Richard Berman
Authentic folk music creates stories that take you through a wide range of feelings and experiences. Richard Berman is a classic American folk storyteller and the Massachusetts based singer-songwriter a true craftsman of the art.
When asked about his genre, Berman says “I would call myself a lyric driven singer/songwriter in the folk tradition- but please don’t ask me to define that tradition.”
The sources of inspiration for Richard’s lyrics are quite varied; some from his own experiences, observations of those around him, imagination, and literature ranging from Greek myths to the Bible, and even an evocative novel.
“I write for myself and for those fellow-travelers who love stories that touch them, raise questions, or just tickle their fancy.” – Richard Berman
Berman’s influences include Pete Seeger, whom Richard says he heard several times at the Brooklyn Academy of Music when he was a young child in the 1950’s. He says that hearing Seeger and joining in singing with the whole hall was as close to a religious experience as he’s had. Other major influences were early- Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, and later Simon and Garfunkle- for various reasons ranging from the sheer beauty of the delivery to the meaningfulness of the lyrics. While these great artists have helped to shape Berman’s style and craft, it’s easy to see and hear that his ability to convey a story via song is a gift.
Richard looks forward to the opportunity to share his music, lyrics, and folk songwriting traditions with a new audience at the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival.
Website: http://richardberman.com
Songs: The Token of Scotty’s Affection and A Father & a Daughter
The award-winning Wildflower! Performing Songwriter contest encourages the growth of the art of independent performing singer-songwriters. The genres include Acoustic, Americana, Bluegrass, Blues, Celtic, Country and Folk. The Singer Songwriter Stage is located in the Bank of America Theatre within the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. The Top Ten Finalists will compete for cash prizes on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. www.wildflowerfestival.com
“Richard Berman – Lyric Driven Fellow-Traveler” – by guest contributor, Erica Mueller