2008 Woodie Awards
Judy Collins: SIUE star then and again
Matthew Schroyer
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: A&E
The first installment of Arts & Issues will evoke memories from concerts past.
In the heyday of the iconic Mississippi River Festival, folk-singing legend Judy Collins entertained audiences five times, and became forever synonymous with the outdoor music festival. Saturday, she joins in the SIUE 50th anniversary celebration and plays before an SIUE crowd for a sixth time.
Collins will perform at 8 p.m. at the Morris University Center's Meridian Ballroom.
"The Mississippi River Festival was most of the remembered extracurricular activities in the university's history, and we're excited to see her here," Arts & Issues coordinator Grand Andree said.
Ticket sales have been strong, Andree said, which he attributed to the Grammy-award winner's historically strong following.
"She's a great songwriter and has an incredible voice," Andree said. "She had a 40-year career, so obviously she touches people with her music."
Rich Walker, former coordinator of Arts & Issues, helped book Collins and others for the twenty-third Arts & Issues season.
"She was one of the most important interpretive folk singers of the sixties," Walker said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the concert myself."
Susan Grimes, head nurse of Health Services and folk music listener, had intended to see a Collins concert last year in St. Louis. But when the concert was canceled, her plans had changed. She said she was excited to finally get the chance to hear Collins in person.
"I'm just very glad," Grimes said. "I think it's great for the community."
Grimes said she had been attending Arts & Issues programs since 1996, and saw Joan Baez, another folk legend, perform during the 2005 season.
Collins' first album was cut at age 22. Titled "A Maid of Constant Sorrow," the album was a compilation of traditional folk songs. It was 1961, and she had recently signed with Elektra records, a partnership that would continue for 35 years. According to a 2001 interview by the Washington Post, the album took five hours to record and required no edits.
In the heyday of the iconic Mississippi River Festival, folk-singing legend Judy Collins entertained audiences five times, and became forever synonymous with the outdoor music festival. Saturday, she joins in the SIUE 50th anniversary celebration and plays before an SIUE crowd for a sixth time.
Collins will perform at 8 p.m. at the Morris University Center's Meridian Ballroom.
"The Mississippi River Festival was most of the remembered extracurricular activities in the university's history, and we're excited to see her here," Arts & Issues coordinator Grand Andree said.
Ticket sales have been strong, Andree said, which he attributed to the Grammy-award winner's historically strong following.
"She's a great songwriter and has an incredible voice," Andree said. "She had a 40-year career, so obviously she touches people with her music."
Rich Walker, former coordinator of Arts & Issues, helped book Collins and others for the twenty-third Arts & Issues season.
"She was one of the most important interpretive folk singers of the sixties," Walker said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the concert myself."
Susan Grimes, head nurse of Health Services and folk music listener, had intended to see a Collins concert last year in St. Louis. But when the concert was canceled, her plans had changed. She said she was excited to finally get the chance to hear Collins in person.
"I'm just very glad," Grimes said. "I think it's great for the community."
Grimes said she had been attending Arts & Issues programs since 1996, and saw Joan Baez, another folk legend, perform during the 2005 season.
Collins' first album was cut at age 22. Titled "A Maid of Constant Sorrow," the album was a compilation of traditional folk songs. It was 1961, and she had recently signed with Elektra records, a partnership that would continue for 35 years. According to a 2001 interview by the Washington Post, the album took five hours to record and required no edits.
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Bill Jamison
posted 9/27/07 @ 11:30 AM CST
The Eagles in 1978 were the largest crowd at 34,000 tickets sold. Ironically the tickets were miscounted and the announcement was put out they were sold out (I still have one of the signs posted along I-270, highway 111, 157 & 159. (Continued…)
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