In a musical career spanning more than four decades, iconic American musicians Robin and Linda Williams have made it their mission to perform the music that they love—a robust blend of bluegrass, folk, old-time, and acoustic country that combines wryly observant lyrics with a wide-ranging melodicism. Their stirring concerts have earned them a huge body of fans over the years and they bring that stage magic to Central Pennsylvania on Thursday, September 29, for a 7:30 p.m. Susquehanna Folk Music Society/Millersville University concert at the Ware Center, 42 N. Prince Street, Lancaster.
Robin and Linda met and fell for each other in 1971 on a visit to Myrtle Beach, SC, while Linda was teaching school and Robin was a full-time musician on a national coffeehouse circuit. It wasn’t long before they discovered additional magic when they combined their voices in harmony. Their career took off initially in the Minneapolis folk scene, where Robin had made many friends and connections as a solo artist. They recorded their first album there in 1975 and the following year made their first appearance on a new public radio show—A Prairie Home Companion. They have continued their rich relationship with the program for 40 years.
Over the decades they have issued 23 albums and crisscrossed the country many times, thrilling audiences with their songs and harmonies. In the late 1980s they began touring with a backup band, Their Fine Group, and their big sound grew even bigger. That association lasted for 25 years, but now Robin and Linda are most often heard as a duo, going back to the roots that brought them together 40 years ago.
They marked 40 years on stage in 2013 with their CD “Back 40,” a studio album featuring fresh treatments of their early classics, many from albums long out of print, and favorites by other writers.
While as live performers they are second to none, it is as gifted songwriters that they have earned a rarer honor, the devotion and deep respect of their musical peers. The list of artists who have covered their original songs includes some of the greats of country music such as Emmylou Harris, Tom T. Hall, George Hamilton IV, Tim & Mollie O;Brien, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kathy Mattea, and The Seldom Scene.
Concert tickets are $25 General Admission, $22 for SFMS members and $5 for students. Advance tickets are available through the Ware Center box office at (717) 871-7600 or online at http://www.artsmu.com. This concert is presented in partnership with Millersville University.
Columnist Jane Holahan (from the LPN newspaper, Lancaster) recently did a wonderful interview with Robin Williams. To read it follow the link below!
Folk duo Robin and Linda Williams coming to Ware Center Thursday http://lancasteronline.com/features/entertainment/folk-duo-robin-and-linda-williams-coming-to-ware-center/article_7756a35e-80f9-11e6-81de-5f4f3a4e5abc.html
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