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David Nicholas: For 35 years, John Sheffler, creator, producer and host of Our Front Porch brought all kinds of traditional music to stages in central and northern Michigan, and the shows were heard on WCMU and shared with NPR listeners across the country.
Tomorrow evening at 7 p.m., just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, John will share music and memories of the Irish bands he featured over the years. His program will be at the Lake Superior State University Library Commons in Sault Ste. Marie.
I had the chance to talk with my long-time colleague and friend and our conversation began with John reflecting on how much young musicians looked up to the band Dolores Keane and Reel Union, the very first Irish band John worked with in 1982.
John Sheffler: We invited the bands Téada and Gráda to go out on a tour with us in Northern Michigan, and we did three cities. They came in a day early, just so that we could shove off for the north early in the day. So we had them over for dinner, and in the course of the conversation, they asked if I had worked with other Irish bands. And, of course, my answer was, “Well, we worked with Dolores and John and company back in May of 1982.” And they asked right away, “Do you have a copy of that?” And I said, “Yeah, it's on a cassette here... Cassette in the machine.”
And I started playing it, and one of the band members, I don't remember who at this point, and they all circled around the radio, my speakers and stuff. And they're like in a semicircle around it, like the old days of radio, you know. It was captivating for them, I guess. And number one, they told me there had not been many recordings done live of Dolores in Reel Union. And then one of them turned to me and said, “You know, she's considered to be the voice of Ireland.” I hadn't heard that term before associated with Dolores. I knew she was good. I knew she was great, and the band was incredible, but I had no idea that she was being held with that respect by the fellow musicians of Ireland... That she was considered to be the voice of Ireland.
DN: Then to get that level of praise, that's the highest of the highest of praises, has got to be a pretty remarkable thing, given that she was the first act that you featured and then the younger generation comes along and acknowledges that. That speaks to the staying power and the long legacy of the show that you produced.
JS: I'm a very fortunate man, David. I've been blessed. There is no doubt. I had the chance to work with some of the most incredible musicians on the planet.
As we were traveling with FullSet, this is a group of young players from... They met at the University of Limerick, as I recall. At dinner one night, they asked, “Well who’s coming in next?” Now, in promoting that concert, David, I never mentioned that it was going to be the last concert that I promoted, 'cause I didn't want people to come out and... Y’know, it's like going past a traffic accident. You know, gawking.
DN: Yeah.
JS: So, I never mentioned that. So, as we're at dinner, you know, the question comes up: “Well, who's coming in next?” And I said, “Well, actually nobody, you will be the last performers to appear in concert for us.” And they said, “Oh no. Have you told your audience about that?” And I said, “No.” “Well, maybe we talk about it from the stage,” and I said, “No, no.” Lo and behold. They, being younger than myself, they didn't listen to me, and they proceeded to announce it from the stage in Harbor Springs. And it was interesting because there was almost a gasp that took place in the audience and I thought, “Holy cow, are you kidding me?”
And then a woman and her grandson came up to me after the concert, and she asked, “Well, who's going to carry on? Who's going to produce these concerts now?” I said, “Couldn't tell you. Nobody at the station will be doing it. This is the end.” And she just looked at me, and she asked, “Well, where can I take my grandson to hear music like this?” I didn't have an answer for her. I just stood there dumbfounded, speechless, which is never good for a radio guy.
DN: But again, it's the generations. And I don't know if she said when she first started coming to the shows herself, but literally to be passing it on to a grandchild at that point.
JS: Yeah.
DN: Another I'm sure very, very emotional reaction for you and dare we say again, a testament to the legacy of 35 years of bringing the music and the concerts to parts of Michigan that otherwise might not have had opportunities like this.
JS: I was mighty proud that night, I can tell you. I was very happy with what we had accomplished in the impression that we had left with our audience. Yeah.
DN: It has been a pleasure. Knowing you and I as well as I do, we could have talked for, oh, days on end. That might not have held everybody's attention on the radio, but it's been great catching up about all of this, John, and wishing you all the best and certainly have some fun with the crowd coming to Sault Sainte Marie this week. John, it's been a pleasure and we appreciate the time.
JS: Thank you very much, David. It's been great talking to you.
DN: Thank you very much.
