Bill Morrissey Tribute 61 images Created 20 Nov 2011
On July 23 one of our greatest singer songwriters/story-tellers, Bill Morrissey, pass away at the age of 59. I was fortunate to stumble into the New England folk world scene in the late 80's.
"It was a time when Christine Lavin would hold September songwriter retreats on Martha's Vineyard and these young writers would hang out on a porch and write songs with the likes of Tom Paxton, Dave Van Ronk and Shel Silverstein, or be entertained by Cheryl Wheeler, Patty Larkin, John Gorka and Cliff Eberhardt simply being themselves.
And in the center of that rich and fertile space of creativity stood Bill Morrissey. He was revered. He was studied. He was a kind and patient teacher of the supreme importance of words. Of tradition. Of art with purpose. Of writing truth instead of fact. But mostly he was a beloved friend.
So that's the place I circled over since hearing the sad news. Back to that time of big dreams and endless possibilities; of community and creativity; of youth and lightness. All of you who were his friends, family and colleagues, please know you're in my heart."
These photos, I hope, pay some sort of tribute to an incredible story teller, author and musician.
'Now the years and the faces blurs till I can't remember some
There were women washing windows, there were salesgirls chewing gum
There were voices in the shapes of old men kneeling in the pews
There are things in this life a man just does not get to choose
Finally I found a home in a tiny mountain town
A simple place to keep me dry when the rains came pouring down
A place to sleep, the rent was cheap, brick walls and a new slate roof
The landlord said, 'You'll be safe here, this house is fireproof'
~Man From Out Of Town/Inside~1992
"It was a time when Christine Lavin would hold September songwriter retreats on Martha's Vineyard and these young writers would hang out on a porch and write songs with the likes of Tom Paxton, Dave Van Ronk and Shel Silverstein, or be entertained by Cheryl Wheeler, Patty Larkin, John Gorka and Cliff Eberhardt simply being themselves.
And in the center of that rich and fertile space of creativity stood Bill Morrissey. He was revered. He was studied. He was a kind and patient teacher of the supreme importance of words. Of tradition. Of art with purpose. Of writing truth instead of fact. But mostly he was a beloved friend.
So that's the place I circled over since hearing the sad news. Back to that time of big dreams and endless possibilities; of community and creativity; of youth and lightness. All of you who were his friends, family and colleagues, please know you're in my heart."
These photos, I hope, pay some sort of tribute to an incredible story teller, author and musician.
'Now the years and the faces blurs till I can't remember some
There were women washing windows, there were salesgirls chewing gum
There were voices in the shapes of old men kneeling in the pews
There are things in this life a man just does not get to choose
Finally I found a home in a tiny mountain town
A simple place to keep me dry when the rains came pouring down
A place to sleep, the rent was cheap, brick walls and a new slate roof
The landlord said, 'You'll be safe here, this house is fireproof'
~Man From Out Of Town/Inside~1992
