The Owosso Musicale is pleased to invite the public to attend a concert featuring Neil Woodward, Michigan’s Troubadour. The event will take place February 7, Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 114 W. Mason street in downtown Owosso. A freewill donation is being asked for by attendees, and a reception will follow Woodward’s performance.
For over thirty years Woodward has shared folk music’s warmth and wisdom with Great Lakes audiences. In such historic surroundings as Crossroads Village, Grand Traverse Lighthouse and Greenfield Village and in schools and libraries lake-to-lake, his vast repertoire and enthusiasm bring to life the Michigan experience for people from around the world.
In 2003 the Legislature of the State of Michigan officially named Neil Woodward Michigan’s Troubadour in recognition of his lifelong commitment to the preservation of Great Lakes folk music and culture. The Arts Foundation of Michigan (now ArtServe Michigan) with their Creative Artist Grant Award recognized Neil’s own compositions as contributing contributions to the troubadour’s traditions, an artistic chronicle of significant individuals and events. His songs, recordings and concerts have earned him nine Detroit Music Awards. His traditional recordings are catalogued by the Library of Congress Office of Folklife, Smithsonian Folkways, and by the Archives of the State of Michigan.
Neil is a course guest lecturer for Michigan, Eastern and Wayne State Universities. He is a Faculty and Presenter member teacher of Smithsonian Associates.
Woodward’s experience in performance, research, writing, arranging, theatre, audio and video production, along with his widely acknowledged skill with over a dozen musical instruments offer a unique perspective to his many private students. His school programs bring our culture into focus for pre-school through college level students. In venues as diverse as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Michigan Historical Center, Detroit Institute of Arts, Northern Michigan campgrounds and lighthouses, plus community schools and libraries of Alpena, Ann Arbor, Brighton, Byron, Copper Harbor, Charlotte, Davion, Detroit, Flint, Hartland, Howell, Kentwood, Lansing, Montague, Ossineke, Paradise and Ypsilanti, Neil’s performances pay tribute to light- keepers, immigrants, laborers, sailors, soldiers, lumberjacks, railroaders, farmers, hobos, auto workers, dancers, singers, musicians and dogs.
Neil may be the only person alive who played both banjo at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Jews harp at Lincoln Center.
Chairing Owosso Musicale’s reception will be Lila Gerber, who will be assisted by Glenda Davis, Jan Hintz, Katie Howard, Marcia Parker, and Travis Waybright. We invite families and friends to come and enjoy an afternoon with Michigan’s outstanding Troubadour!
