Date: Fri 21-May-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Spencer-Forebitter-Mystic

Full Text:

A Safe Harbor For A Musician's Weekend Homecoming

(with CD cover)

BY SHANNON HICKS

Rick Spencer's name might sound familiar to Newtown residents whether they

know his music or not. Rick is very much a Newtown native, having been brought

up, along with younger brother Colin, in a house on Jordan Hill Road in Sandy

Hook and graduating from Newtown High School in 1970. His mother still lives

in that house, which his father built in 1953.

This weekend, friends, family and those who enjoy well-written and

professionally performed original music can welcome Rick back to town when he

performs as this month's guest artist at Newtown Coffeehouse. Rick will be the

featured performer on Saturday, May 22, at Newtown Congregational Church

House, where the monthly event is presented.

One of Rick's cousins is Andy Spencer, who is a member of the Sandy Hook band

Treblehook. Rick and Andy have always enjoyed music -- both boys began

performing during their teen years, and one of their first collaborative

efforts came when Rick was 17 and the two were in a rock band together.

Both cousins have continued along their own pathways with music: Andy's

part-time occupation these days has him performing with his band, which was

the featured band in April for the Newtown Coffeehouse; and Rick has made a

career out of his musical talents, making a living as a singer/songwriter and

interpreter of traditional maritime music since 1986.

Prior to '86 and after having moved from Newtown to Storrs after college, Rick

continued working odd jobs while performing as much as he could. He wrote

songs right from the start, and took an early interest in folk and traditional

music. He also added a number of traditional maritime songs to his repertoire.

"The dues got paid in smoky bar gigs both as a soloist and with a partner I

had met at college," Rick said. "Tough times." He later hooked up with a few

other musicians in the Willimantic area to form a band called Thread City. For

a few years, the band's members played throughout the region and also spent

time doing programs in educational settings.

In 1986, Rick learned of an opening at Mystic Seaport for a staff musician, or

"chanteyman." His career in music was healthy enough at that point to quit

working elsewhere and sign on with Mystic part-time. Shortly after his start

at Mystic, Rick formed a sea music quartet with three other Mystic chanteymen

called Forebitter. The band has released two albums of traditional and

contemporary sea music, Unmooring and American Sea Chanteys .

"`Forebitter' is a term that came primarily from the English trades," Rick

explained. "When sailors on ships of sail were working they sang songs to

coordinate the work. Those songs were called chanteys.

"During their leisure time they wouldn't sing chanteys, which was a

combination of superstition and a desire to put work in its place. Instead

they would sing ballads, love songs, popular shore-going songs, etc. These

songs were often accompanied by musical instruments, and were sung around a

sturdy post used for securing lines in the front, or fore, section of the

ship.

"The post was called the `fore bitt' and the songs came to be known as

`forebitters.' My sea music quartet took its name from that song form."

Forebitter was invited to perform for Governor John Rowland at the governor's

residence just last month as part of a gathering to promote and encourage

corporate sponsorship for New London's OpSail 2000 event. Rick had performed

as a soloist for an event celebrating the 150th anniversary of the city of New

London a few years ago and the governor and other dignitaries were there at

that time, so the April performance with Forebitter was his second performance

for Gov Rowland.

"Of course it's always an honor to perform in the presence of people of such

stature," Rick said. "The residence is elegant and lovely, and we were made to

feel at home. Governor Rowland, as busy as he was, took the time to stop and

say hello, and was graceful, charming and humorous.

"I don't think that those traits are as obvious to the general public as they

are in a one-on-one situation. It was a very pleasant experience and we did

relatively little damage to state property."

Forebitter has become the seaport's travelling musical emissaries. The band

has been across the United States as well as to France, Canada, Poland,

Portugal, Germany, England and the Netherlands. This summer Forebitter will be

among the featured performers of Mystic Seaport's 20th Annual Music Festival

in June. The band will then tour in Estonia and France, where it performs in

festivals in Brittany. Later plans look good for Maine, Nova Scotia, Iceland,

Norway, and the West Coast.

Rick has lived in a number of Connecticut towns, but says he has always

considered Newtown his home. His most recent visit was on Mother's Day, when

he came up to see his mother. His roots are here, he says.

"Many of the buildings that were there when I was a child still stand and

bring back memories, although most of the ones that were businesses have

changed hands, and the ones that were the homes of friends and relatives are

now mostly occupied by strangers and newcomers," he said.

"I've been making a living doing what I do for 15 years or so," Rick said.

"Were it not for the connection with Mystic and the seafaring music that I've

come to know, it would have been impossible.

"There are more singer-songwriters in the Northeast than can be imagined. We

are almost as plentiful as the high school actors and actresses who made a big

splash in the senior class plays and decided they could be pros.

"I've been very fortunate and blessed to be able to make a living doing what I

love to do," admitted the musician. "I've known too many creative people who

have worked for too many years at a job they didn't like and envied my life.

I've traded financial security for the life I want to live, and it's been

worth it in every way.

"Sometimes it's tough to remember that when the rent comes due or the car

breaks down, but it's been a good life and yes, I still enjoy it very much."

Being recognized primarily as a performer of sea music, Rick says he does not

get as much of an opportunity to perform his own non-seafaring compositions as

he would like. His performance Saturday night in Newtown will give him the

opportunity to perform more of his own material.

The show will almost certainly include material from his newest CD, called

Contentment , which was released on the recording label he formed, called Safe

Harbor Music. Based in Mystic, the company's roster includes not only Rick and

his band Forebitter, but also the group WindLasses and the solo performers

Rick Spencer, David Littlefield, Geoff Kaufman, and Craig Edwards.

As of earlier this week, the program for Saturday night in Newtown was not yet

complete, but Rick mentioned plans to perform some of his songs relating to

his New England heritage, a few sea songs, and maybe a couple of pieces on the

banjo.

"I'm still working on putting the program together. I can let you know what it

will be like shortly after the concert is over," he deadpanned.