America’s songbag will be opened by traditional folk singer FRITZ SCHULER. The songs that live in Schuler’s head were written a long, long time ago. They are the soul of the the country, born in the hearts of railroaders, hobos, outlaws, poor dirt farmers and lonesome cowboys. Songs about men and women who lived in tougher times than these. In true oral tradition, Schuler has spent the better part of forty years seeking out and learning from the old time Jug bands, String bands, wandering blues singers and poets of the Great Depression. In performance, this time capsule is opened before you. You’ll hear the influences of everyone from the legendary Woody Guthrie to hillbilly performer Charlie Poole (Who ran moonshine in the mountains of North Carolina in the 1920’s) in Schuler’s music. You’ll hear Appalachian Ballads, Old Time Banjo tunes, dusty hobo songs, lonesome Mississippi Delta guitar blues and much more – all entertainingly woven together with background and stories to make history come alive. Tom Martin-Erickson, founder of Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Simply Folk” Says: “as a performer, I appreciate his commitment to the continued performance of traditional music and especially of an informed and educated performance. It is his affection and respect for traditional music that makes his performances so compelling to me.” Storyteller, Folk singer and “Sing Out!” Magazine columnist Dan Keding adds: “When Fritz plays an old time banjo tune or sings long forgotten folk songs or wraps his fingers around his guitar to coax out the blues it comes not from a man who knows the music but from one who loves it. Listening to Fritz is always a pleasure” Schuler has performed all over the Midwest, at countless colleges, museums, libraries, schools and coffeehouses. Taking his music overseas he was a headline performer at Seafest in Japan. He has also been featured with the popular touring National Public Radio show “Whad’Ya Know” with Michael Feldman. For more info see: www.fritzschuler.org
Program support for this artist series is donated by: The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity and the Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation, Inc.