Contact: 845.679.2113 x17, supervisor@woodstockny.org
Musician Todd Rundgren to Receive
Key to the Town of Woodstock, New York on October 23
WOODSTOCK, NY: Woodstock Town Supervisor Bill McKenna will present the Key to the Town of Woodstock to Todd Rundgren at the Bearsville Center on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 as part of a campus-wide celebration of Todd’s music, coinciding with a two-date residency at the historic Bearsville Theater in Woodstock NY.
Says Bill McKenna, “Todd Rundgren is an important contributor to Woodstock’s long and iconic history as a global nexus for all genres of musical creativity.”
During his 13 years in Woodstock, Rundgren recorded and produced numerous iconic albums in Bearsville, including: Meatloaf’s “Bat Out of Hell”, Patti Smith’s “Wave”, The Band’s “Stage Fright” (recorded at the Woodstock Playhouse), XTC’s “Skylarking”, and Steve Hillage’s “L”. Rundgren also recorded and produced his own material, including: “Hermit of Mink Hollow”, “Healing”, and Utopia’s “RA”, “Oops Wrong Planet”, and “Adventures in Utopia”.
Lizzie Vann, who purchased the Bearsville Campus in 2019, has undertaken a large-scale renovation and restoration to bring the Theater back to its glory. She has created exhibits honoring the musical legacy of the Center, recognizing their profound impact on both the community and the global music industry. Vann said, “From studios to stages, Bearsville thrived as a creative utopia, embodying Albert Grossman’s vision for artistic expression and innovation. Part of that utopia – Bearsville Records (1970-1984) – was a cornerstone of musical innovation. Todd Rundgren’s groundbreaking debut set the stage for the label’s diverse repertoire.”
The same ceremony on October 23 will also dedicate an historic landmark plaque to recognize Rundgren’s work at the Utopia Video Studio, adjacent to Bearsville Theater, which Albert built for Todd in the 1980s.
At Utopia Video, Rundgren recorded and produced some of the first music videos ever shown on MTV in the 1980s, “Time Heals”, was the 8th video to be played when MTV launched on August 1, 1981. Also produced there was Utopia’s “Rock Love”, “Cry Baby” and autobiographical documentary “The Ever-Popular Tortured Artist Effect” for Britain’s Channel 4 Television Corporation.
Todd Rundgren is bringing his national ME/WE Tour to the Bearsville Theater with performances on October 22 and 23. Fans from across the country will be in attendance for these historic shows at Bearsville.
Rundgren is a musician, songwriter, record producer, whose musical career began at the age of 17 in the Philadelphia area. In 50 years as a bellweather of the music industry, Rundgren has produced an abundant and diverse range of recordings, as a solo artist and as a member of the band Utopia and various collaborations including Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band. As a songwriter, video pioneer, producer, recording artist, computer software developer, conceptualist, interactive artist (re-designated TR-i), and advocate for music education for children, he has made a lasting impact on both the form and content of popular music, and has inspired generations of artists.
Rundgren’s Spirit of Harmony Foundation, founded in 2013, is a national nonprofit grassroots organization that advocates for the moral imperative of music education.
In honor of the ceremonies, the Spirit of Harmony is partnering with national nonprofit Hungry for Music to conduct a musical instrument drive, encouraging people to donate used musical instruments that will be refurbished and distributed to children in the Hudson Valley area and around the country. According to Rundgren, “Instruments are the most common need expressed by music programs. We get frequent calls from people who want to donate instruments, so we know that attics and basements and closets are filled with musical instruments they no longer play.”
Hungry for Music’s Founder Jeff Campbell will be on hand to accept the instruments and transport them to his team, who will refurbish/repair them and make them ready to donate to schools to fulfill their wish lists. Campbell explains, “We believe that by sharing instruments and music experiences, children who would not otherwise have the opportunity can experience a kind of freedom and self-discovery that is often stifled in an atmosphere of economic hardship.”
Donated musical instruments must be in working condition or repairable. NO pianos or full-sized keyboards will be accepted. Instruments may be dropped off at the Woodstock Town Hall (47 Comeau Drive) or The Woodstock Studios (100 Tinker Street) during normal business hours October 1-23.
Dayglo Presents, a leading live entertainment and media company led by independent concert promoter Peter Shapiro, now operates the Theater. Bearsvilletheater.com
Utopia Studios is now owned and managed by multiplatinum studio and live engineer Pete Caigan, who has reconfigured the space to include an API AXS Legacy recording (audio) console. Utopiabearsville.com
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For Additional Information:
Town of Woodstock: 845.679.2113 x17, supervisor@woodstockny.org
Bearsville Center: 941.807.2271, lizzie@bearsvillecenter.com
Established in the 1960s, Bearsville Center fostered creativity for artists such as Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin. Today, following a multi-million dollar renovation, it remains a beacon of artistic inspiration, providing a venue for outdoor festivals, exceptional theater performances, and great food and drinks.
Spirit of Harmony Foundation: Ed Vigdor 310.254.4309, info@spiritofharmony.org
Todd Rundgren’s Spirit of Harmony is a national organization that advocates for music education for children, particularly in public schools. Our mission is to work with individual music programs to assist them in building a sustainable network of local support, based on the measurable data that makes the case for the importance of music education in the neurological, social, academic, economic, and of course artistic, development of youth. We believe in providing opportunities for personal development and self-expression through music, regardless of socioeconomic status, geographic location, or ability.
Hungry for Music: Jeff Campbell 202.436.0803, contact@hungryformusic.org
At Hungry for Music, our mission is putting quality musical instruments into hungry hands. We serve children who demonstrate a desire to learn music, as well as teachers who have students willing to learn. In 30 years, we’ve delivered more than 22,000 instruments to children in all 50 states and 35 countries. Hungry for Music’s purpose is to embrace the positive qualities of music: its ability to create community, to inspire, to express a talent, to unite, and most importantly its ability to heal.