Remembering the Songman of New Bedford, Paul Clayton

This program, through musical performances and historical narrative, celebrates the life of folk singer and folk music scholar Paul Clayton.  Paul Clayton, a New Bedford native, was a performer, a collector and field recorder of traditional folks songs. Also, from 1956-1961 he was the most recorded young folk singer in America. He brought hundreds of obscure folk ballads and songs into the American music scene. Praised by David Van Ronk, Bob Dylan and many other superstars to come out of the entire folk musical era now gone, Clayton is a national treasure. This presentation will help to shed light on how the history of the Whaling culture in our area influenced a young man to pursue his interest and passion for folk music.

Musical Performances and Stories by:

·  Tom Goux and Dan Lanier

·  Butch McCarthy

·  Neal McCarthy

·  Seth Asser

·  Gary Brown

·  MaryBeth Soares