Pure joy. The Brothers Four. Bob Flick and four fraternity brothers (yes, hence “Brothers Four”) started this group in 1957. If you are lucky enough to have been aware of folk music in the 50s or 60s, you remember them, right? American Folk music in general is a fascinating and interesting genre having spanned decades longer than we some of us may think.
The joy resides not only in the music but within Bob Flick himself. It is clear just watching him talk about his music that he is still after all these decades having as much satisfaction and fun with it as he and the brothers always did.
Folk music seems to carry with it a whole-hearted invitation to join in spirit, in voice, and in shared delight. Even very recently, pre-pandemic, in the international concerts that Bob and the Four Brothers perform, people still join in the singing. The tunes are generally delightfully easy and memorable and within a range that pretty much leaves no voice out in the cold. Everyone is welcome to particpate. But the genre is more than light-hearted. There are folk songs of defiance, hope for better times, injustice and stinging sadness (Remember poor Tom Dooley?), love songs, lullabies, and every one of them conveys the power of the people singing. Yes, this is a power-to-the-people genre.
Bob Flick offers a joyous walk down Memory Lane not only for himself but for anyone who has ever been an American Folk Music fan. He also offers a not-to-be-missed history lesson in Folk Music. Oh, and that movie A Mighty Wind. Hear what Bob has to say about that and what influence the Brothers Four had in creating those characters.
Most important, give yourself the joy of meeting Bob Flick. I was actually smiling from the first hello right through to his last word. And, beyond. Yes, his is the kind of joy that stays with you with his music and his very being.