New book tells the history of Godfrey Daniels
Godfrey Daniels, the Lehigh Valley’s premier music listening club, announces the publication of “Welcome to Godfrey Daniels: How a Small Folk Club Became a Legendary Venue for Musicians from Around The World.” The book, which details stories and events from the venue’s 47-year-history, is written by Godfrey’s co- founder, musician and storyteller Dave
Fry. Proceeds from the 144-page book sales will benefit Godfrey Daniels and future operations of the nonprofit club.
For Fry, the process of capturing highlights of the club’s evolution through the years, was an act of love that took more than eight years to write. Originally, the book was planned to be a photo book of performers and captions, but it quickly expanded to much more.
The book is divided by decades and features highlights of the years in archived photos and stories. Since opening its doors in 1976, the club has presented more than 4,000 performances, featuring folk, blues, Celtic, world and jazz, along with community events, such as open mics and performances by other community arts organizations.
In the mid-’70s, Fry and other bandmates often performed at the Lehigh Tavern (now The Funhouse). In conversations with the owner, Fry said he often lamented that there was no place to perform live music other than in bars. He then heard that the donut shop next door was for sale. Fry went to look at it, a team of volunteers was lined up and the club was slowly transformed. The bakery counter worked as a gathering spot, with co-founder Cindy Dinsmore as hospitality manager. Wood beams and barn walls were erected, church pews donated, and a stage constructed. The small, intimate space was a perfect intimate setting for approximately 75 people to comfortably enjoy live music.
Godfrey’s “Favorite
Son” folksinger John Gorka wrote the book’s forward and expressed his gratitude that Godfrey’s has sustained as a nonprofit listening room through the years.
“For me, Godfrey’s was essential as a place of inspiration and a place to start building my own dream of making music,” Gorka writes. The book also gave Fry the opportunity to extend his vision for Godfrey’s and how folk music can both survive and thrive in the future.
“In the past, Godfrey’s survived the advent of video stores, the internet, competition by festivals and other venues and, most recently, the challenge of the pandemic,” Fry said. “Godfrey’s has always adapted to these changes and we continue to find new opportunities, with vital collaborations with other community organizations so we can all thrive.”
The book is self-published by Dave Fry and printed by Christmas
City Printing. It will retail for $45. Books will be available on the Godfrey Daniels website, www. godfreydaniels.org , at the club and in several area bookstores.