Win Stracke (1908 - 1992)
The image of Win Stracke on the left is cropped from a publicity photo taken around the time the Old Town School of Folk Music opened in 1957. Stracke began his folk singing career in Chicago in 1931, working with his friend and radio 
personality Studs Terkel. Stracke and Terkel used music to promote and assist the labor movement of the mid-twentieth century. In 1957, Stracke along with Frank Hamilton, Getrude Soltker and Dawn Greening, founded the Old Town School of Folk Music and became its first director. The photograph at the right, shows Stracke with Ray Tate, the School's second director, in front of Old Town's second home at 909 W. Armitage Avenue. This building was acquired in 1968 when its original building at 333 W. North Avenue was demolished. Tate served as director from 1971 to 1981. Stracke continued to perform and support the school until his death.
personality Studs Terkel. Stracke and Terkel used music to promote and assist the labor movement of the mid-twentieth century. In 1957, Stracke along with Frank Hamilton, Getrude Soltker and Dawn Greening, founded the Old Town School of Folk Music and became its first director. The photograph at the right, shows Stracke with Ray Tate, the School's second director, in front of Old Town's second home at 909 W. Armitage Avenue. This building was acquired in 1968 when its original building at 333 W. North Avenue was demolished. Tate served as director from 1971 to 1981. Stracke continued to perform and support the school until his death.
Frank Hamilton (b. 1936)
The image of Frank on the left is the other half of the publicity photo of he and Win (above) taken around the time the Old Town School of Folk Music opened in 1957. Frank is about twenty-one years old in this photograph. Chicago legend Win
Stracke, Gertrude Soltker and Frank Hamilton were co-founders and owners of the Old Town School of Folk Music. Frank grew up in Los Angeles, CA and was attracted to music at an early age. By his teens, he had befriended the actor Will Geer (grandpa Walton from the old tv show), who introduced him to Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, both close friends of the Geers. While in high school, Frank heard and fell in love with the music of The Weavers. By 1963 he left his teaching in Chicago behind to join The Weavers, fulfilling a life-long dream. By the 1960’s, musical tastes in America had changed and The Weavers disbanded. Frank returned home to the Los Angeles area to raise his kids and to continue teaching. Over the years, the late Lowell George, Roger McGuinn, Linda Ronstadt and scores of other musicians and students at one time or another have called Frank Hamilton their guitar teacher. The photo at the right is from the Old Town School opening night ceremonies. Pictured from left to right are Big Bill Broonzy, Frank Hamilton and Win Stracke.
Stracke, Gertrude Soltker and Frank Hamilton were co-founders and owners of the Old Town School of Folk Music. Frank grew up in Los Angeles, CA and was attracted to music at an early age. By his teens, he had befriended the actor Will Geer (grandpa Walton from the old tv show), who introduced him to Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, both close friends of the Geers. While in high school, Frank heard and fell in love with the music of The Weavers. By 1963 he left his teaching in Chicago behind to join The Weavers, fulfilling a life-long dream. By the 1960’s, musical tastes in America had changed and The Weavers disbanded. Frank returned home to the Los Angeles area to raise his kids and to continue teaching. Over the years, the late Lowell George, Roger McGuinn, Linda Ronstadt and scores of other musicians and students at one time or another have called Frank Hamilton their guitar teacher. The photo at the right is from the Old Town School opening night ceremonies. Pictured from left to right are Big Bill Broonzy, Frank Hamilton and Win Stracke.Gertrude Soltker (1912 - 1981)
Gertrude Soltker, along with Win Stracke and Frank Hamilton opened the Old Town School of Folk Music in December of 1957. Soltker met Stracke in the 1930’s when the two were members of the Chicago Repertory Group, an improvisational company which sought to bring theater to audiences who could not afford to attend professional theater. Although the group had produced several major successes, their focus remained on offering topical skits, songs and short plays to trade unions, peace organizations and other groups. Gertrude served the Old Town School in its early years as a bookkeeper and administrator.
Dawn Greening (1924 - 1993)
Anyone who was involved with the School from its early days can't help but smile when remembering Dawn Greening. Former students and teachers
call her "Momma Dawn," "the mother of us all," "the true heart of the School." Before the Old Town School opened as a formal institution, Dawn, her husband Nate, and their children, Lorian, Lindsay, Lance and Wendy offered up their home to their friend Frank Hamilton to host music lessons. It was in the Greenings’ Oak Park living room where Win Stracke witnessed Frank Hamilton’s brilliance as a music instructor and soon after, plans were made to open a music school in Chicago like no other. The photo on the right is a live shot of Dawn at work at the Old Town School in the 1960’s.
call her "Momma Dawn," "the mother of us all," "the true heart of the School." Before the Old Town School opened as a formal institution, Dawn, her husband Nate, and their children, Lorian, Lindsay, Lance and Wendy offered up their home to their friend Frank Hamilton to host music lessons. It was in the Greenings’ Oak Park living room where Win Stracke witnessed Frank Hamilton’s brilliance as a music instructor and soon after, plans were made to open a music school in Chicago like no other. The photo on the right is a live shot of Dawn at work at the Old Town School in the 1960’s.
Big Bill Broonzy (1895 - 1958)
In terms of his musical skill, the sheer size of his repertoire, the length and variety of his career and his influence on contemporaries and 
musicians who would follow, Big Bill Broonzy is among a select few of the most important figures in recorded blues history. Among his hundreds of titles are standards like “All By Myself” and “Key to the Highway.” In this country he was instrumental in the growth of the Chicago Blues sound, and his travels abroad rank him as one of the leading blues ambassadors. Big Bill was also a member of the founding family of the Old Town School of Folk Music. He toured for ten years with his friends Win Stracke and Studs Terkel in a performance of American folk song titled, “I Come For To Sing.” When Bill passed away from cancer, his wife gave his guitar to Win Stracke. That legendary instrument is one of the cherished possessions from the Old Town School’s first fifty years. Bill is holding that guitar, and his son, in the photo on the right.
musicians who would follow, Big Bill Broonzy is among a select few of the most important figures in recorded blues history. Among his hundreds of titles are standards like “All By Myself” and “Key to the Highway.” In this country he was instrumental in the growth of the Chicago Blues sound, and his travels abroad rank him as one of the leading blues ambassadors. Big Bill was also a member of the founding family of the Old Town School of Folk Music. He toured for ten years with his friends Win Stracke and Studs Terkel in a performance of American folk song titled, “I Come For To Sing.” When Bill passed away from cancer, his wife gave his guitar to Win Stracke. That legendary instrument is one of the cherished possessions from the Old Town School’s first fifty years. Bill is holding that guitar, and his son, in the photo on the right.
Studs Terkel (b. 1912)
American author, historian and broadcaster Louis
“Studs” Terkel has called Chicago home since boyhood and in return, Chicago has regarded him as a treasured son. His biting social commentary, wit, vast knowledge and love of the arts has endeared him to working people, celebrities and political figures across the country. Studs and Old Town School of Folk Music cofounder Win Stracke remained best friends until Stracke’s death in the 1990’s. Studs toured with Big Bill Broonzy, Stracke and others for ten years in a show called “I Come For to Sing,” hosted his own radio program on Chicago’s WFMT for some 40 years, and contributed to the opening ceremonies of the Old Town School in December of 1957.
“Studs” Terkel has called Chicago home since boyhood and in return, Chicago has regarded him as a treasured son. His biting social commentary, wit, vast knowledge and love of the arts has endeared him to working people, celebrities and political figures across the country. Studs and Old Town School of Folk Music cofounder Win Stracke remained best friends until Stracke’s death in the 1990’s. Studs toured with Big Bill Broonzy, Stracke and others for ten years in a show called “I Come For to Sing,” hosted his own radio program on Chicago’s WFMT for some 40 years, and contributed to the opening ceremonies of the Old Town School in December of 1957.
Ted Johnson (b. 1930)
Ted’s picture at the left was taken at a Shape Note singing conference in Georgia just a few years ago. Ted’s involvement with the Old Town School of Folk Music goes back to the school’s very beginning. He attended the first classes at the Greening household in Oak Park in early 1957 and participated in the opening ceremonies in December of that year. As the school’s education program gained momentum, Ted was the first instructor hired after Frank Hamilton, helping to meet the growing demand for instructors as enrollment increased. Since that time, Ted has continually taught classes, volunteered and taken classes until the present. He and his wife Marcia (and grandson Edward) are inspiring examples of life long learners -- and life long musicians.
Fleming Brown (1926 - 1984)
Fleming was a graphic designer by trade and never traveled widely as a performer. But in the days before DVD, video and tablature, Fleming spent much of his adult life traveling around the country to learn old-time banjo music first hand from the masters. He befriended and recorded, for his own study, the music of people like Doc Hopkins, Bascom Lamar Lunsford, Grandpa Jones, Hobart Smith, Frank Proffitt and many others. What Fleming learned, he brought back to Chicago and taught to hundreds of banjo students at the Old Town School of Folk Music. He recorded only two records in his lifetime, one was released in 1963 and the other in 1984, just before his death. You can listen to his records in the Old Town School Resource Center. Or you might try finding them at Folk-Legacy Records. Try this link for a recorded interview with Fleming from the 1960’s.
Valucha DeCastro (1930 - 2007)
Brazilian born Valucha DeCastro was a singer, composer, artist and writer. Throughout her professional life she was known by friends and fans as simply, “Valucha.” In Chicago, she was one of the first students to enroll at the Old Town School of Folk Music where she later taught Brazilian folk music. She performed widely as a duet partner with singer and multi-instrumentalist Frank Hamilton and recorded the acclaimed LP, “The World of Frank and Valucha.” Valucha continued to perform and record through the 1970’s and 80’s and became an artist-in-residence with Chicago’s Urban Gateways, bringing Latin American music to thousands of school children. Valucha later turned to painting and developed a wide body of work, much of it based upon images from her childhood in Brazil. You can view some of Valucha’s beautiful artwork and listen to her music at her web site www.valucha.com.
Ella Jenkins (b. 1924)
Ella Jenkins’ name is synonymous with children’s music. Her career as a performer and recording artist continues into its sixth decade. Born in St. Louis, MO, Ella grew up in predominantly lower middle class neighborhoods on Chicago’s south side. Although she received no formal musical education, Ella benefited from her rich musical surroundings. She learned boy scout songs from her brother, her uncle gave her a harmonica and introduced her to the blues. As Ella’s family moved to different neighborhoods on Chicago’s south side, she learned rhyme games from her playmates and gospel music from neighborhood churches. While attending college, Ella began to study Sociology and Child Psychology and became interested in different kinds of ethnic music. Shortly after college Ella began writing songs for children as she worked in recreation centers and as a song leader for camp groups. She has toured the world with her songs and ukulele, recorded scores of albums and touched the lives of millions of listeners. You can find Ella on the web at www.ellajenkins.com.
Fred Holstein (1942 - 2004)
Born and raised on Chicago’s south side, Fred Holstein got hooked on folk music after attending a Pete Seeger concert at Orchestra Hall. He bought his first guitar for $14.95 and taught himself to play by studying records and songbooks. As a
teenager he began to sneak into and then play at, the folk clubs that dotted Wells Street in the Old Town neighborhood. His rich baritone and charming stage presence endeared him to thousands of fans. Though Fred’s contemporaries on the thriving Chicago folk scene of the 1970’s included Steve Goodman, John Prine, Bonnie Koloc and others, no other performer symbolized the heart of Chicago folk music more than Fred Holstein. A compilation CD of Fred’s music can be purchased at www.fredholstein.com.
teenager he began to sneak into and then play at, the folk clubs that dotted Wells Street in the Old Town neighborhood. His rich baritone and charming stage presence endeared him to thousands of fans. Though Fred’s contemporaries on the thriving Chicago folk scene of the 1970’s included Steve Goodman, John Prine, Bonnie Koloc and others, no other performer symbolized the heart of Chicago folk music more than Fred Holstein. A compilation CD of Fred’s music can be purchased at www.fredholstein.com. 
Steve Goodman (1948 - 1984)
Born on Chicago's north side, Steve Goodman began writing and performing songs as a teenager. While still in high school, Goodman began performing in Old Town and began to attract a following. By 1969 he was a regular performer at Chicago’s well-known Earl of Old Town. It was also in 1969 that Goodman was diagnosed with leukemia, the disease that would be present during the entirety of his recording career until his death. 
Though he experienced periods of remission, Goodman never felt that he was living on anything other than borrowed time, and some have said that his music reflects this sentiment. Goodman's songs first appeared on a locally-produced record, Gathering at The Earl of Old Town, in 1971. Goodman performed at The Earl dozens of times. He also remained closely involved with the Old Town School of Folk Music where he met and mentored his good friend, John Prine. Goodman’s “City of New Orleans” has been a standard in the Old Town School Songbook since the 1970’s and in 1998, the City of Chicago designated the section of Lincoln Avenue that runs in front of the Old Town School as “Steve Goodman Way.”
Though he experienced periods of remission, Goodman never felt that he was living on anything other than borrowed time, and some have said that his music reflects this sentiment. Goodman's songs first appeared on a locally-produced record, Gathering at The Earl of Old Town, in 1971. Goodman performed at The Earl dozens of times. He also remained closely involved with the Old Town School of Folk Music where he met and mentored his good friend, John Prine. Goodman’s “City of New Orleans” has been a standard in the Old Town School Songbook since the 1970’s and in 1998, the City of Chicago designated the section of Lincoln Avenue that runs in front of the Old Town School as “Steve Goodman Way.”
It’s Frank Hamilton again!
After almost 50 years of performing, teaching and recording, Old Town School of Folk Music cofounder Frank Hamilton continues to create, inspire and prevail. He and his wife Mary currently live in Decatur, GA. They travel the country giving concerts, workshops and educational performances. Frank and Mary can be reached through their web page at www.songlines.ws.