PAPA JOE: Open Mike

Papa Joe

Open Mike

© 2004 Joe Kretschmer (634479028717)

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Twenty-four original, upbeat and often humorous contemporary folk songs. Tracks vary from bare bones recordings to those with backup vocals and live audiences.

notes

Papa Joe, aka Joe Kretschmer, is a singer/songwriter in the folk/pop tradition of Tom Paxton and John Prine. He has the rare gift of being able to write songs that make audiences both laugh and cry. Hilarious tunes like "I'm Sick of Being Healthy" and "Chick Flick" are mingled with touching ballads like "Voices" and "The Champagne Man." This last song was an Honor Award winner in the 2002 Great American Song Contest. The whimsical "The Cow Song" won second place in the 2001 Novelty Song category of the Just Plain Folks Music Awards.

Although he started playing guitar back in his 20's, Papa Joe never took it seriously until he reached his 50s. He started to attend open mikes in the Cincinnati/Dayton area, and for a couple of years, teamed with singer/songwriter Mark Weierman as The Ditch Lilies. They were nominated for a Cincinnati Entertainment Award in 1999. Papa Joe attended the songwriter classes at the Kerrville Folk Festival in '97 and '98, and was encouraged by professionals like Michael Johnson, Chuck Pyle and Peter Yarrow of the popular 60's trio, Peter, Paul and Mary. The latter even helped him with some of the wording on "The Champagne Man."

Papa Joe is also a member of the Queen City Balladeers, and frequently emcees the weekly Leo Coffeehouse in Cincinnati, one of the three oldest surviving folk venues, spanning more than four decades. Of course, he regularly performs at the Coffeehouse, and at the summer Edensong Concerts in Eden Park, as well as local coffeehouses and bookstores.

Papa Joe's songs have been played on a number of radio stations in the U.S., Europe and Australia. His song, "Grandpa's Story," has been made into a music video, created by his son-in-law, Tom Duvall. The video has been nominated in the music video category for the 2004 Just Plain Folks Music Awards.

reviews

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  • wonderful from start to finish!!
    author: Dr. Robert Kroeger

    Papa Joe is like a hidden gem, making me wonder why I haven't heard of him previously. In this age of fast everything, Joe hints that we are missing something important: time. As he sings, long ago kids learned to be creative in the backyard and in the playground at the park. Now they sit and play video games or text on their cell phones. Any wonder why our nation's children are our latest epidemic: obesity? And the song about the turn signals: hilarious! Please write one about cell phones in the car, in the store, and in a restaurant, Papa Joe. I know it's inside you. Want to run for president? You've got my vote!

  • Great CD, A must have
    author: Kenneth Gorman

    I have heard of Papa Joe for a few years. Listen to some of his songs before. But this collection of songs is great. From some of the older song I knew to some new ones that just get stuck in your head and sing it all day long.

  • Great CD about life!
    author: MariaSerafina

    This is a collection of down-to-earth songs about life. If you love optimistic folk music that doesn't drown you in guilt, this is a must have. The song, I'm Tired of Being Healthy, is a great, funny song about moderation and the joy of being bad...

  • Just what the doctor ordered
    author: Gizmo Cuirkowski

    Open Mike by Papa Joe is a full dose of just what the doctor ordered. Not one to take himself too seriously, Papa Joe mostly tends to write comical odes that poke fun at modern life. Like a musical Mark Twain or Will Rogers, Papa Joe's insights cut right to the humorous heart of the matter and will leave you smiling. But he has a serious side as well and is just as capable of bringing a tear to your eye as a smile to your face. Papa Joe is the perfect example of what folk music is, or at least should be, all about. A true original.

  • Songs comical & lyrical by turns; life's universal truth & the funny details.
    author: Greg Buening

    Papa Joe’s songs draw you in with their simple honesty and then reward you with their insight. On his comic side, there’s “Yes, Dear”- the most important words a husband can learn, “I’m Gonna Get My Head Frozen”- Papa Joe’s experiment with economical cryogenics, and “How to Ruin A Dream”- a whimsical series of life dreams adopted and discarded. On his lyric side, there’s “Grandpa’s Story”- a description of neighborhood play time in the 50’s tinged with regret for its passing, “Double Life”- a creative depiction of the outer and inner man inside all of us, and “The Champagne Man”- a poignant tribute to Joe’s mother.

  • Refreshing humor for a much too serious folk scene.
    author: Prudence Hunt - The Babbler

    How refreshing to hear some folk humor. With so many talented artists in the folk field, its amazing how many sound just alike. Not Papa Joe. His talent is original and spotlights the smiles available in everyday life. He write what he knows and sings what many of us wouldn't think to write! Add to this his moving tribute to much-missed songwriters and the loving memories of his mother and we have what folk has been waiting for ... Papa Joe.

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