Plain Folk

Coming from an area where country music , French Canadian music and other music from the people was common, the folk period of 1960's was a natural fit.

Sitting in backyards around campfires and in kitchens with guitars , fiddles and accordions was a regular pastime for many. Old favourites and new songs were taken on enthusiastically . Voices blending and harmonizing . Groups tied together by circumstance and time.

This Canadian Folk singer had a long career . Many of his songs are recognized world wide and are now classics. Gordon Lightfoot was one of the best Canadian exports of the 60's and 70's.

Another was Joni Mitchell.

And then there was American Bob Dillan.

These were only three of the many folk singers who shook our world bringing so many things into our small and sheltered part of the world for us to think about.

Time changes slowly in small towns but big things were happening quickly everywhere else . Folk singers brought these things to us . Music was the fastest way to expose people to new ideas . New ways of looking at issues. For a long time I didn't really understand from where these new concepts came or even how to relate to them . But each time the song was sung again , my awareness and thoughts expanded.