Historian & Storyteller in Song: Neil Woodward #20054

Our podcast interview with Neil Woodward covers his life's work.  Neil is an instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and folk historian who helps preserve musical traditions. He holds the title -- state troubadour. In 2003 the Legislature of the State of Michigan officially named Neil Woodward Michigan’s Troubadour in recognition of his lifelong commitment to preservation of Great Lakes folk music and culture. Woodward has served as the village troubadour at Genesee County's historic Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad and spends his summers as a strolling musical performer at Greenfield Village in Dearborn. During the podcast you will hear four of his songs; "Engine 464", the "Swampin' of the Genesee Belle", "... say No?!" and "Peach Tree Creek". These songs represent  Flint historical stories.  The song "Engine 464" details the history of Engine 464 of the Huckleberry Railroad located at Crossroads Village near Flint, Michigan. the "Swampin' of the Genesee Belle" is a story about a boat which submerged on Mott Lake during its madien voyage.  The song " ... say No?!" is about Flint, and its legendary autoworkers. He painfully describes the pressures Flint autoworkers felt in the 1990's from the forces of globalization and the threats of losing their jobs to Mexican factories. Lastly, Peachtree Creek is a Civil War song which tells the story of a Flint, Michigan soldier wounded in Sherman's March to the Sea (Battle of Atlanta). Neil Woodward is recipient of 2018 State of Michigan Heritage Award "in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Michigan's cultural heritage."  Most of Neil’s work focuses on the preservation of Michigan's songs in the troubadour tradition, from Great Lakes sailor shanties to lumberjack songs. For more information about Neil Woodward and his storytelling and songs visit: https://www.neilwoodward.com/ Also visit the Radio Free Flint website https://www.radiofreeflint.media to read a blog post about this podcast.  We also have posted in the Video tab a YouTube video of the songs on this podcast.