are talking about Blues, Beer and Barbecue. Riverside served up plenty of each. First, about the music.

  • Jazz Diva Eliane Elias at Eagle Hill Cultural Center Music

    Paul Overton Assumes the Helm for Season V

    By: David Wilson - Oct 04th, 2012

    Eliane Elias, fresh from Lincoln Center performances last weekend is here to launch the fall schedule at Hardwick's Eagle Hill Cultural Center. Eliane’s new CD “Swept Away” was released last week as well.

  • 2nd Annual Fresh Grass Bluegrass Festival Music

    A Sellout for MoCA

    By: David Wilson - Sep 30th, 2012

    I was, as always, delighted and energized by Joy Kills Sorrow. Leyla McCalla’s Sunday morning performance captivated me and her afternoon session with the Carolina Chocolate Drops sealed my appreciation. The festival achieved capacity sales for the intended venue a week before opening night, and while there were a few hiccups, on the whole, the staff ran a very successful and satisfying event.

  • A Conversation With Herb Gart - IX Music

    An Ending of Sorts...

    By: David Wilson - Sep 26th, 2012

    I believe an Artist is someone who has found a way to express his/her ideas in such a way that the audience gets the ideas intended. To do this takes some degree of genius. It is very difficult to do. He knows who he is well enough to know what material works for him. He doesn't make many mistakes in self editing. He might need some help - after all, Marlon Brando needed a Director - but he is firm in understanding what he doesn't want to do.. Bob Dylan used to sit on the steps above the Gaslight Cafe in the Village and fix his curly hair with hairspray. He understood his art and his persona.

  • En Durance Vital - V Music

    Old Folkies, New Music

    By: David Wilson - Sep 15th, 2012

    Two more joyous celebrations of authentic folk and historical treasures by outstanding musicians who are 50 years into their careers.

  • Green River Festival XXVI Satisfies Music

    Arlo and the Guthrie Family Headline

    By: David Wilson - Jul 18th, 2012

    It was certainly a coup to have Arlo and the Guthrie Family headlining the opening day of the festival on the actual 100th anniversary of Woody’s birth.

  • A Conversation With Herb Gart - Part VIII Music

    The Ones Who Got Away!

    By: David Wilson - Jul 13th, 2012

    Nearing the end of our conversation, Herb notes a few of the ones who got away. When Phil Ochs was mentioned, the focus shifted and we took time to share some memories of our colleague.

  • Arlo & Family Headline the Green River Festival Music

    On Woody’s Centennial Birthday: July 14 & 15

    By: David Wilson - Jul 09th, 2012

    Fortunate are we that on that day, July 14th, this coming weekend, they will headline the Green River Festival in Greenfield, MA.

  • Greater Worcester Opera's Carmen at Eagle Hill Music

    A Rousing Close to Season III

    By: David Wilson - Jul 08th, 2012

    When the opportunity to experience a performance of Bizet’s Carmen, as performed by the Greater Worcester Opera, just a few miles from my home in the boonies, I eagerly joined a few hundred of my neighbors.

  • Hundred Dollar Valentine by Chris Smither Music

    An Exceptional New CD

    By: David Wilson - Jul 01st, 2012

    Singer/Songwriter Chris Smither and producer David Goodrich have combined their talents to generate an exceptional CD Chris sings with a voice distinctively his own yet emotionally reminiscent of so many iconic voices that come to my mind.

  • A Conversation With Herb Gart - Part VII Music

    On Auditioning Record Labels

    By: David Wilson - Jun 24th, 2012

    I explain to my clients that they are not auditioning for a record company; the record company is auditioning for us. We know you’re great and we are looking for the A&R man who gets it.

  • Ear Say III - CD reviews Music

    Those Harmonizing Ladies

    By: David Wilson - Jun 10th, 2012

    I cannot imagine many of you will have ever heard or even heard of a folk duo from the ‘60s who set the bar for creative distaff harmonizing. Kathy & Carol thrilled us with a blending of voices...

  • A Conversation With Herb Gart - Part VI Music

    Gaffes and Lessons Learned

    By: David Wilson - Jun 03rd, 2012

    "When Don McLean had been turned down by 72 labels, we signed with a company Mediarts that hadn’t existed when we started looking" Herb Gart reveals to David Wilson in another segment of their dialogue.

  • A Conversation With Herb Gart - Part V People

    A Philosophy of Management and Lurking Disasters.

    By: David Wilson - May 26th, 2012

    With his feet planted firmly in several aspects of the music business, Herb Gart found himself managing the careers of a number of artists. In this installment we talk a bit about his philosophy and style of management. While he had great successes, clearly there were instances when he had to swallow some pretty bitter pills.

  • Jesse Colin Young -Natick Center For The Arts Music

    Smoother Than Ever

    By: David Wilson - May 23rd, 2012

    Jesse Colin Young is well remembered and appreciated in this area as was indicated by the full house that assembled Saturday night, May 5th at TCAN’s elegantly refurbished firehouse in downtown Natick. I suspect that many, like myself, had memories somewhat faded around the edge of that moody introspective rebel with long dark locks, brooding expression and clear bright tenor tone.

  • A Conversation With Herb Gart - Part IV Music

    Putting Programming Experience to Use

    By: David Wilson - May 13th, 2012

    The first thing I did was go to the New York folk managers and try to book their clients - Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Judy Collins and others. However, for whatever reason, they turned me down flat. I then, out of necessity, had to prove that a few managers in New York didn’t ‘own’ the folk scene.

  • A Conversation with Herb Gart - Part III Music

    Establishing Credibility

    By: David Wilson - May 06th, 2012

    "The Earle Hotel was one of the few buildings in Manhattan still wired for DC current. I watched my tape recorder go up in smoke. " With the decision to move his base of operations permanently to NYC, Herb finds his path beset with unexpected pitfalls from the very start. Of course he is not alone in the struggle and it is not long before he finds others depending on him. He also finds himself going head to head with some of the most powerful people in the industry.

  • Dan Hicks and The Hot Licks at TCAN Music

    Delightful 1960s Reset Thrills Natick Audience

    By: David Wilson - May 02nd, 2012

    Dan first came to our attention during the mid ‘60s as the drummer and then guitarist /vocalist for the under rewarded though widely acknowledged Charlatans. The Lickettes, Roberta Donnay and Daria, tarted up as floozies but unmistakably accomplished Jazz vocalists on their own, offered their backup vocals, instrumental percussion, hand gesture accompaniments, and playful body language commentary.

  • A Conversation With Herb Gart – Part II Music

    Back and Forth Twixt Philadelphia and NYC

    By: David Wilson - Apr 28th, 2012

    This continues the conversation started in Part I. Folk recordings are still a minor component of the recording industry, but that is on the verge of change as more established companies in the music industry begin to view it for its profit potential.

  • For The Love of the Music : The Club 47 Folk Revival Music

    A film by Todd Kwait & Rob Stegman

    By: David Wilson - Apr 25th, 2012

    For The Love of the Music attempts to tell the story of the legendary Harvard Square coffeehouse and folk performance venue, Club 47, and its eventual successor, Club Passim over a ten plus year period from 1958 to 1968.

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