Folksingers don’t get much attention these days. People tend to find the current stream of creative thought more compelling than bleak old tales about fallen soldiers, murder and mistaken identity. Yet there can be exquisite beauty in folk music, irresistible to those who stop and listen with their hearts as well as their ears.

I sing and play guitar and banjo. I like to weave together songs from the Appalachians, folk songs from the 1960s and 70s, and a little traditional Bluegrass. People have been singing variations of some of these songs for hundreds of years. I just marvel at how long these melodies have been carrying stories. It’s absolutely my favorite music in the world.

Like many others, I cut my creative teeth during the Age of Aquarius, drawn to the music of the era’s Flower Children, songs I heard on Hootenanny and The Smothers Brothers, plus old tunes I picked up from my musical mother. I made a living singing in clubs well into my late thirties, and now, at 60, I’m enjoying a little success in regional folksinging competitions. I’m also invited to participate in studio sessions as a vocalist from time to time.

A couple years back flatpicker Tim May asked me to help out on a CD he was producing with music monster Charlie Chadwick called A Bluegrass Tribute to Neal Young, part of CMH Records popular Pickin’ On series. On this CD, I sang a duet with Tim (Only Love Can Break A Heart) and appear in the harmony on several other cuts, including my favorite, Old Man. I think even Neal would like it; you should check it out.

I play a beat-up 1995 Taylor 810 Brazilian Rosewood, a Bean Blossom open-back banjo and a restored 1954 Martin O-18 widely known as the Landfill Martin. To date my winning contest repertoire has included Sweet Betsy From Pike, Black Jack Davy, Darcy Farrow, Little Rosewood Casket, Shady Grove, Pretty Saro, The Blackest Crow, Give My Love to Nellie Jack, The Storms Are On The Ocean, and a few others. I’m currently in the process of recording a few of these old tunes to teach my students so stop by again if you’re interested in old tunes.

I teach two guitar courses, one that shows singers to accompany themselves by ear, and a simple beginner guitar series for girls and women. Once they learn the ropes, they attend my group class called FOLKSLINGERS, which is an ongoing resource of vocal material for the solo female guitarist.

I rarely perform these days, but when I do it’s as a single, with bassist Tami Roth in The Saggy Bottom Girls, with Anna Scala and Darith DeLisle in the Lonesome Doves, or with my favorite duet partner, Jack Horner. I’m also a member of the Rude Dogs Blewgrass Band and the Small Time String Band. Kirk and I perform with our friend, songwriter Michael Laidley, from time to time; last year, we played the famous Blue Plate Special radio show and appeared on Radio Free Nashville on a show hosted by Joe Rieg.

In May of this year, I gave a folk concert with one of my Folkslingers, Marilyn Harris, at a place known simply as The Farm, a former hippie commune that is now a shared community. There were at least 100 people crammed into the small community center and they sang along with all the old songs we offered. Marilyn is an true inspiration to me. She is 70 years old and takes fiddle lessons and banjo lessons and guitar lessons. She’s unbelievably musical and sings like a pro, but I think the thing that I admire most about her is that when she sings, she smiles.

I want to be just like her when I grow up. Not that that’s likely to ever happen.

FOR BOOKING INFORMATION: susieco@comcast.net