Lifelong Learning Society, Florida Atlantic University
Jupiter, FL
Place: Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus
Email: [email protected] Phone: 561-799-8547
Friedberg Auditorium
Osher/FAU Lifelong Learning
777 Glades Rd
Boca Raton, FL
561-297-3185 [email protected]
Osher/FAU Lifelong Learning
Florida Atlantic University
Winter 2023
Music Americana:
Old & New Favorites
Jupiter, FL
Tuesdays 2:30 pm
1/24; 2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28;
3/7, 3/14, 3/21
561-799-8547 [email protected]
Boca Raton, FL
Wednesdays 3:00 pm
1/11, 1/18, 1/25; 2/8, 2/15, 2/22;
3/1, 3/8
561-297-3185 [email protected]
Celebrated for their grace, humor, passion, and style—and often considered the very best at what they do--great artists provide the music and words that define their time. From the brilliant perfection of violinist Joshua Heifetz to the sophisticated rhythms of the Duke Ellington Orchestra—now in its 100th year; from the raw testimony of Ethel Waters and Josh White to the elegance of My Fair Lady; from comic-book novelty hits to the classic arias of Jose Carreras; from the drama of Fleetwood Mac to the wise counsel of Leonard Cohen, their stories live on in song. This course examines the work, biographies, and enduring importance of these musical artists, and attempts to sort myth from reality, using updated videos and excerpts from feature films, live performances, and a few surprises.
Lectures
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Virtuosity: Joshua Heifetz, Martha Argerich
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Birth of The Blues: Ethel Waters, Etta James, Amy Winehouse
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When Swing Was King: Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw
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Folk Then & Now: Leadbelly, Josh White, Rhiannon Giddens
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Britain on Broadway: "My Fair Lady," "Six"
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The Art of Novelty Songs: Roger Miller, Ray Stevens, Weird Al
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Love, Marriage & Pop Music: Fleetwood Mac, Abba
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The Golden Voice: Jose Carreras, Leonard Cohen
Instructor Rod MacDonald
Recipient of the LLS 2012 Distinguished Faculty Award
Rod MacDonald began his career as a singer/songwriter in Greenwich Village in New York City in 1973. He has 21 songs in the Smithsonian Folkways collection and 13 solo CDs, including the 2020 release "Boulevard". He performs at festivals and in clubs and concerts locally and throughout North America and Europe, and was named Best Local Acoustic Performer in Broward and Palm Beach counties by New Times, and one of the Ten Magnificent Musicians of Palm Beach County by the Palm Beach Post. An instructor with LLS since 2006, his previous series include Folksinging in Modern Times, The Great American Songbook, The Roots of Rock & Roll, and Mastery Of The Art.
To register
561-297-3185 [email protected]
561-799-8547 [email protected]
The Songs Of Greenwich Village
with Rod MacDonald
Thursday, February 16 @ 7 pm
Barry and Florence Friedberg Auditorium,
FAU Boca Raton Campus
(561) 297-3185 [email protected]
Thursday, March 9 @ 7 pm
Lifelong Learning Complex, FAU Jupiter campus
(561) 799 - 8547 or [email protected]
The Songs Of Greenwich Village
From the 1940s, when Woody Guthrie, the Lomaxes and Pete Seeger teamed up to bring American folk music to the public, through the 1950s and 60s Folk Revival led by the Weavers, Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Joni Mitchell, Richie Havens and many others, to the New Folk Revival of the 1980s, Greenwich Village has produced some of the most enduring songs in popular music. And from the 1970s to the mid-90s Rod MacDonald was there, headlining clubs and concerts, working with many famous artists, co-founding the Greenwich Village Folk Festival (a non-profit of which he's still the President), and enjoying the sound of one of the most vibrant communities in music history.
Join Rod MacDonald for this solo concert and tour of the music of this historic neighborhood, as told in its songs.
--Rod MacDonald became one of Greenwich Village’s top singer-songwriters during the 1970s and 80s and today performs throughout North America and Europe. In South Florida, he has been named “Best Local Acoustic Artist” by New Times and one of the “Ten Magnificent Musicians of Palm Beach County” by The Palm Beach Post, who named his 2014 CD, Later That Night, “Best Local CD of 2014.” He has been a Music Americana instructor at FAU since 2006.
Biographical Information:
Rod MacDonald began his career as a singer/songwriter in Greenwich Village in New York City in 1973. He has 21 songs in the Smithsonian Folkways collection and 12 solo CDs, including the 2018 release "Beginning Again". He performs at festivals and in clubs and concerts locally and throughout North America and Europe, and was named Best Local Acoustic Performer in Broward and Palm Beach counties by New Times, and one of the Ten Magnificent Musicians of Palm Beach County by the Palm Beach Post. An instructor with LLS since 2006, his previous series include Folksinging in Modern Times, The Great American Songbook, The Roots of Rock & Roll, and Mastery Of The Art.
Past Classes
Music Americana:
A Lifetime Of Song
Instructor Rod MacDonald
Recipient of the LLS 2012 Distinguished Faculty Award
From sheer talent, breaking new ground, or outselling their rivals, a few artists are foremost practitioners of their art. Their work is legendary, their styles imitated, but never surpassed, their triumphs and losses brilliantly conveyed in their music. From the deep baritone of Paul Robeson to the crystalline harmonies of Crosby, Stills & Nash; from the Gulag-defying symphonies of Shostakovich to the rock operas of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody; from the intense lyricism of Bob Dylan to the lyric soul of Nina Simone, great artists rise above their peers and critics to tell our story.
This course will examine the work, biographies and enduring importance of these musical artists and attempt to sort myth from reality, using updated videos and excerpts from feature films, live performances and a few surprises.
1. More Than a Song - Paul Robeson, Dimitri Shostakovich
2. Historic Voices - Marian Anderson, Maria Callas
3. The Words Of Poets - Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan
4. The Great Story - “A Star Is Born,” “Bohemian Rhapsody”
5. The Great Story - Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder
6. The Sweetest Sound - Crosby, Stills & Nash, Rod Stewart
7. The New Broadway Musical - Bob Fosse/Gwen Verdon, Hadestown
8. No Time For Crying - Nina Simone, Mavis Staples
When the Beatles broke up in 1970, they were the top-selling band in history, and still are. The four members, not yet 30, then went on to successful solo careers, each topping the charts on his own. While George Harrison expressed his spiritual yearnings in “Isn’t It a Pity” and John Lennon tried to “Imagine” a different world, Paul McCartney became the biggest-selling songwriter of all time with such pop classics as “Live And Let Die,” and Ringo Starr led his All-Starr Band on “It Don’t Come Easy” tours.
Join Rod MacDonald & The Humdingers for a fun and low-decibel tour through the lives, music and genius of these unique artists, as told in their songs.
Rod MacDonald, guitar, has 12 CDs of his songs, including 2018’s Beginning Again, as heard on WLRN’s Folk and Acoustic Music. He performs frequently in South Florida and throughout North America and Europe, and is a lifelong devotee of popular song. He has been an instructor with LLS since 2006.
Bill Meredith, drums, is the backbone of several Palm Beach County rock and roll bands, including Big Brass Bed and Illumination. He has toured throughout the US and Canada, and appears on more than a dozen CDs.
Brad Keller, keyboards, has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival and with Maynard Ferguson and the Ink Spots, is the jazz piano instructor at Palm Beach State College and has taught music in Palm Beach County public schools for twenty years. He is also the co-author of the “Jazz Cats” books used internationally to introduce young students to jazz.
Doug Lindsey, bass and vocals, has been playing in south Florida bands for 30 years.
John Smotherman, lead guitar, plays with Big Brass Bed, Illumination and several Palm Beach County bands. His exquisite solos caused the Palm Beach Post to label him one of the “Ten Magnificent Musicians of Palm Beach County.”
Breaking in as a Nashville songwriter with hits like “Nightlife” and “Crazy” (the most played song in the history of American jukeboxes), Willie Nelson rose to popularity by transcending country music with his jazz-inflected guitar and such classic songs as “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain,” “On The Road Again,” “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before” and “Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.” A sophisticated musician and gentle singer, his multi-platinum album of jazz standards, “Blue Skies,” is among the top collections of the Great American Songbook.
Join Rod MacDonald & The Humdingers for a fun and low-decibel tour through the life, music and genius of this legend of American music, as told in his songs.
Rod MacDonald, guitar, has 12 CDs of his songs, including 2018’s Beginning Again, as heard on WLRN’s Folk and Acoustic Music. He performs frequently in South Florida and throughout North America and Europe, and is a lifelong devotee of popular song. He has been an instructor with LLS since 2006.
Bill Meredith, drums, is the backbone of several Palm Beach County rock and roll bands, including Big Brass Bed and Illumination. He has toured throughout the US and Canada, and appears on more than a dozen CDs.
Brad Keller, keyboards, has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival and with Maynard Ferguson and the Ink Spots, is the jazz piano instructor at Palm Beach State College and has taught music in Palm Beach County public schools for twenty years. He is also the co-author of the “Jazz Cats” books used internationally to introduce young students to jazz.
Doug Lindsey, bass and vocals, has been playing in south Florida bands for 30 years.
John Smotherman, lead guitar, plays with Big Brass Bed, Illumination and several Palm Beach County bands. His exquisite solos caused the Palm Beach Post to label him one of the “Ten Magnificent Musicians of Palm Beach County.”