|  "Perceptive...clever... ranks up there with The Beatles and Bob
Dylan..." - Dirty Linen
Tom Paxton has become a voice of his generation, addressing issues of injustice and
inhumanity, laying bare the absurdities of modern culture and celebrating the tenderest
bonds of family, friends, and community.
In describing Tom Paxton’s influence on his fellow musicians, Pete Seeger has said:
"Tom’s songs have a way of sneaking up on you. You find yourself humming them,
whistling them, and singing a verse to a friend. Like the songs of Woody Guthrie,
they're becoming part of America." Pete goes on: "In a small village near Calcutta, in
1998, a villager who could not speak English sang me What Did You Learn In School
Today in Bengali! Tom Paxton’s songs are reaching around the world more than he is,
or any of us could have realized. Keep on, Tom!"
Paxton has been an integral part of the songwriting and folk music community since the
early 60’s Greenwich Village scene, and continues to be a primary influence on today's
"New Folk" performers.
He has performed thousands of concerts around the world in countries such as
Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland,
England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada. That these fans still enjoy his work is a
testament to the quality of his recent work, and to the enduring power of modern
standards like The Last Thing On My Mind, Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound, Ramblin’ Boy, Bottle Of Wine, Yuppies in the Sky, Whose
Garden Was This?, Goin’ To The Zoo, Wasn't that A Party?, Peace Will Come and The Marvelous Toy.
Paxton’s songbooks, critically acclaimed children's books (available from
HarperCollins), award-winning children's recordings, and a catalog of hundreds of songs
(recorded by artists running the gamut from Willie Nelson to Placido Domingo), all serve
to document Tom Paxton’s 40+ year career. He has received two Grammy nominations,
and is also the recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from ASCAP and BBC. In
February of 2006, he received a third Lifetime Achievement Award from the North
American Folk Music and Dance Alliance.
Tom Paxton’s place in folk music is secured not just by hit records and awards, but by
the admiration of three generations of fellow musicians. An internationally recognized
and loved cultural figure, he has always chosen goodwill over commercial success. His
generosity has taken the shape of a benefit concert performance for a little girl fighting
leukemia, or a personal note of encouragement to an up-and-coming songwriter. This is
the man who wrote and lives the words, "Peace will come, and let it begin with me."
He is one of the great songwriters of the last century and will be reckoned as one of the
greats in this new century, as well. He is a man we have come to regard as our friend.
www.tompaxton.com
Concert Feature
Friday Feb. 2, 8 p.m
Community Sing Song Leader
Saturday Feb. 3, 7 p.m |
