“...I just need to let you know how much I am enjoying your latest CD ‘Every Step of the Way’...’Not War’ is the song I treasure most...the world really needs to hear your song...” - Pam Gardner Appleton, WI
Waterbug set to release What a Wonderful World: A Family Folk Sampler Mark’s 11th CD, What a Wonderful World, is a 22 song compilation assembled from over 16 years in the recording stuio. The material is family friendly and aimed towards younger listeners, but the music will resonate with listeners of all ages. The arrangements are simple, musical, well thought out and well presented. Eleven of the tracks are from Dvorak’s 1995 award-winning CD Old Songs & New People, three are from 1996’s Just Something My Grandma Used to Sing, three from 2000’s Weavermania! LIVE and one track from Use It Up, Wear It Out, released in 1992. All of the previously released material has been digitally remastered for this release and Dvorak has added four new tracks with The Sons of the Never Wrong, to complete the collection. The result is a 57 minute trip through Dvorak’s wonderful world where the breadth and beauty of American traditional musicfinds its rightful context in a variety of creative settings. Songs are from everybody from Woody Guthrie to Lead Belly to Malvina Reynolds to Irving Berlin to The Sons of the Pioneers to The Weavers as well as traditional songs Dvorak has been singing for live audiences for the better part of two decades. The list of musicians reads like a Who’s Who in Chicago folk music. Appearances by Michael Smith, Barbara Barrow and Tom Dundee are in the live Weavermania! tracks Rick Sherry from Devil In a Woodpile blows blues harp, old-time fiddle master Steve Rosen performs on two tracks and John Williams plays whistle and button accordion on two others. Sue Demel and Deb Lader from The Sons of the Never Wrong accompany Dvorak on four tracks and a host of other local performers make appearances including Birdie Sue Zwit who believe it or not, adds some lovely sounding bird calls on one song. Prerelease copies of What a Wonderful World: A Family Folk Sampler are available online at www.waterbug.com and available at the Different Strummer Music Store located in the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. 2008 Woodstock Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement Award I am honored and humbled to be named the 2008 recipient of the Woodstock Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. Please join me at the Woodstock Folk Festival on Sunday, July 20, Woodstock, IL where the award ceremony will take place. Festival Board Vice President Annemarie Serra writes: For the past 6 years the Woodstock Folk Festival has presented its Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual summer Festival. Recipients have been Art Thieme, Ella Jenkins, Larry Penn, Amy Beth, Holly Near, and Jim Post. In 2008 we would like to give you the Seventh Annual Woodstock Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of your work as a performer, teacher, and folk historian. You are a vibrant part of the local and national folk community. Not only have you contributed to the Old Town School of Folk Music as a teacher but you have also kept the history of the school and its founders alive. It seems especially appropriate that we honor you as OTSFM has just completed its 50th Anniversary year in which you played a key role.  We have enjoyed having you at our Festival before as a performer and workshop leader, but we want to honor you in a more significant way this year. You are a favorite among our audience members and always help make our Festival memorable. The 23rd Annual Festival will be held on Sunday, July 20 2008, 12:30-6 p.m., on historic Woodstock Square. In case of rain, it is held indoors at the Old Court House Arts Center.  Mark Backs The Boss Eric Jones is a contributing writer to Backstreets, the Bruce Springsteen fan magazine. Eric was developing a story about Amercian folk songs, Pete Seeger and Springsteen’s acclaimed Seeger Sessions project. An excerpt from their discussion appears in the current issue. The article isn’t online, but you can order the current issue of Backstreets at www.backstreets.com. Chicago Acoustic Underground Podcast Host Michael Teach said, “We were honored to have Mark in the studio for a wonderful show of his brilliant talent. Chicago is fortunate to have Mark base his creativity here, and his podcast has set the record for downloads...” Click here or on the logo to visit the Chicago Acoustic Underground where you can listen and download more than 110 episodes. You’ll find mine at #108 - 39 minutes of chat and music: it’ll Be Better When It’s Better, My Rose of Jericho, In the Shadow of the Mountain, Lucky in Love, and God Bless the Open Road and You. CAU is currently receiving over 180,000 hits per month worldwide. Log on to www.chicagoacoustic.net, give a listen and drop a comment. Folk Songs Are Full of Life Folk Songs Are Full of Life, my little book of essays and poems is now available at The Different Strummer Music Store in the Old Town School of Folk Music. It is also on the shelf at Illinois libraries in Sandwich, Berwyn, Hazel Crest and a half dozen others. “Mark’s book recounts a journey that is not always on the highway. It is engaging, revealing and intelligently written...” - Quarter Notes Click here to read the entire review. Click here or on the book at the right to preview a few pages and to order your copy online. If you would like to see a copy in your library, please get in touch right away at markdv@aol.com. Community programs & Arts-In-Education In addition to performing in concert, at coffee houses and festivals, I enjoy presenting special music programs to community and arts-in-education audiences. I recently visited the Clear Creek Elementary School, Amana, IA, Great Opportunities Senior Day Facility, Skokie, IL, Cardinal Bernadin School, Orland Hills, IL, Poplar Creek Library, Streamwood, IL , Acacia Academy, LaGrange Highlands, IL, the Izaak Walton League, Homewood, IL and the Elmhurst, IL Historical Society. Visit my Programs & Workshops page for a listing of special concerts, educational programs and workshops I can offer your organization or school. Contact Joann Murdock at Artists of Note, Inc. for details.  Mark’s Scrapbook Click here or on the photo to visit my Scrapbook page. I’ve posted a collection of photographs, files of live tracks, new songs and rare recordings you can listen to and download. If you have a good photo from one of my shows, I’ll post it up if you send it along. Email me at markdv@aol.com. MySpace Log on to www.myspace.com/markdvorakmusic to listen to new songs and old, check my blog, view video and chat. Let’s be friends.http://waterbug.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=417&osCsid=7b16015d2255c0f1f002ff062d8edd50http://waterbug.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=417&osCsid=7b16015d2255c0f1f002ff062d8edd50http://www.backstreets.com/http://www.backstreets.comhttp://www.chicagoacoustic.nethttp://www.chicagoacoustic.nethttp://www.chicagoacoustic.netessay.htmlinglereview.htmlessay.htmlmailto:markdv@aol.com?subject=Folk%20Songs%20Are%20Full%20of%20Lifebooking.htmlbooking.htmlmailto:jmurdock@artistsofnote.com?subject=Mark%20Dvorakscrapbook.htmlscrapbook.htmlscrapbook.htmlmailto:markdv@aol.com?subject=Hey%20Markhttp://www.myspace.com/markdvorakmusicshapeimage_3_link_1shapeimage_3_link_3shapeimage_3_link_5shapeimage_3_link_6shapeimage_3_link_8shapeimage_3_link_9shapeimage_3_link_10shapeimage_3_link_11shapeimage_3_link_12shapeimage_3_link_13shapeimage_3_link_15shapeimage_3_link_16shapeimage_3_link_17shapeimage_3_link_18
“...your wonderful talent brings such peace to folks...with all the crazy images coming our way every day it’s so nice to be able to enjoy such simple community...” - Mike & Linda Lenich, South Holland, IL “...’My Rose of Jericho takes me to another place...” - Tina Dodaro Paw Paw, IL “I just stumbled across your song, The Saddest Town in Illinois...Phenomenal song and performance! Bravo! - Edmund Wallasch La Cresenta, California “I just listened to your song, Not War. It is a beautiful piece of work, very poignant and somber. Your guitar and voice are gorgeous...” - Gina French Salt Lake City, Utah “Your music kicks ass...” - Steve Keller Chicago, IL “Time Ain’t Got Nothin’ is swEET! Nice high lonesome sound on that vocal!” - Ellen Shepard Evanston, IL “Love your music and your voice...” - Bruno Saguenay, Quebec Canada “...the Midwest’s premiere keeper of traditions...” - Rockford Folk Society “...one of a vanishing breed... Although all of us benefit from the tradition, Dvorak is one of the few who keep it alive. Listen. Join in.” - Utah Phillips “No one spins a yarn or sings an old timey song with more skill and respect than Mark Dvorak. He's a builder of the folk world, in Chicago, the region and the continent. His voice and song writing bring the heart of folk music into our contemporary world with authenticity, humor, fun and a great warm voice.” - Bill’s Blues Evanston, IL “...an encyclopedic knowledge of traditional songs... a gifted guitar and banjo player...” - Isthmus Madison, WI “...a note of thanks for your wonderful performance... what a night! In addition to being a stellar musician and story teller, you are also a highly talented ‘engager ’... it’s what sets you apart... there were so many wonderful comments...” - Sharon Speziale Someplace Else Concerts LaGrange, IL “...I wanted you to know I listened to your record and loved it, sounds great man...” - Jim Tullio, Winnetka, IL “...pizzazz and humor, fine pickin’ and an obvious affection for the American tradition; the down home, burly side of the musical coin...” - Art Thieme, Peru, IL | “...I taught ‘Every Step of the Way’ at a gospel singing party the other night...the song is exquisite...” - Eric Zorn Chicago, IL “...Mark was wonderful on WRUW...the workshop and concert were a blast... we were lucky to have had him here...” - Joanne Laessig FolkNet Cleveland Heights, OH
“Just wanted to say once again what a treat it was for us to have you to come to Flint and share your love of folk music with us - you’re the best.”
- Ron & Gail Woods
Flint, MI Folk Society
“...great concert in Lansing! I was caught off guard by the many emotions it triggered...” - Theresa Abed Lansing, MI Stay in touch join Mark’s email list today click here “Dvorak is a modern day troubadour and Chicago’s folk treasure... Equal parts Big Bill Broonzy, Win Stracke and Art Thieme...” - Second Sunday Concerts Chicago, IL “One of the brightest stars in the Midwest folk sky.” - First Night Evanston, IL “We were honored to have Mark in the studio for a wonderful show of his brilliant talent. The Windy City is fortunate to have Mark base his creativity here, and his podcast has set the record for downloads...” - Michael Teach Chicago Acoustic Underground “He is a cross between James Taylor, Pete Seeger and Big Bill Broonzy. Now go write that down.” - Elbert Beard The Old Timer Erin , TN “Thanks for everything you did to make the Wincentennial such a success. Your performances and commentaries were superb...” - Bob Riesman Chicago, IL “Every time I think I’ve seen you do the best thing ever, turns out I’m wrong...I just have to wait till next time...Your Lead Belly show was really extraordinary. So well done, so informative and musical...” - Louise Frank Chicago, IL “Thanks so much for the show about Lead Belly last night! I’m thrilled I got to experience it and hope you do end up taking it on the road. More people should have the chance to learn about Lead Belly from you...” - Kay Spreitzer Chicago, IL “10,000 hands rang out in applause last night and I hope you heard each and every one of them - for the tradition you carry on, for the humanity that you bring to the craft and for the special gift you have to share it with others...” - Lizabeth MacDonald Chicago, IL “YOU ARE THE MAN! A great pleasure to play and hang with you...” - Joe Filisko Joliet, IL “Heard Not War on Neil Young’s site...absolute perfection!” - Sue Demel Chicago, IL “...it is a joy to see you. I can’t tell you how proud I am of who you are and the spirit with which you live, teach and make music. You are a strong link in the chain...” -Doug Miller Folklore Village Farm Dodgeville, WI “I love your song Home. Beautiful.” - Emily Hurd Chicago, IL Stay in touch join Mark’s email list today click here “Thank you so much for your book. I can literally picture the scenes you write about and hear the music! Thank you for your devotion to the old and for writing the new...” - Joanne Hesselink Black Hawk Folk Society Mt. Morris, WI “...I came home energized from your concert... I like it that you really encouraged participation. It's the answer to the comment a friend made recently, that people need to be finding their own culture. “ -- Juniper Sundance Abrams, WI “...your presentation at LaSalle Library was a great experience...” - Carlos Botero LaSalle, IL
HOME | SCHEDULE | NEWS & BUZZ | LISTEN | STORE | BOOKING | FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES | PRESENTER RESOURCES ACOUSTIC ROOTS WORKSHOP | COMMUNITY | SCRAPBOOK | EMAIL MARK | MYSPACE markdvorakhome.htmlhttp://www.musi-cal.com/search?performers=%5eMark+Dvorak%24listen.htmlstore.htmlbooking.htmlyoungaudience.htmlpresenterresources.html../Site2/acousticrootshome.htmlcommunity.htmlscrapbook.htmlmailto:markdv@aol.com?subject=Hey%20Markhttp://www.myspace.com/markdvorakmusicshapeimage_17_link_0shapeimage_17_link_1shapeimage_17_link_2shapeimage_17_link_3shapeimage_17_link_4shapeimage_17_link_5shapeimage_17_link_6shapeimage_17_link_7shapeimage_17_link_8shapeimage_17_link_9shapeimage_17_link_10shapeimage_17_link_11
To book Mark for concert, workshop or other event, please contact Joann Murdock Artists of Note, Inc., PO Box 11 Kaneville, IL, 60144 630.557.2742 jmurdock@artistsofnote.com www.artistsofnote.commailto:jmurdock@artistsofnote.com?subject=Mark%20Dvorakhttp://www.artistsofnote.comshapeimage_18_link_0shapeimage_18_link_1
HOME | SCHEDULE | NEWS & BUZZ | STORE | BOOKING | EMAIL MARK | FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES | PRESENTER RESOURCES ACOUSTIC ROOTS WORKSHOP | COMMUNITY | SCRAPBOOK MYSPACE LISTEN | “Great concert!... It’s obvious you have a real passion for folk music and it was a real joy to listen...” - Kathy & Ken Janesville, WI “...great hearing you perform... great songs & stories!” -- Jim Deasy Detroit, MI