born to an RCA engineer and his
wife, he grew up in New Jersey, hav-
ing what he called . a "sweet and idyl-
lic" childhood.
"I don't know. I guess it was fairly
normal," he said.
In college, things took a sharp turn.
After high school, Breckman entered
Boston University and pursued a
degree in communications for all of
two months, when, he said, he decid-
ed he wasn't popular enough to con-
tinue in school.
"I left because I wanted to be Bob
Dylan. Or maybe it was Randy New-
man. I can't remember, but I think it
was Bob Dylan," he said.
Breckman. wrote a few tunes, per-
forming often in bars and at festivals.
He became best known during that
time for a song called "Railroad Bill," a
ditty about a tough railroad man who
keeps interrupting the song's narrator,
who would really like Bill to show his
softer side and rescue a treed cat.
The song also reveals a bit of
Breckman's wit and twisted but funny
storytelling. For example, at one point
Bill tells the narrator:
"... Why should I listen to you. You
should be listenin' to me instead. I'm a
railroad man and if I was real, I would
separate your face from your head."
The argument goes back and
Focus On Folk
Mississippi Fred McDowell.
he 22nd Ann Arbor Folk
• The Paperboys — This group
Festival, a benefit for the
offers
a unique blend of Celtic, blue-
Ark, will take place 6 p.m.
grass,
folk
and pop using instruments
Saturday, Jan. 30, at Hill
like the fiddle, accordion, flute, man-
Auditorium in Ann Arbor. Emceed
dolin, banjo, guitar, bass and drums.
by Andy Breckman, the festival will
• Karen Savoca — Her voice has
include the following performers:
• Emmylou Harris — This headliner
been compared to that of an "angel
assigned to nightclub guardian duty
of the festival has racked up six
for a good portion of eternity ...
Grammys, eight gold albums, one
multiplatinum
sweet but sea-
album, seven No. 1
soned."
ned."
• Carrie New-
songs and 27 more
that made it into the
comer — With
top 10, all in the
1 an unflinching
past 20 years. Her
take on political
2 and social issues,
repertoire is vast and
includes rock, folk,
Newcomer was
rap and everything
pegged by the
in between.
Village Voice as
• Altan — No other
an alto singer
with "a warm
Celtic band has ever
won more awards
spirit, heated
intelligence,
than Altan. Even the
stodgy Wall Street
burning talent.
journal hailed the
Newcomer is
folk music group as
hard on society,
"one of the preemi-
softer on human-
nent Irish bands in
ity — glinting
with musical
the world today" and
brightness."
described its upcom-
• Buddy & Julie
ing Virgin Records
debut, Blackwater, as
Miller — This
114
"the Irish musical
married duo each 4
Multi-Grammy winner Emmylou
had his or her
tradition at its
Harris headlines the festival.
own career.
unadulterated best. "
• Moxy Fruvous —
Together, they
combine their talents in songwriting
This Canadian vocal quartet is known
and singing harmonies.
for its interaction with the audience as
• The Raisin Pickers — A four-
well as its ability to break into
some,
the Ann Arbor-based band
impromptu and improvisational songs.
combines the best qualities of
• Kelly Joe Phelps — An acoustic
swing, bluegrass, novelty numbers
country blues musician, Phelps' music
and classic originals. 17
carries the trademark melancholy of
greats like Blind Lemon Jefferson and
— Jill Davidson Sklar
Luke
Gray
recent paintings
February 6 — March 6, 1999
Reception to meet the artist
Saturday, February 6, 1999
From 2 — 5 : 00 pm
David Klein Gallery
163 TOWNSEND BIRMINGHAM MI 48009
TELEPHONE 248.433.3700 Fax 248.433.3702
HOURS: MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 1 1 - 5:30
340 east maple road • birmingham, mi
248.593.9085
1 /29
1999
Detroit Jewish News
85