Betty and the Baby Boomers
"Everything Betty and the Baby Boomers present, whether in person or on a recording, is guaranteed to be exquisite, fresh, and astounding. They were destined to sing together. How fortunate are we, as listeners, that they do.”
Wanda Fischer. host of “The Hudson River Sampler” - WAMC Northeast Public Radio, Albany NY
"Everything Betty and the Baby Boomers present, whether in person or on a recording, is guaranteed to be exquisite, fresh, and astounding. They were destined to sing together. How fortunate are we, as listeners, that they do.”
Wanda Fischer. host of “The Hudson River Sampler” - WAMC Northeast Public Radio, Albany NY
When Betty Boomer, Jean Valla McAvoy, Paul Rubeo, and Steve Stanne began singing together more than 35 years ago, the name made sense—a play on Betty’s name and the fact that all are children of the baby boom. Bassist Robert Bard fit right in demographically when he joined later on. If they've had second thoughts, it’s too late to change now. “Betty and the Baby Boomers” appears on the covers of the band’s five CDs, and the name is known to folk music fans from the mountains of Connemara in Ireland to the Catskills overlooking New York's Hudson Valley, their home base.
The folk genre covers many styles. The Boomers’ take on it is suggested in a review of their second recording, Tumbling Through the Stream of Days, in the folk song magazine Sing Out! It described the group as “a refreshing reminder of the halcyon days of American folk music” and the CD as “an enthusiastic testament to the sheer joy of singing and playing music.” In addition to original songs from Jean, the Boomers draw on sources including traditional tunes, Americana roots music, contemporary artists like Greg Brown, Bruce Springsteen, and Dougie MacClean, and classic “folksingers” like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Phil Ochs.
Whatever the source, each song is “Boomerized” – set in distinctive arrangements with three and four part harmonies. The singers' voices differ in range and color; they combine in a unique and resonant blend that is the Boomers’ signature. Their vocals are coupled to impressive instrumental work on guitars, Dobro, bass, bodhran, and kazoo, or sometimes — “Look Ma, no hands”— uncoupled in a capella selections.
The group's talents have led to frequent performances in venues such as the Eighth Step in New York’s Capital region and at Phil Ochs Song Night concerts in rooms ranging from New York City’s Village Gate to the Nameless Coffeehouse in Cambridge, Mass. The group is regularly booked in a lineup that includes the likes of Paul Brady and Christy Moore to perform during the long-running (47 years!) Clifden Community Arts Festival in County Galway, Ireland; 2023 marked the Boomers’ 18th engagement at this festival and the 30th anniversary of their first appearance there.
The Boomers’ version of Jean’s song “Back Bay” was included with selections by Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton among others on the 2005 recording Songs for the Earth, a tribute to Rachel Carson from Musicians United to Sustain the Environment. Seeger himself regularly performed another of Jean’s songs, “Down by the River;” it was included on his Grammy-winning album Tomorrow’s Children with the Rivertown Kids. Following Pete’s passing in 2014, the Boomers performed in concerts honoring his memory at Lincoln Center Outdoors in Manhattan and the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie, NY.
The group’s 2009 CD, Where the Heron Waits, recorded in Robert’s Skytop Sound studio, marks the Boomer’s long involvement with education and advocacy on the Hudson River; Betty, Jean, Paul and Steve met through the Clearwater organization. According to the Kingston Daily Freeman, “A CD of songs related to the Hudson River is not that unusual these days, but one of this depth and grace is always welcome. Betty and the Baby Boomers … sing and play old-school folk like it was brand spanking new.” In October, 2016, the Hudson River Environmental Society recognized the group's commitment to the Hudson, honoring them with its "Outstanding Environmental Communicator" award.
The Boomers’ sixth CD, Quite Early Morning, is being released in fall, 2024, a time of tumult and uncertainty. The title comes from a Pete Seeger song included on the album, one of many tracks that speak to where we find ourselves. Among the others are two originals from Jean, unique arrangements of two compositions from the pop music canon, and a couple of wonderful songs from writers likely to be new to most of our listeners.
What a super performance Saturday evening -- thanks to you all from the board, staff, and volunteers of the museum! Beautiful melodies - meaningful lyrics - charming wit all blended with engaging personalities! This concert was certainly a worthy reflection of the spirit of the Hudson River as well as a fitting inaugural evening at the museum's new Riverport Wooden Boat School.
Lana Chassman
Hudson River Maritime Museum, Kingston, NY
The folk genre covers many styles. The Boomers’ take on it is suggested in a review of their second recording, Tumbling Through the Stream of Days, in the folk song magazine Sing Out! It described the group as “a refreshing reminder of the halcyon days of American folk music” and the CD as “an enthusiastic testament to the sheer joy of singing and playing music.” In addition to original songs from Jean, the Boomers draw on sources including traditional tunes, Americana roots music, contemporary artists like Greg Brown, Bruce Springsteen, and Dougie MacClean, and classic “folksingers” like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Phil Ochs.
Whatever the source, each song is “Boomerized” – set in distinctive arrangements with three and four part harmonies. The singers' voices differ in range and color; they combine in a unique and resonant blend that is the Boomers’ signature. Their vocals are coupled to impressive instrumental work on guitars, Dobro, bass, bodhran, and kazoo, or sometimes — “Look Ma, no hands”— uncoupled in a capella selections.
The group's talents have led to frequent performances in venues such as the Eighth Step in New York’s Capital region and at Phil Ochs Song Night concerts in rooms ranging from New York City’s Village Gate to the Nameless Coffeehouse in Cambridge, Mass. The group is regularly booked in a lineup that includes the likes of Paul Brady and Christy Moore to perform during the long-running (47 years!) Clifden Community Arts Festival in County Galway, Ireland; 2023 marked the Boomers’ 18th engagement at this festival and the 30th anniversary of their first appearance there.
The Boomers’ version of Jean’s song “Back Bay” was included with selections by Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton among others on the 2005 recording Songs for the Earth, a tribute to Rachel Carson from Musicians United to Sustain the Environment. Seeger himself regularly performed another of Jean’s songs, “Down by the River;” it was included on his Grammy-winning album Tomorrow’s Children with the Rivertown Kids. Following Pete’s passing in 2014, the Boomers performed in concerts honoring his memory at Lincoln Center Outdoors in Manhattan and the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie, NY.
The group’s 2009 CD, Where the Heron Waits, recorded in Robert’s Skytop Sound studio, marks the Boomer’s long involvement with education and advocacy on the Hudson River; Betty, Jean, Paul and Steve met through the Clearwater organization. According to the Kingston Daily Freeman, “A CD of songs related to the Hudson River is not that unusual these days, but one of this depth and grace is always welcome. Betty and the Baby Boomers … sing and play old-school folk like it was brand spanking new.” In October, 2016, the Hudson River Environmental Society recognized the group's commitment to the Hudson, honoring them with its "Outstanding Environmental Communicator" award.
The Boomers’ sixth CD, Quite Early Morning, is being released in fall, 2024, a time of tumult and uncertainty. The title comes from a Pete Seeger song included on the album, one of many tracks that speak to where we find ourselves. Among the others are two originals from Jean, unique arrangements of two compositions from the pop music canon, and a couple of wonderful songs from writers likely to be new to most of our listeners.
What a super performance Saturday evening -- thanks to you all from the board, staff, and volunteers of the museum! Beautiful melodies - meaningful lyrics - charming wit all blended with engaging personalities! This concert was certainly a worthy reflection of the spirit of the Hudson River as well as a fitting inaugural evening at the museum's new Riverport Wooden Boat School.
Lana Chassman
Hudson River Maritime Museum, Kingston, NY