Troubadour tribute
McCutcheon’s latest album a celebration of Pete Seeger
John McCutcheon takes it easy in the summer.
Then, after Labor Day, he’s in full swing on tour.
It’s been this way for years and it’s something the singer-songwriter really enjoys.
“I’m in the thick of touring right now, and I’m humbled,” he says. “I’ve been doing this for nearly 50 years. I’m amazed and grateful that people will sit with me in little dark rooms and listen to me play. I feel really lucky that I stumbled on this wacky way to make a living.”
McCutcheon’s tour will make a stop in Santa Fe at the Lensic Performing Arts Center where he will perform on Sunday, Oct. 27.
The show is a benefit for the Fayette Street Academy, which is celebrating its 40th year in Santa Fe.
The private school serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade.
The curriculum includes math, reading, writing, languages (Spanish, Greek and Latin), geography, history, art and music. These subjects are woven together and integrated into an age-appropriate format.
McCutcheon is excited about being able to give back to a community organization that includes music in its curriculum.
His latest album, “To Everyone in All the World: A Celebration of Pete Seeger,” was released this year.
He wanted to put out the album as a tribute to Seeger, who was a friend of his.
“This album allowed me to play music with my dearest musical friends,” he says. “This album was also a third in a trilogy of albums paying homage to mentors of mine. The first one was released in 2012. With Pete’s 100th birthday this year, I thought it would be a great present.”
McCutcheon wanted to put together a cross section of Seeger’s songs.
“I wanted the audience to be able to hear the dynamics in them. I knew Pete for 40 years, and I was able to have many conversations with him. I feel like I couldn’t have done this 10 years ago,” he says. “Pete was more than merely a musician. He was a man of unique courage. He was generous, humble and as flawed as any of us humans can be. But he was relentless in his willingness to learn and to grow. He gave us songs to fill our throats and our hearts. May the many lessons he left us help us put our own hands on the plow. He did it well for 94 years. It’s our turn now.”