Letters To Hardy

19 Tuesday May 2020

Posted by patrickjohnbrayer in Correspondence, Memoir, Music, Songwriters, Uncategorized

PBPh Hardy White Horse neg copy

Jack sitting in Dylan Thomas’ seat at The White Horse Tavern (photo:Patrick Brayer)

Below this nine-year sequel offering will be found the original eulogy piece I wrote for songwriter Jack Hardy in 2011, and below that, a collection of letters that I had written to him over the years, marking our friendship. I think they speak as a memoir of a point in time, and of his influence upon me. And I’m only one person. You can take this and multiply it by five hundred and get a more accurate view of his impact. I will add in a few facts that I had left out of the 2011 piece to flesh it out a little better. I’ve yet to see a definitive biography on this extraordinary gentleman. Perhaps this will inspire that dialogue.

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Carolyn Russell: Lucerne Valley Grassroots Pioneer

17 Saturday Aug 2019

Posted by patrickjohnbrayer in Correspondence

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Correspondence

I’m saddened to report the passing of local Lucerne Valley musician and patron of the folk music arts, Carolyn Russell on July 21, 2019 at the age of 85. She was born July 17, 1934 in Crosby, North Dakota.

Carolyn Russell was well known for her contra dances in Garden Grove California, and for her many notorious house concerts featuring such as Alasdair Fraizer, Mary McCaslin, Bryan Bowers and many more. She later played a pivotal role in quietly championing the resurgence of such legendary Cajun musicians as Wilford LeTour, Edgar LeDay, and most recently Joe Fontenot.

She had a brilliant and a sly wit, and will remain the epitome of the term “grass roots community”, and to speak of her as a “true renaissance woman” is and always will be an understatement.

Below is a collection of our correspondence over the years that I unearthed from memory lane, or my garage, whatever came first. I hope others will add to this and join me in admitting that life seems a little dumb without Carolyn, though her memory will give us ample inspiration to persevere.

Patrick and Holle Brayer / Ontario CA