The Colebrook Historical Society Presents Guy Wolff in Concert

Performer of authentic and traditional Appalachian, English and rural American songs

Guy has this to say about his musical life:

As a child, I had the great fortune to play conga drums as my parents and their friends discovered the dance rhythms of the Samba, dancing late into the night and so opened my life up to the joys of playing music. As a teenager, I spent my "summer job" playing in rock bands on Cape Cod. What a wonderful way to make some money and meet other kids!

I found, as my path headed me towards a life in traditional pottery, the people I socialized with played all sorts of traditional music. In 1969 I went to North Carolina to work for a short time at Jugtown Pottery. There I was introduced to the music of the likes of Clarence Ashley and, more importantly, what it meant to make "home made music". In Wales, while working in the pottery village of Ewenny, I heard the most amazing a capella singing. Later, while visiting Weatheriggs Pottery in the Lake District, I just fell in love with English folk music and, interestingly enough, early American Blues.

When I came home from Britain in the early 70's I started playing in square dance bands and what one might call "Bar Bands". In the later 70's I helped my close friend Lui Collens with her first record and found myself hooked on recording. I have made three personal CDs. The first in 1997 was "Music From Wolff Pottery" and in 1999 "Back Porch and Blues": both are out of print at the moment and will be re-released as money allows.

"Out And About" is my third CD made in 2002 and is a combination of traditional Appalachian, English and rural American Blues.


Another side of Guy’s life... can be found at his pottery in Woodville, which has been his workshop since 1971. Again, in his words: The architecture of the piece is my passion and is why I can look at 18th and 19th century English flowerpots and centuries old Asian vases with the same eye and ask the same question: What makes this antique pot so wonderful? The answer always comes back to the architectural integrity of the pot and the potter's reverence and knowledge of the materials he is using. The potter knew where he was going in the making of that particular pot. This is where traditional craftsmanship is born: The knowledge of a particular material and its attributes after years of working with it and respecting the true potential of that material. My father, Robert Jay Wolff, was an Abstract Expressionist and wrote in 1949 a thought that has stayed with me many years. "Tradition is not a form to be imitated but the discipline that gives integrity to the new." The search for that integrity has been my life's work. Our concert, which will feature authentic and traditional Appalachian, English and rural American songs, will be at the Colebrook Congregational Church on Saturday, October 20, at 7 pm. Guy will be singing and accompanying himself on a variety of stringed instruments, also played in various traditional styles, including guitar and banjo.
There will be a pre concert discussion with Guy at 6:30 pm at which time the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions about his life as a musician and as a potter. There will also be a reception following the concert in the church Fellowship hall.
You can find out more about Guy Wolff at his website: http://www.guywolff.com/