Saturday, October 4, 2014

Helping out Paul Geremia



Paul Geremia, among the very greatest of the country blues revivalists from the 1960s to the present, and also among the greatest contemporary songwriters in that tradition, continues his rehabilitation from a stroke he suffered in June. To help with the financial burden of his recovery – including the fact that Paul’s income came mostly from performing, which he can’t do at present – a YouCaring.com fund has been set up to help him out.

“I’ve got friends all up and down the line and that’s what makes traveling so easy,” Paul wrote in his great song, “The Truth is on the Streets.”

Paul Geremia & Mike Regenstreif
Indeed, I’ve known Paul for about 45 years and presented him often in Montreal during the 1970s and ‘80s. In later years, I’ve reviewed many of his albums – most recently this 2011 review of Love My Stuff – and he was my guest for an extended interview on the Folk Roots/Folk Branches radio show when he returned to Montreal in 1997 to perform at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. 

These pictures were taken at a house concert hosted by Gloria Holloway in Tampa, Florida in December 2012 while Sylvie and I were on vacation in the area. It was great getting a chance to visit with Paul before and after the show.

A whole bunch of people each giving just a little bit goes a long way. Keep on getting well, Paul.

Find me on Twitter. twitter.com/@mikeregenstreif

And on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif
 
--Mike Regenstreif

No comments:

Post a Comment