Article and Interview!
The 44 Songs project has been gifted with an article and interview in the new local Chicago magazine ‘Inside Irving Park’, which is a hyperlocal periodical aimed at specific neighborhoods in the Chicago area.
See below for a scan of it - pretty cool, I must say!
Also - hoping to have the rest of the Presidents posted soon. This project will continue to be updated until all have been accounted for!
Cheers!
JS
JAMES BUCHANAN
“Buchanan”
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
“Lincoln On A Sunday Afternoon (Based on Historical Events)”
A four part operetta conceived by John Pierson and Paige Saliba about a day in the life of our 16th President.
CAST:
Abraham Lincoln - John Bliss
Mary Todd Lincoln - Paige Saliba
Coach Driver - John Szymanski
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Research, lyrics and melody by John Pierson and Paige Saliba
All instruments, musical score and sound design by John Szymanski
Piano and vocals recorded live (without headphones!) at Chateau Bliss, November 18, 2012 - all else done after that either at Brass Pajama or on location in Cincinnati. Engineered & mixed by JS.
THE ARTISTS:
John and Paige are living temporarily in Cincinnati, for reasons related to art. They can’t wait to get back to Chicago to continue their work in music and theater. John is a Neo-Futurist alumni and novelist. Paige is a Chicago actor and voice-over artist. They recently collaborated with Joe Janes in his festival 7 Deadly Plays. Together, they have worked on several other fun and weird projects including their relationship.
Photo by Joe Mazza @ Bravelux. http://bravelux.com/
RONALD REAGAN
“The Greatest American”
A song about our 40th President as written and performed by Jonas Friddle.
THE ARTIST:
Jonas Friddle is a songwriter, performer, and teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. His band, Jonas Friddle & The Majority, plays a unique blend of stringband, swing, and rock and roll. They can be found around the city and online at www.jonasfriddle.com
JOHN TYLER
“His Accidency”
Tom DuFore has brought us a folky song about our 10th US President, John Tyler.
THE ARTIST:
Tom DuFore is an entrepreneur by day and an indie rock artist by night. Tom is grateful and thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this project. John Szymanski, you are a musical genius! (Aww shucks-Ed.)
More of Tom DuFore’s music can be found at www.TomDuFore.com
For those of you who missed it, I was asked to appear on WBEZ’s “Morning Shift” program this morning, November 6th, to talk about the 44 Songs project and perform two songs live!
The below link contains the entire Morning Shift program, including my entire section, which features Emmy Bean’s “The Nourishment is Palatable”, a live rendition of “Smile George”, an interview, and a live rendition of “Silent Cal” featuring Gwynn Fulcher on lead vox!
http://storify.com/WBEZ/morning-shift-42-and-here-s-the-pitch
BARACK OBAMA
“Obama!!!”
A buoyant song about our 44th President, Barack Obama, by David Golan.
THE ARTIST:
David Golan was born and currently lives in the United States of America. And he figures that’s really cool as he’s been repeatedly informed it’s the greatest nation on earth.
P.S. He is very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this project.
JOHN F. KENNEDY
“November (Dear John)”
Sad Brad Smith has given us a fine song about John F. Kennedy, our 35th President.
He played and sang all of the things.
THE ARTIST:
In his own words, Brad says “…for my bio you can just say I’m a straight songwriter from Chicago.” He is currently finishing the mixing of a new record as we speak.
ANDREW JOHNSON
“When The Healing’s Done”
Ross Ryan: Vocal, guitar
Paul Wookey: Fiddle, guitar
Cathy Middleton: Accordion, vocals
Roy Zedras: Bass, vocals
Ken Stephenson: Banjo
Peter “Robbo” Robertson: Drums
Recorded and mixed at GI & Back Pocket Recorders, Melbourne Australia 2012
Thanks to Glen Combo, Ken Stephenson, David Blight, Annette Gordon-Reed, Lillian Foster, Tina & Bob.
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One month into Abraham Lincoln’s second term and 6 days after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Andrew Johnson - following Lincoln’s assassination - became the 17th US President.
Judged by many as one of America’s worst Presidents, Johnson could also perhaps be considered simply a man of his time at exactly the worst possible time..
For further information on Andrew Johnson:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson
The White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/andrewjohnson
THE ARTIST:
Born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (the furthest west that Lincoln ever journeyed), Ross Ryan is a Melbourne Australia based singer songwriter who believes all songs should contain at least two jokes.
WILLIAM McKINLEY
“Don’t You Know Me”
Here we have a four chord soliloquy about our 25th President, William McKinley. Incidentally, “William, Oh William, Don’t You Know Me” was the phrase uttered by Ohio senator Mark Hanna as McKinley lay dying.
THE ARTISTS:
Tamara and Aileen (aka HuBro and the Hyperbolettes) sometimes perform together as the Harlotry & Necromancy Appreciation Society, and sometimes are found separately telling people where to stand and how to say things. If you are making an indie rom-com in Hawaii, we suggest you use this song.
Tamara Silverleaf & Aileen McGroddy: vocals and tunesmithery
Some guy: ukulele
