Ann Arbor's Banjo-toting Shoemaker

Paul Tinkerhess

In the hours when Paul Tinkerhess is not repairing Birkenstock footwear for the people of Ann Arbor, he finds other ways to nurture his town - by organizing the Water Hill Music Fest, by keeping winter sidewalks walkable with Snow Buddy, and by sharing his banjo-playing and song-writing talents generously in the cause of community. A CD of the live music from this interview will be available for sale at NorthernSpiritRadio.org, the only current source of Paul's music!

Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Quaker

All songs in this program are performed by Paul Tinkerhess, and they are written by him, unless otherwise noted:
Quaker Waltz
The Many Hills of Big Bend Avenue
Looking At Me - written by Billy King
A Still Small Voice - written by Bob Franke
Martin & Molly's Wedding Song

Episode Number

SOS-000382

First Air Date

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Ann Arbor's Banjo-toting Shoemaker

Audio file

Paul is a local-store fan, and has watched Ann Arbor's transition over the years.
Paul waxes eloquent about the evolution from small-town, local-based living to commercial globalism.
A proud local business, Paul & Claire know the people and the shoes.
Paul did some magic to convert his guitar to match his banjo fingers.
What kind of music does Paul play for a peace rally?
Paul worked with the great Odetta, and here's a pearl of wisdom he learned from her.
Living somewhere long enough gives you naming rights!
Some of the creative parts of making the Water Hill Music Festival.
Insights & joy of finding a name, and knowing beyond names.
One more way that Paul Tinkerhess makes his neighborhood pedestrian friendly - Snow Buddy!

Broadcast Date(s)

Guest:

Paul Tinkerhess

Comments

Your programs have been a godsend this year, and most have been broadcast at least once on WUML. To be able to present material that is positive and optimistic, among the many horrors that have passed as news this year, is a great comfort. 

I'm particularly grateful to you for sharing the Paul Tinkerhess interview and the three songs, especialy the Quaker Waltz. Our Meeting needs a history song like that, though I'm not sure I'm the right one to write it. Our daughter, Iona, lives in Ann Arbor, working as a fiber artist and also for the University. She has not found a spiritual home in Ann Arbor Meeting, though she grew up as an active participant in New England Yearly Meeting and went to Earlham, but we were impressed with the supportive qualities of Ann Arbor Meeting when we have visited.

Thanks for a great show! It was great to hear Paul tell his story through such soulful songs and lovely guitar playing. Inspiring!

Paul you are so Paul, you are the thing that is Paul without the name being anything at all. Loved the bits on Odetta, localism vs commercialism and Tinkerhess. Yes!

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