Lee Murdock brings his Christmas Ship Concert to St. Charles Nov. 18
Lee Murdock, the leading performer and composer of folk songs about the Great Lakes region, brings his annual "Christmas Ship" concert to the Baker Community Center in downtown St. Charles on Saturday, Nov. 18.
The concert is presented as part of the "Saturday Night Lights" series produced by the Norris Cultural Arts Center.
"Lee Murdock's Annual Christmas Ship Concert" has evolved into a not-to-be-missed event, heralding the advent of the holiday season. It combines music and stories of the Great Lakes with holiday songs to inspire the young and the young-at-heart.
The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. at the historic community center, 101 S. Second St.
Tickets are $30. For more information and a link to online ticketing, visit www.NorrisCulturalArts.com. Tickets include three complimentary beverages.
Murdock's song about the Rouse Simmons is the centerpiece of this concert, a story and song of hope and tragedy, of loss and renewal, as the famous ship struggled into a raging winter storm in November of 1912. The narrative of the Rouse Simmons comes to us through the eyes of a young child growing up in Chicago at the turn of the century.
Capturing the indomitable spirit of those hard-working sailors and lumberjacks, Lee's song is also a tale of loss and renewal, and a celebration of a Chicago tradition carried forward by the Captain's wife, Barbara Schuenemann.
Joining Murdock for the performance will be The Dock Wallopers.
Lee Murdock has uncovered a boundless body of timeless music and stories in his home region. He seamlessly blends traditional songs from the days of sail alongside some of his own musical compositions - all depicting some aspect of history and life on the Great Lakes.
It was early in Murdock's songwriting career when he first discovered the story of the Rouse Simmons. He wrote his song "The Christmas Ship" in 1988, first recorded on his CD "Fertile Ground" in 1989.
"I'm interested in finding the life in these songs; in making music that's exciting to people today," Murdock says. "I look for the songs and the interesting stories, not only for the people who already enjoy folk music, but for those who think they don't like folk music."
Murdock, who has recorded 21 CDs and/or books to date, is a regular participant in the annual remembrance of Chicago's Christmas Ship.
For more information, visit www.LeeMurdock.com.