79 years not long to wait for Old Town School student's first CD
CHICAGO IL - Seventy-nine year old singer and guitarist Marge Weber will celebrate the release of her first CD, The Circle Game with a special appearance at The Grafton Pub, 4530 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, in Tuesday, June 25.
Weber, who resides in Elk Grove Village, first fell in love with singing in her church choir while growing up, but never had time to study the guitar.
"My husband and I had such a busy life," she said. "We were raising kids, keeping our church going and taking in foster children. When I turned seventy, I told my son that I regretted not taking the time to learn the guitar better. He suggested that he and I take classes together at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and so we did."
There Weber began working with instructor Mark Dvorak, making friends and participating in musical activities.
"The experiences I've had at the Old Town School, and working with Mark and my other teachers, has changed my life. It has absolutely changed my life," she said.
"Marge has changed our lives too," said Dvorak, who produced The Circle Game, and walked Weber through the process of rehearsing and recording the material for the CD.
"We first came to know Marge through her love of music and singing," he said. "She is an inspiration. She has taught us that growing older takes courage and grace. She showed us that it's so essential to stay active, to keep learning and to keep nourishing one's own creative spirit. I'm so grateful to have had the chance to work with her on this project. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"I guess it's taken me awhile to make my first CD," said Weber. "But believe me, it's been worth the wait!"
The CD, released on Dvorak's Ten Fingers label, features nine titles. Most of the songs Weber learned in her classes at the Old Town School, but some she discovered and learned on her own.
The track listing includes, The Circle Game, by Joni Mitchell, Let the Mystery Be, by Iris DeMent, Long Way Home, by Tom Waits, To Make You Feel My Love, by Bob Dylan, Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream by Ed McCurdy, Lord, I've Got Some Singing To Do, by Robert Schmertz, Old Devil Time, by Pete Seeger, Passing Through, by Catie Curtiss and Mark Erelli, and On My Grandma's Patchwork Quilt, by Larry Penn. Dvorak accompanies Weber on each of the tracks playing guitar, banjo and bass.
The CD release show begins at 9:30 pm and copies of The Circle Game will be available for purchase. Weber will be accompanied by Dvorak and many of her Old Town School friends will perform. There is no cover charge.
For more information phone 312 315 4273 or log onto www.markdvorak.com.
Go here to order The Circle Game.
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