Fred Arcoleo

THE SEEDS OF RALLY FOLK MUSIC

Years before Rally Folk Music had a name, it was born out of struggle.

I have devoted over 25 years to educating youth in urban areas, under arduous circumstances. Over these years, a need slowly grew, like a seed. A desire with a budding urgency. A song.

With early mornings, late nights, and weekends dedicated to developing capable young people and future leaders, witnessing the ravages of urban life and urban public education, and with precious little time for diversion, I nevertheless found myself impelled to articulate my observations of my demanding surroundings and search for answers. It began with a spontaneous song that surged as if from nowhere, an exercise with a writing class that turned into a riveting confessional, and it flowered into class concerts, neighborhood open mics, a rekindling of love for the guitar, and—with encouragement from my students (“When are you going to make a CD?”)—blossomed over years into full-grown concerts and collaborations.

In 2009, I lost my father, a former musician who sacrificed his music to raise a family, and the long-held desire to document these sporadic eruptions became a need to redeem my father’s legacy. My first CD, “SEEDS,” is the fruit of that labor, and it has unleashed a torrent of energy and enthusiasm to move people with music through this difficult time in history. To rally folk.

Born and raised in Connecticut, I have spent the last 18 years in Washington Heights (New York, NY), where I teach English, Art, and Creative Writing at the George Washington High School Campus.