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Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays
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Subject: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Rick Fielding Date: 31 Aug 99 - 01:18 AM Something that Frank Hamilton said in another thread reminded me of this. About 25 years ago I was asked to be in a touring company of a play called "In White America" by Martin Duberman. We would be hitting a number of Canadian towns. The cast was made up of black and white actors, mostly from New York, who had quite a bit of stage (and Broadway) experience. Had this simply been a situation where I was to play or sing something during the play, I probably would have been reasonably confident, but it involved narration, and teaching the cast a number of (folk and gospel) songs, and frankly, I was scared witless. Having done the music for a couple of plays previously, I sensed that actors and musicians are not automatically compatible. In fact there are a great many superstitions and rituals in the acting world, that if messed with - even accidentally - can get you a lot more than just dirty looks. The director (a very friendly Englishman, who's name I've forgotten) told me that in the New York production both Oscar Brand and Dave Sear had done the role of narrator/musician, and perhaps I might try to get some tips on how to approach it from them. Even though I had played with Oscar a couple of times in Canada when he was doing his "Let's Sing Out" TV show, and knew him a bit, I had no way of contacting him on such short notice. I'd vaguely heard of Dave Sear (perhaps from a Folkways album) but once again, time was running short, so I just decided to wing it. It was a fascinating few weeks, with a lot of funny, scary and rewarding stuff happening. I was just curious if any Mudcatters have had experiences with actors, acting, the stage etc. And if anybody knows anything about Dave Sear (was/is he a full time musician? etc.) I know Sandy was an actor, and I suspect there might be a couple of others. Thanks Rick |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Sourdough Date: 31 Aug 99 - 02:13 AM My first public performance was as a musician in a play. It was called, "THe Healer" and it was by Al Brenner. I have no idea whether or not this is the same Albert Brenner whose credit I see on major Hollywood films as a production dsgner but he seems to be about the same age. Anyway, this was back in Drama School, a professional gradual school where productions were taken very seriously. THe director had heard me play the autoharp and thought that it would be a good accompanyment for the Revival scenes in The Healer, Byron Edward's, tent. Brenner wrote the words for some "traditional" hymns sung on stage. I suspect that he kept them very simple for the nervous, fledgling Autoharpist. I haven't thought of any of this in decades until I read your post - now I can even remember the words to one of the songs - Jesus, save me from my sins / There's the Devil, don't let him in, / Let the forces of Heaven win / Jesus, Save me from my sins. Now that I think of it, I think it was with this performance of ersatz gospel that my ever growing appreciation of the form began. I solved the problem of dealing with actors simply, I showed them I was far more nervous and likely to "go up" than any of them were - so they had to help me! (I think that only works until you are out of your teen-age years though.) Sourdough |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Rick Fielding Date: 31 Aug 99 - 12:03 PM Among the many little rituals that I wasn't aware of was the staking out of chairs in the dressing room in front of the make-up mirror. After plunking myself down in one I became aware of someone standing behind me and just staring. I smiled and said hi. They said nothing. After an awkward minute or two, I tried "Is this your chair?" More silence. I got up and he sat down without a word. Apparently it's bad luck for someone to sit in your chair after your bum has been in it! Good grief! And that was the first day! Rick |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Sourdough Date: 31 Aug 99 - 12:44 PM Rick, Do you remember any other rituals of the theatre? I only rememeber whistling and wishing good luck - don't do either. Sourdough |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Rick Fielding Date: 31 Aug 99 - 12:49 PM Lots "dough", but since then I've found that many of them are regional. One that isn't, is the habit of giving presents to each other on opening night. Needless to say, nobody told me about it. Still interested in Dave Sear..if anyone's got any info. Rick |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Frank Hamilton Date: 31 Aug 99 - 03:29 PM I think Dave still lives in the New York City area. Years ago he was in a trio with Sonja Savig and Tony Saletan. There was a period there where you couldn't tell Dave apart from Pete Seeger. I suspect he's evolved out of that. He was a good musician, as I recall. Played nice five-string ala Pete. Nice voice. I ran across an old LP of him last year and picked it up. Thass all I know. Frank Hamilton |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Rick Fielding Date: 31 Aug 99 - 04:21 PM Thanks Frank. Sandy, isn't Sonya the woman who recorded Norwegian songs (for Minstrel perhaps?) Tony Saletan still has a children's program running here. I checked the Roman numerals at the end and was surprised to find that it's 20 years old! I learned the song "Waterbound" from it. Good show. Rick |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Liam's Brother Date: 31 Aug 99 - 04:25 PM Early on in the Folk Revival in America, loads of professional folksingers were actors. Cisco Houston and Leadbelly, of course, tried their hands at acting. The Clancys were all actors and Tom ended up moving to Hollywood in order to further his career in directing. Robin Roberts has always been an actress. I'll be singing at South Street Seaport in NYC tonight with 15 other people... 4 of them act, coach, direct, etc. and more are often spear carriers in the Revels, etc. |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Sandy Paton Date: 31 Aug 99 - 04:39 PM Yep, Rick. That's the Sonja. She lives around Nyack, NY, and works part-time for Minstrel Records. Also teaches voice and helps a lot of the Pinewoods crowd make better use of the voices they were born with. One of the few vocal coaches that doesn't attempt to make their students sound like classical singers. (Praise be!) Tony Saletan recorded with his (then) wife, Irene, for Folk-Legacy about thirty-two years ago. He's now calling dances, singing, and teaching computer skills, in the Boston area. Recently put together a fine program with several of his friends on the music of the Henry Wallace campaign in 1948. They performed it as a workshop at the last NEFFA in Natick, MA. A dandy show, too! Dave Sear probably would have done more with his career if he had NOT sounded so much like Pete Seeger! People have assumed that he was just imitating Pete. He had (and may still have) a regular radio show in New York, and I've asked people hearing it for the first time, "Who's that?" Invariably they would answer, confidently, "Pete Seeger, of course!" I'm fairly sure Dave has made his living with his music, performing, accompanying, teaching, etc. We sang with him at a festival in Stamford, CT, a few years ago. He still sounds remarkably like Seeger, Frank! I don't think he really tries to do that, it's just his voice is similar to Pete's (old) voice, and his approach to the music was inspired by Pete. He has a summer place up Route 22 from us, and has been active with a folk music concert series in Chatham, NY. (I think at the Spencer Academy up there.) He's a good lad! Sandy |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Sourdough Date: 31 Aug 99 - 06:47 PM Tony Saletan! It's extraordinary!! I haven't heard that name in years. I remember working on his television shows in Boston in the Sixties. The only show I actually remember though is B-I-N-G-O although I have a vague memory of doing a special with him at the Lars Andersen Automobile Museum outside of Boston for NET (back when there was an NET). WGBH is putting together an "alumni" list and he should be on it. Do you have an address for him by any chance. You mentioned Natick which makes me think that Rick Lee (another WGBH alumnus but radio, not television) might know how to reach him. Sourdough |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Barry Finn Date: 31 Aug 99 - 10:44 PM Hi Sourdough, here's a link to the NEFFA site where you'll find info on Tony & NEFFA (past & present) http://www.ultranet.com/~neffa/grid/perfs/Tony_Saletan.html Barry
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Sourdough Date: 31 Aug 99 - 10:56 PM Thanks for the lead. The address is already on its way to WGBH. Sourdough |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Rick Fielding Date: 01 Sep 99 - 02:17 AM Ain't it wonderful to be part of a group where the influental folks are known for their works and not their fame? Rick |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: thespionage Date: 20 Jan 05 - 10:26 PM I heard stories about Dave Sear in the earlier days. I see comments about now, but what about then? All I gather is that some people feel he sounded too much like Pete Seeger. Thanks. |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: thespionage Date: 23 Jan 05 - 07:38 PM Nobody can say anything about Dave Sear? |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Alaska Mike Date: 24 Jan 05 - 01:50 AM I met Dave Sear when he came to Anchorage about 10 years ago. Dave used some of my songs on his syndicated radio show for several years that I know of. Last I heard he was taping his show in his home town of Wooster(?) Massachusettes. I remember Dave as a very capable musician and singer with a remarkable resemblance to Pete Seeger. Haven't heard from him in at least 5-6 years. Nice guy. Mike |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: thespionage Date: 24 Jan 05 - 12:36 PM Thanks Mike. I'd like to learn more about his earlier days, when apparently everyone thought he sounded identical to Pete. Russ |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 24 Jan 05 - 12:48 PM Dave hosted a radio show that aired for a time on WFDU. The show had been on WNYC (where Oscar Brand hosts his show), and Dave came over to WFDU when they decided to drop his program. He eventually left WFDU and I haven't seen Dave in years. My memories of Dave are very pleasant - he was a warm and caring guy and a terrific musician. He did a really nice version of "The Scotsman" that I really liked. He was also running the concert series at Spencertown Academy at the time I knew him. I'm wondering if he is still performing or on radio somewhere. |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: Rabbi-Sol Date: 24 Jan 05 - 01:25 PM I have an album "Dave Sear Live" which I purchased from him at one of the concerts he put on at the Spencertown Academy. I owe this man a lot. He introduced me to the music of Bill Staines, Robin & Linda Williams, Sally Rogers, Schooner Faire, & the late Stan Rogers among others. He had a very pleasant voice and an excellent raport with the audience much like Pete. The only thing I did not like was when he decided to team of with Debby Rich for a while as a duo. As pleasant as his voice was she just could not sing in tune and the 2 of them together sounded just awful. I was glad when they finally split up. SOL ZELLER |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 24 Jan 05 - 02:05 PM Thanks! I was trying to pull that name from the deep recesses of my brain - Debbie Rich. I agree with you, she did not blend well with his voice. I do remember that live album! If I'm not mistaken, Debbie was on it, but they weren't a duo at the time and her contribution was purely instrumental. |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: GUEST,Art Thieme Date: 24 Jan 05 - 02:21 PM I remcall that Dave Sear did banjo backup on a few singer's LPs in the 60s -- Possibly Ed McCurdy. Eric Darling did a lot of that kind of thing. And Dick Weissman & Billy Faier did some too. Eric Darling was definitely the most versatile and talented I thought. Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: Dave Sear / Folk Music in Plays From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie) Date: 24 Jan 05 - 02:21 PM Dave Sear lives in Great Neck on LI. He had a radio show on WNYC for years until recently. He has quite a following on LI and does many outdoor park and festival concerts. Oscar says he sings as he does because his voice is 'just like his Dad's.' Whether or not his Dad was imitating Pete I don't know, but this may be a good excuse for Dave- I mean, with that in mind we don't have to forgive HIM for imitating Pete!...Our son Peter Pickow often plays bass guitar for Dave. Sorry I didn't see this thread in '99. Jean |
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