featuring creative performances from the WVIA Studios.

I'm George Graham.

This time on the Homegrown Music Concert, we have a group of musicians from the Woodstock scene who have worked as studio musicians and is led by a keyboard player and producer who has recorded with members of The Band, Graham Parker, Commander Cody and others.

Here are Professor Louie and the Crowmatix.

(folk music) ♪ Well, I'm once again in the realm of my memory ♪ ♪ And it's almost driving me out of my mind ♪ ♪ I see pictures of the past ♪ And they fade and never last ♪ And they always seem to be the better kind ♪ ♪ Savage the temptation, I met her with a kiss ♪ ♪ Sweet wine, a storm and open sea ♪ ♪ A full and open mouth ♪ That tasted just like this ♪ And far away, a man from Galilee ♪ ♪ Who can bear alone these restless islands ♪ ♪ And who can truly call these times their own ♪ ♪ And who among the many are still happy with the few ♪ ♪ And who will take this lonesome body home ♪ ♪ Well, it's a strange old game ♪ ♪ That sometimes needs a direction ♪ ♪ As you wear a while or who we're going to ♪ ♪ I just throw my soul out for its own inspection ♪ ♪ And I hold it up to the light ♪ ♪ To see those 40 shades of blue ♪ ♪ 40 shades of blue ♪ Well, just for a while, I'll contemplate surrender ♪ ♪ Though I know deep down that's not what's meant for me ♪ ♪ I'm just waiting for a sign ♪ Or just a whisper of some kind ♪ ♪ And a backdoor to a sweet eternity ♪ ♪ Now, who can bear alone these restless islands ♪ ♪ And who can truly call these times their own ♪ ♪ And who among the many are still happy with the few ♪ ♪ And who will take this lonesome body home ♪ ♪ Oh yes ♪ Who will take this lonesome body home ♪ ♪ Home (audience clapping) - Thank you very much, really appreciate it.

Thank you so much.

So we'd like to do, first of all, John Platania on the guitar.

(audience clapping) That had a handful.

Miss Marie on the vocals and a lot of the writing that you're going to hear.

And as George had mentioned, we all produce records and have been on a lot of records.

And fortunately for me, I had a great job with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, The Band.

And I always like playing, absolutely, gotta have applause for the right guys.

And I always like playing a couple songs that I helped them create together on one of my productions.

This one is called, from the "Jericho" record, a tune called "Blind Willie McTell."

(slow steady music) ♪ See the arrow on the doorpost ♪ ♪ Saying this land is condemned ♪ ♪ All the way to New Orleans ♪ To Jerusalem ♪ Now we've traveled through East Texas ♪ ♪ Where many a martyr fell ♪ And I know one thing ♪ Nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell ♪ ♪ I heard the hoo-dove singing ♪ As they were taking down the tents ♪ ♪ The barren trees ♪ Or the stars above ♪ Were his only audience ♪ Now those charcoal gypsy maidens ♪ ♪ Can strut their feathers well ♪ ♪ And I know one thing ♪ Nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell ♪ (Louie vocalizing) ♪ See those big plantations burning ♪ ♪ I can hear the cracking of those whips ♪ ♪ Smell those sweet magnolia blossoms blooming ♪ ♪ I could hear the ghosts of the slavery ships ♪ ♪ I can hear the tribes a-moaning ♪ ♪ I could hear the undertaker's bell ♪ ♪ And I know one thing ♪ Nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell ♪ (blues music) - John Platania on that solo.

♪ And there's a woman standing by the river ♪ ♪ She is with a fine, young, handsome man ♪ ♪ He's all dressed, just like a squire ♪ ♪ He got bootleg whiskey in his hands ♪ ♪ And there's a chain gang out on the highway ♪ ♪ Oh, I hear them rebels yell ♪ Yes ♪ I know one thing ♪ Nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell ♪ (blues music) (Louie vocalizing) ♪ Now God is in heaven ♪ And we all want what is his ♪ The power and greed ♪ Oh, that corruptible seed seems to be all that there is ♪ ♪ Now I'm gazing out my window ♪ Of this here WVIA Media hotel ♪ ♪ And I know one thing ♪ Nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell ♪ (Marie vocalizing) ♪ And I know one thing ♪ Nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell ♪ (blues music) (singers vocalizing) (audience clapping) - Thank you.

- Thank you so much, appreciate that.

Start for, okay for you now?

Good.

Well, since we're having luck with The Band songs, I'd like to, we'd like to play one more song from that same record that I had a chance to produce.

And I'm always grateful for it.

And whenever you hear anybody playing this song, 'cause a lot of groups do cover this song at this point, (piano music) you know it was from the arrangement that we did years ago with The Band.

And luckily, I was there to work with the guys and figure it out.

Great song that's kept us all going for a long time.

(bright music) ♪ Well, they blew up the chicken man ♪ ♪ Over in Philly last night ♪ And they blew up his house too ♪ ♪ Down on the boardwalk ♪ They're ready for a fight ♪ Going to see what them racket boys can do ♪ ♪ Now there's trouble bussing in from out of state ♪ ♪ And the DA can't get no relief ♪ ♪ Going to be a rumble on that promenade ♪ ♪ And the gambling commissioner's hanging on ♪ ♪ By the skin of his teeth ♪ Everything dies ♪ Baby, that's a fact ♪ Maybe everything that dies, someday it come back ♪ ♪ Put your makeup on ♪ Fix your hair up pretty ♪ Meet me tonight in Atlantic City ♪ ♪ Hey (bright music) ♪ Well, now I got me a job ♪ Putting my money away ♪ Because I got the kind of debt ♪ ♪ That no more honest man can pay ♪ ♪ So I chew out all I had from that Central Trust ♪ ♪ And I bought us two tickets on that coast city bus ♪ ♪ Everything dies ♪ Baby, that's a fact ♪ Maybe everything that dies, someday it come back ♪ ♪ Put your makeup on ♪ Fix your hair up pretty ♪ And meet me tonight in Atlantic City ♪ (bright music) ♪ Well, now our love my have died ♪ ♪ And our love has gone cold ♪ But with you forever I'll stay ♪ ♪ 'Cause we're going out West ♪ Where the sand turns to gold ♪ So put your stockings on ♪ 'Cause it might get cold ♪ Oh, everything dies ♪ Baby, that's a fact ♪ Maybe everything that dies, someday it come back ♪ ♪ Put your makeup on ♪ Fix your hair up pretty ♪ And meet me tonight in Atlantic City ♪ (bright music) ♪ Well, now I'm looking for a job ♪ ♪ But they're hard to find ♪ There's winners and there's losers ♪ ♪ And I'm south of the line ♪ And I'm tired of getting caught out on that losing end ♪ ♪ So I talked to a man last night ♪ ♪ Going to do a little favor for him ♪ ♪ Everything dies ♪ Baby, that's a fact ♪ Maybe everything that dies, someday it come back ♪ ♪ Put your makeup on ♪ Fix your hair up pretty ♪ And meet me tonight in Atlantic City ♪ ♪ Yes, now meet me tonight in Atlantic City ♪ ♪ Ooh, so meet me tonight in Atlantic City ♪ ♪ Come on now (bright music) - Professor Louie on the accordion, yeah.

(audience clapping) - Thank you so much.

That's also from our latest EP, the "Rockin' Legacy Volume One," where we recorded different songs from groups that we've all worked with and had the pleasure and honor of maybe producing their record or playing on the songs.

So what we'd like to do now for you is from one of our original CDs called "Strike Up the Band."

Great tune that Miss Marie wrote, and "Strike Up the Band" was on the radio music charts for about the whole year in 2022, a tune called "Fall Back on Me."

(slow blues music) ♪ Can't hold the wings of an angel ♪ ♪ Can't hold back the hands of time ♪ ♪ Can't stop that clock from ticking ♪ ♪ No reason and rhyme ♪ Been such a long time, darling ♪ ♪ With no message from above (Louie vocalizing) ♪ Now, do you really want it ♪ Do you really want my love, whoa ♪ ♪ You can fall back on me ♪ When you need a friend ♪ Fall back on me ♪ When you reach the end ♪ Just call my name anytime you're feeling blue ♪ ♪ Oh, baby, baby ♪ I am here for you (slow blues music) ♪ The wind has gone out from my sails ♪ ♪ And something inside has died ♪ ♪ Can't stop that teardrop falling ♪ ♪ The truth can't be denied ♪ Been so hard, darling ♪ Waiting for you to come back home ♪ ♪ Come back home ♪ Now, do you really want it ♪ Do you really want my love, whoa ♪ ♪ You can fall back on me ♪ When you need a friend ♪ You can fall back on me, baby, I said, fall back on me ♪ ♪ Anytime you feel like you're going to reach the end ♪ ♪ Call my name when you're feeling blue ♪ ♪ Baby, baby, baby ♪ I am here for you (singers vocalizing) ♪ Teardrop ♪ Ooh, teardrop ♪ Ooh, teardrop ♪ Ooh, teardrop ♪ I said, do you really want it ♪ ♪ Oh, baby ♪ Do you really want it ♪ Do you want me now ♪ Do you really want it ♪ Do you really want it (Marie vocalizing) ♪ Do you, do you really want my love ♪ - Before I got to Woodstock, though, and what really helped me deal with famous people, 'cause to deal with the bands, you really had to understand how to work with famous people, especially if you weren't a famous record producer.

You know?

That's really important.

And so what I had done was, I had played a lot in blues and R&B bands in New York, but I joined the gospel circuit with a group called the Mighty Gospel Giants of Brooklyn.

And we made three albums on Mercury Records and went on tour with the Highway QC's and Dorothy Norwood and people like that.

So I was with extremely soul stirrers.

I mean, could go on and on, Brooklyn all stars.

And I would do shows, at least four or five gospel shows a week, in Brooklyn or Queens.

And then we would go on the road and go down South and Florida.

And so I got to learn about how to treat people that were fantastic, that were stars in their own right.

And so therefore, and the greatest singers in the world, 'cause the group I was with, the Mighty Gospel Giants of Brooklyn were one of the most reverent singers of all of them.

We would go play with the Flamingos and groups like that and the Persuasions, and they would all ask these guys to join their groups, and they wouldn't do it because they swore too much in the dressing room.

- (laughs) Yeah right.

- So I realized there's a whole other world that exists out here besides the blues and honky tonk clubs, which I was playing with some of the Black artists that were in Brooklyn that would come around and would, that they'd be playing local bars at that time.

By playing in the gospel circuit, I learned about the big stars and how to act and treat them.

And so when I got with The Band and got friendly with them, they realized that.

They could read it.

(Marie cheers) ♪ Oh (upbeat blues music) (Marie vocalizing) ♪ Love bound, trucking the whole night through ♪ ♪ I'm love bound, trucking the whole night through ♪ ♪ Looking down that dusty road ♪ I hear those footprints belong to you ♪ ♪ Love bound ♪ They move the whole night through ♪ ♪ Love bound ♪ They move the away the blues ♪ Look to the sky up and down ♪ I'm lonely without you ♪ I was in hurry, baby ♪ Didn't think I needed you ♪ I was in a hurry, child ♪ Didn't think I needed you ♪ Can't explain what happened ♪ I do believe what's true, oh (upbeat blues music) ♪ Half mile down the track ♪ I see my love coming back ♪ Half mile down the track ♪ My pride is coming back ♪ In the past three minutes ♪ I'll get my baby back, oh ♪ Run, run, run, run ♪ You know I paid my dues ♪ Run, run, run, run ♪ You know I paid my dues ♪ I said, baby, can you see me ♪ I'm love bound for you ♪ I said, baby, can you see me ♪ I'm love bound for you ♪ Running right to you ♪ And I'm running, child ♪ Running right to you, oh ♪ I'm love bound ♪ Yes, I am ♪ Ooh yeah ♪ I'm love bound ♪ Running right to you, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Love bound, oh ♪ I'm love bound (Marie vocalizing) ♪ Yeah, oh ♪ Oh yeah (upbeat blues music) ♪ You know I'm love bound for you, yeah ♪ (audience clapping) - All right.

- Thank you so much.

A little blues for you.

Thank you.

(folk music) ♪ Ooh, why'd you do that to me ♪ Say yes, why'd you do that to me ♪ ♪ You said you were my friend ♪ And you'd be there until the end ♪ ♪ So now look out, baby, at the issue you got me in ♪ ♪ Say hoo, why'd you do that to me ♪ ♪ Say yes, why'd you do that to me ♪ ♪ I work for you, baby ♪ And I give you all my dough ♪ So now tell me, baby, why my key won't fit no more ♪ ♪ Hoo, yeah, play it now - Play it, John.

(blues music) (Marie cheers) (blues music) ♪ I say, yes, why'd you do that to me ♪ ♪ Tell me, what were you doing ♪ When I could not unlock your door ♪ ♪ So now tell me, baby, why my key won't fit no more ♪ ♪ Say yes, that's all right for you ♪ ♪ Say yes, that's all right for you ♪ ♪ Tell me, bring me down my coat ♪ ♪ Baby, and my cane ♪ 'Cause I'm way beyond cripple ♪ ♪ My poor heart is full of pain ♪ ♪ Say yes, that's all right for you ♪ ♪ Say yes, that's all right for you ♪ ♪ You can aways tell ♪ When your woman's going to treat you mean ♪ ♪ Because there's a mule been kicking ♪ ♪ And your house, it never clean ♪ - [Band Member] (cheers) Yeah!

- [Marie] All right.

- Thank you.

(audience clapping) Two, three.

(steady blues music) ♪ Oh baby, look out at the weather ♪ ♪ Honey, I believe it's going to rain ♪ ♪ Oh, look out at the weather ♪ Honey, I believe it's going to rain ♪ ♪ Well, I've got clouds in my heart ♪ ♪ Hope I see that sun again ♪ Now, now the lightning might be flashing ♪ ♪ Can't you hear the thunder roaring ♪ ♪ Yes, yes, the lightning might be flashing ♪ ♪ Can't you hear that thunder roaring ♪ ♪ Well, I'm alone by myself ♪ Don't you hear the wind blowing ♪ ♪ Yes, yes, the weather might be fair ♪ ♪ But I've got clouds down deep in my heart ♪ ♪ Yes, the weather might be fair ♪ ♪ But I've got clouds down deep in my heart ♪ ♪ Well, you are the prettiest little girl ♪ ♪ But we made such a bad start (singers vocalizing) - Hey, John, play something.

(blues music) (singers vocalizing) ♪ Oh baby, look out at the weather ♪ ♪ Honey, I believe it's gonna rain ♪ ♪ Oh, look out at the weather ♪ Honey, I believe it's gonna rain ♪ ♪ Well, I've got clouds in my heart ♪ ♪ Hope I see ♪ Hope I see ♪ Hope I see ♪ Hope I see ♪ Hope I see that sun again ♪ Yeah, Professor Louie and the Crowmatix ♪ (audience clapping) - Well, thank you all so much.

(slow contemplative music) ♪ What's the matter with me ♪ I don't have much to say ♪ Daylight is sneaking through the window ♪ ♪ And I'm sitting right here in this all night cafe ♪ ♪ Oh, walking to and fro beneath the moon ♪ ♪ Down to where the trucks are rolling really slow ♪ ♪ You know, I guess ♪ I guess I'll just sit right here on this bank of sand ♪ ♪ And watch the river flow ♪ Oh, you know, I wish I was back in the city ♪ ♪ And not just sitting right here on this bank of sand ♪ ♪ Where the sunlight's beating down over the chimney tops ♪ ♪ Oh, and my true love is so close at hand ♪ ♪ Oh, you know, if I only had wings ♪ ♪ And I could fly ♪ You know where I would go ♪ Oh, but right now ♪ I'm gonna sit here ♪ And watch the river flow ♪ Oh, you know, I just wanna tell you ♪ ♪ People are disagreeing about just everything ♪ ♪ Oh, I gotta stop ♪ I gotta stop and wonder why ♪ Why, only yesterday, I saw somebody out ♪ ♪ Right there on the street ♪ You know, the only thing they could do was cry ♪ ♪ Oh, you know, that old river gives keeps on ♪ ♪ You know, whatever gets in the way ♪ ♪ Which way the wind does blow ♪ So I guess, right now I gotta sit right here ♪ ♪ I'm gonna watch that river flow ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah (Marie vocalizing) (slow blues music) ♪ Oh, you know, I gotta tell you right now ♪ ♪ I say, people everywhere are just disagreeing ♪ ♪ About everything, yeah ♪ I gotta stop ♪ Stop and wonder why ♪ Oh, I saw that poor man right down there on the street ♪ ♪ All he could do, all he could do is cry ♪ ♪ Oh, that old man river keeps rolling on ♪ ♪ No matter what gets in the way ♪ ♪ Or which way the wind does blow ♪ ♪ So I guess right now, what am I gonna do ♪ ♪ I'm gonna sit here on a bank of sand ♪ ♪ Watch the river flow ♪ Oh yeah ♪ I'm gonna sit right here ♪ And watch that river flow ♪ I'll watch it flow ♪ I'll watch it roll ♪ I'll watch it roll ♪ All night long ♪ It's gonna roll and roll ♪ That old man river ♪ It's gonna roll and roll, roll, roll ♪ ♪ I guess I'll sit right here on this sand ♪ ♪ I'm gonna watch that river ♪ Watch that river ♪ Flow (Marie vocalizing) - Basically, more, my career to Van really, and from there, everything else fell in place.

I met Van after the Astral Weeks, after Bang Records.

And I started with him, auditioned for him in Woodstock when he moved from Boston to Woodstock right after "Moondance."

I guess maybe '68, he moved there, auditioned in '69, started gigging with him.

You know, one of the first gigs I did with him was Newport Folk Festival.

I mean, that was like, that was my first major gig.

It was just me and Van.

That was it.

That was a, and you know, that started the whole thing off and started, you know, we started rehearsing for "Moondance," did "Moondance," and I didn't know what I was getting into then, and you know, it's, I guess it's a classic now, from that to "Domino" and "Street Choir" and a bunch of other things with him.

And then while I was working with Van, I started working with Judy Collins and through Warner Brothers 'cause I was helping them at the A&R department.

- Started out as a classical piano player for 10 years, and then of course, I got into R&B and soul music and blues, which I loved.

When I met Professor Louie, after time went by, I had been in other bands.

But then we started forming groups around New York City.

When he, as we mentioned before, when he went up to Woodstock, of course, I went with him, ended up performing and recording and traveling with a lot of the bands that Louie played with.

And in the studio, I really had the opportunity of singing back, a lot of backgrounds for like people like Guy Davis who's a great blues player.

A lot of records we made in the studio I've been involved with.

And I've also had the opportunity to, for the last 20 years, do a lot of the graphics.

So I have a another girl that works with me that's fabulous, and we do a lot of graphics for EPs, LPs, CDs and so forth.

Louie and I also went to Europe and did work with Italian group.

We started doing a documentary over there, before COVID, and we didn't get a chance to finish that project, which they're getting in touch with us now to hopefully maybe we can go back over there now and do that.

So we've done a lot of different, a lot of different musical projects over the years, wonderful stuff, and we're still doing it.

(laughing) Yeah, still going.

(percussive music) (upbeat music) ♪ Open up your hand ♪ Open up your heart ♪ Open up your hand ♪ Open up your heart ♪ When you're losing, playing the fool ♪ ♪ But try to remember just to keep your cool ♪ ♪ With that open hand ♪ And open heart ♪ Lost your way in the night ♪ I look around, try to find your sight ♪ ♪ With that open hand ♪ And open heart ♪ Open up your hand ♪ Open up your heart ♪ Open up your hand ♪ Open up your heart ♪ Feeling lost and close to the end ♪ ♪ I'll reach for the top, start all over again ♪ ♪ With an open hand ♪ And open heart ♪ Lost your way in the night ♪ I look around, try to find your sight ♪ ♪ With an open hand ♪ And open heart ♪ We're losing hope ♪ End up on your knees ♪ Make a stand ♪ Just say what you please ♪ With an open hand ♪ And open heart ♪ You've got the right to tell ♪ The secret's out now ♪ It's clear as a bell ♪ With an open hand ♪ And open heart ♪ Open up your hand ♪ Open up your heart ♪ Open up your hand ♪ Open up your heart ♪ Bring light ♪ To a soul in the dark ♪ Bring light to a soul in the dark ♪ ♪ Bring light to a soul in the dark ♪ ♪ Go ahead, John, play your song ♪ (steady blues music) ♪ Bring light to a soul in the dark ♪ ♪ Bring light to a soul in the dark ♪ ♪ Bring light to a soul in the dark ♪ ♪ Bring light to a soul in the dark ♪ ♪ Bring light to a soul in the dark ♪ (audience clapping) - Thank you so much, appreciate it.

Like to play a nice, I think we got a little bit of time here.

There's a clock counting down.

So we're doing good here.

I'd like to play a nice family song, song's about a family gathering around, reading out of a book or checking out a old picture book, could be a prayer book, a tune called "Book Faded Brown."

(slow contemplative music) ♪ Another autumn night ♪ It's getting chilly ♪ The birds are gathering round, getting ready ♪ ♪ The moon and sun are both so heavy ♪ ♪ They're barely off the ground ♪ ♪ He's turning the wheels of his daddy's plow ♪ ♪ Sowing the land that's been handed down ♪ ♪ Singing a song from a book that's faded brown ♪ ♪ Mary, she's on the step ♪ She's waving ♪ Her hair is like the lights from heaven ♪ ♪ Family comes together now ♪ Believe in what they found ♪ Grace in said at the table round ♪ ♪ Prayer before they settle down ♪ ♪ Side by side with a book that's faded brown ♪ ♪ Have you ever wondered why ♪ There's a rainbow in the sky ♪ Maybe it's tears that God has been crying ♪ ♪ And he leaves the world ♪ He leaves the world ♪ With a rainbow for a crown, oh ♪ ♪ Those who say that they're the outsiders ♪ ♪ Are only easy riders on a horse that's growing lean ♪ ♪ The way of the world is upside down ♪ ♪ But they all hold hands as they walk through town ♪ ♪ Side by side with a book that's faded brown ♪ (slow blues music) ♪ Have you ever wondered why ♪ There's a rainbow in the sky ♪ Maybe it's tears that God has been crying ♪ ♪ And he leaves the world ♪ He leaves the world ♪ With a rainbow for a crown, oh ♪ ♪ By the way ♪ Have I told you already ♪ His parents are buried 'neath the tree that they love ♪ ♪ The way the world is upside down ♪ ♪ And even a flower can make a sound ♪ ♪ When it's pressed together in a book that's faded ♪ ♪ Pressed together in a book that's faded ♪ ♪ Pressed together in a book that's faded brown ♪ ♪ Bound together in a book that's faded brown ♪ (Marie vocalizing) (audience clapping) - Thank you so much, appreciate it.

Thank you so much, WVIA, for having us here at the Homegrown.

Thank you, George, for asking us to play.

It's been enjoyable.

Great audience.

We're gonna do one more family song, a short one here, a tune called "Daughters and Sons."

(upbeat music) ♪ The wild mountain streams that tumble white and blue ♪ ♪ The wild mountain streams, they tumble white and blue ♪ ♪ Where the wild water's mixed, I am here with you ♪ ♪ If you're looking for a rainbow ♪ ♪ It's right there on your window sill ♪ ♪ Well, if you're looking for a rainbow ♪ ♪ It's right there on your window sill ♪ ♪ When you're dancing and singing ♪ ♪ Hugging those you love, what a thrill ♪ - Here we go.

♪ Just tell your daughters and sons ♪ ♪ Oh, tell your daughters and sons ♪ ♪ There's room enough for love ♪ And love enough for everyone, yeah ♪ ♪ Reach for the stars ♪ Reach for the open door ♪ Reach for the stars ♪ Reach for the open door ♪ Reach out to your neighbor ♪ Everybody get on board - All right.

- Here we go, one time.

♪ And tell your daughters and sons ♪ ♪ Tell your daughters and sons ♪ There's room enough for love and love enough for everyone ♪ - One time.

♪ Oh yeah ♪ Well, there's room enough for love ♪ ♪ And love enough for everyone ♪ There's room enough for love and love enough for everyone ♪ - One more time, sing it with me.

(blues music) (singers vocalizing) All right, thank you, everybody.

Thank you, Kate Taylor, for being here tonight with us too, wonderful show.

Thank you.

(audience clapping)