Biography
Slim Harrison and Tom Jolin teamed up in 1980 to perform traditional, old time American folk music. They perform for all kinds of venues including schools, folk festivals, and history events. They performed for the Smithsonian Institute and also, for former Vice President Gore at his residence. In summer 2006, they performed at the Viljandi, Estonia Folk Music Festival. In July 2008 they are booked at two major world folk music festivals in Germany, plus 5 German schools and 2 community concerts. The Barnstormers are rostered with PennPat, www.pennpat.org, which will pay up to 50% of their fees for concerts and residencies in the Mid-Atlantic region. Slim and Tom have not only enjoyed performing together for a quarter century, but have their separate solo schedules.
Slim has performed for over 30 years and has been making instruments for over 25 years. He is a very popular artist in residence through the Maryland States Arts Council. Besides performing at Wolf Trap, he serves there as a Master Artist, teaching other performers and teachers. He has also been a teacher at the prestigious Farm and Wilderness Foundation in Vermont and Common Ground on the Hill.
Tom has been performing for over 35 years and making instruments for over 30 years. Under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts, he has been an artist in residence in many schools, camps, and other locations. With his groups he has performed with Garrison Keillor, and was a featured artist at the 25th anniversary concert of WITF-FM. He is a rostered presenter for the PA Humanities Council. He has recorded 7 albums with various groups, and one as a solo artist.
Instrumentation
Thomas Jolin: hammered dulcimer, banjo, harmonica, guitar and button accordion...vocals
Slim Harrison: fiddle, banjo, guitar, mountain dulcimer, jaws harp, fiddlesticks & spoons ...vocals and dance caller
Discography
Tom Jolin: 7 recordings
"West Orrtanna String Band" by the West Orrtanna String Band (1976)
"An Orrtanna Home Companion" by the West Orrtanna String Band (1978)
"Steam" by The Orrtanna Mountain Steamers (1989)
"Wonderment" by The Orrtanna Mountain Steamers" (1991)
"Civilian" by Tom Jolin (2003)
"Traditional Music from Orrtanna" an archival set of the West Orrtanna String Band and Orrtanna Mountain Steamers recordings - funded, in part, by The National Endowment for the Arts.
"Promenade Home" by Tom Jolin & Slim Harrison recorded by Rock Candy Studios (2006)
Other recordings by Slim Harrison:
"Slim Harrison-Who Needs Him", solo recording on Fonotone Records:1980
"Songs for Singing and Learning", with other artists, Wolf Trap Institute Recordings, 1992
"Everybody Comes from a Different Place", Wolf Trap Institute Recordings, 1993
"The Sounds of Farm & Wilderness", Recorded & produced by Slim for F&W Foundation: 2000
Slim contributed the opening song, "Slim's Chance" and other solo instrumentals & vocals with South Mt String Band for:
"Music from The MD Sheep & Wool Festival", 2005
In 2007, Slim recorded 5 traditional tunes for the "Little Voices for Healthy Choices" CD produced by Wolf Trap Institute & the Early Head Start National Resource Center
Slim's recent CD, "Goin' to that Sunnyland" recorded with the Sunnyland Band (children's jugband), will be released on March 14th, 2009 by RockCandy Productions.