22nd Annual Benefit Concert

March 24, 2007

For the last 21 years the World Folk Music Association has sponsored an exciting annual, folk music extravaganza, bringing together a unique mixture of both well-known and lesser known folk performers. It has always been a wonderful opportunity to see and hear your favorite folk performers as well as become aquainted with new ones. From 1986 through 1996 the event was a single concert at Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. From 1997 through 2005 the event format was changed to a full weekend of folk music at a smaller venue, the Birchmere, in Alexandria, VA. In 2006 we moved to a new venue, the beautiful Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus.

On March 24, 2007, the World Folk Music Association returned to the beautiful Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center to honor folk legend Odetta with a Special Lifetime Tribute and Concert. It was a truly extraordinary evening, honoring one of the 20th Century's most important artist/activists, whose voice has been a bell of freedom and social consciousness throughout the world. Odetta has influenced thousands of artists including virtually every major folk and blues artists of the last half century.

In addition to Odetta, the performers who appeared in person were:

Janis Ian		Oscar Brand		Josh White, Jr.
Donal Leace		Jesse Winchester		Carolyn Hester
David Amram		Madeleine Peyroux		Side by Side
Laura McGhee		Robert Sims		Marie Knight

In addition to the live on stage performances, a large television screen was used to present performers who were unable to attend in person, including Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Tom Rush, Bob Dylan, Eric Andersen, Wavy Gravy, Harry Belafonte and Roger McGuinn. Film highlights of Odetta's life and career were also shown, including a clip from her performance in the movie "The Autobiography of Miss of Jane Pittman". Also included was a humorous clip from the movie "Hairspray", where Pia Zadora and her friends want to be like "Odetta".

Poet, actress and film maker, Michelle Esrick also read letters from other well wishers, including Liam Clancy, Maria Muldaur and Bonnie Raitt. She also showed the audience a drawing, done by Joan Baez, of Odetta and Joan.

Golden 100 and Box Seat ticket holders were invited to attend a reception with the performers following the show, at the Headquarters Hotel, the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel.

Garage parking across the street from the Schlesinger Center was paid for by

A silent auction was held again this year. This year's auction included a banjo top autographed by Pete Seeger and a guitar autographed by all of the concert performers.

See photos of the concert and the reception.