Today we’d like to introduce you to Evo Bluestein
Hi Evo, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My father was a multi-instrumentalist, folksinger and professor of American literature and folklore. He used music in his teaching. He also performed publicly. At a certain stage, all four of his children were ready to join him in a family band. We had hosted well-known folk musicians at our home all our lives and now we were ready to go out and perform, which we did. When my father taught in Japan, China, and other countries, the five-piece band would perform a range of American folk music. We also recorded numerous record albums of American folk music. After playing for folk dance around the country I created a school program where I could call dances and play live music in order to prepare an entire school for a “barn dance” at the end of the week. It was very successful around the state of California and I have been doing it for 30 years.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being an independent musician and self-employed artist is usually frought with uncertainty and frustrations along the way. Funding for my kinds of school programs fluctuates. Many school administrators do not understand the value of my school program–history, geography, coordination, and social skills.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have had nearly 50 years of playing American folk music in various groups or solo. I use fiddle, banjo, autoharp, mandolin, guitar, and other tools to do my work. I developed a week-long music and dance program, mostly within California, where the whole school learns folk dancing together. I never use recordings because I learned how to call dances at the same time as I play fiddle. The week ends in a big Friday night “barn dance,” as the students have a large enough repertoire by then. It’s been very successful. Students learn a lot about our culture but perhaps more importantly, they learn how to behave together.
What makes you happy?
It is very satisfying to make a living doing things you love like music and dance and helping others learn the joy of music and dance. I also love to garden, growing my own food.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.evobluestein.com
- Youtube: evo bluestien channel
