Fred Holstein
| Fred Holstein | |
|---|---|
| Born |
December 12, 1942 Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Origin | Chicago, IL |
| Died | January 12, 2004 (aged 61) |
| Genres | Folk |
| Occupation(s) | songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, banjo |
| Years active | 1970s–2002 |
| Associated acts | Pete Seeger, Bob Gibson, Steve Goodman, Woody Guthrie |
Fred Holstein (December 12, 1942 – January 12, 2004) was an American folk music singer. Holstein was a prominent figure in the Chicago folk music scene in the 1970s. He owned a sequence of clubs in the Old Town and Lincoln Park neighborhoods. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he was not a songwriter, but his talent for singing with his resonant baritone and arranging was well recognized.
An anchor of the Chicago folk scene and a contemporary of Steve Goodman, John Prine, Bonnie Koloc. Holstein owned or co-owned several folk music clubs in the Old Town, Lincoln Park, and New Town/Lakeview neighborhoods, including Somebody Else's Troubles and Holstein's. Holstein was known for his knowledge of several hundred songs and "instant recall," as well as being able to accompany himself on guitar, banjo, and twelve string. Holstein was an admirer of ballad singers like Woody Guthrie and Utah Phillips. He would remind aspiring musicians to "Understand the song. It is a lot more important than you are."
Holstein was born on December 9, 1942, and grew up in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood. After seeing a Pete Seeger concert he decided he wanted to study folk music. Fred took lessons at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music starting in 1960. He had a long relationship with the school afterward, even working in the Folklore center music store. Of the Old Town School Fred said:
"I headed east on North Avenue, looking for 333 West North, only to pass it by several times. In my mind's eye, I was looking for a school, an institution, with a big lot, columns and pillars, monkey bars, etc. I didn't realize it was possible to have a school on the second floor of an old meeting hall.
"When I found it, there was Frank Hamilton leading the second half, singing 'Welcome Table,' using what I was to find out later was a bass run on the guitar; Dawn Greening being gracious and wonderful serving homemade cookies; the Clancy Brothers dropping by to do a few songs; and I knew Fleming Brown, the great banjo player wasn't far away - I was in heaven!"
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