DESCRIPTION:
In honor of Pete Seeger's 90th birthday, a segment of June's interview with Pete at his home on May 28, 2008. Pete knew her grandmother Marjorie Porter (her dad's mother), who was an archivist/historian in Vermont and upstate New York. Anyone who's known June for any period of time knows that she is passionate about the IMA archives, and considers that an integral part of the IMA legacy. Now she knows for sure that she came by that "legitimately" ! ~ Pete not only remembers Marjorie vividly but gives an eloquent account of her and how she collected songs that she passed on to people like Pete. [Songs on his album "Champlain Valley Songs" were ones that he got directly from her].
The IMA archives include tapes and various memorabilia that June has been collecting since the 1960's. Recent artists who have agreed to be taped exclusively for the archives include Ani di Franco (Italy tour, 2001); Dar Williams (with cellist Matt Haimovitz, Chicago 2002); Melissa Ferrick (Live at IMA East); Maria Muldaur (Live at IMA West); Toshi Reagon (Live at IMA West and IMAEast); Joel Zoss (recording at IMAEast); Ferron (recording, and Live at IMA West); Holly Near and Ronnie Gilbert (recording live at IMA West); Bitch and Animal (recording their album Sour Bitch and Rhyme at IMA East, 2002-'03); Issa (formerly known as Jane Siberry, live at IMAEast); Cheryl Wheeler (Michigan Women's Festival); Patty Larkin (various live performances); Leah Kunkel (live, in the studio, and teaching a IMA - both West & East ); and keyboardist Julie Wolf both live and in the studio.
The list of everyone in the files would have to include Jill Sobule, the Indigo Girls, Rhiannon, Cris Williamson, LinQ, Tret Fure, Sonya Kitchell, Fanny, Linda Tillery, Teresa Trull, Barbara Higbie, David Balakrishnan, Sovoso, Erin McKeown, flamenco guitarist Maria Zemantauski, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, Lowell George, Ulali, Erika Luckett, Peter Mulvey, drummer Allison Miller, bassist Gail Ann Dorsey, Gwen Stefani, Barbara Streisand, John Lennon, Orleans, Professor Longhair, Me'Shell Ndegeocelo, comedienne Suzanne Westenhoeffer, Evelyn Harris, Nancy Vogl, and harpist Michelle Sell... to name a few.
The long-range plan is to convert the milk barn on the Goshen property to a video suite/ offices, and to build a library.
Stay tuned.