John Tercyak Entertainer
Bar Harbor, Maine, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Musicians rely on an audience to add energy to their performances.
But folk singer and fiddler John Tercyak managed to provide plenty of his own energy last Thursday at the West Street Cafe when, despite a meager crowd, he played with all the dynamics of a sell-out performance.
Tercyak played "Moondance" by Van Morrison to start the evening off and jumped into "Lyin' Eyes" by the Eagles. He even played a sweeet version of the country standard, "Please Come to Boston." Tercyak's finger-picking technique added a classical finesse to the songs of folk regulars like James Taylor and Jim Croce. His renditions of favorite familiar songs were revitalized by Tercyak's voice, which dances smoothly somewhere between the ranges of Neil Young and Glenn Frey.
After a cluster of songs, John would pick up his fiddle and play a set of lively Irish tunes. The sweet whinnying notes of his fiddle needed little or no amplification in a intimate scenario such as this. Nor did it need vocal accompaniment. Tercyak's fiddle songs, some titled as simply as "J.T.'s Fiddle Tune" sparked up the crowd, transporting them to a highland somewhere or a tap room frothing with Guiness Stout. Excellent stuff.
He's also excellent at reading and responding to his audience - even a small one. At the beginnign of the evening there were still some family folks finishing up dinner. When Tercyak noticed the two little girls at the table he burst into Peter, Paul and Mary's "Puff, the Magic Dragon," which won him the "Surprise Song of the Set" award. It was beautiful, and I cracked a smile realizing how long it had been since I had heard this myself. It was the first time in my night stops I've seen a performer address the 6-to-12 age set. Hat's off!
Bar Harbor Times - Courier Publishers
By Kevin Stack, August 24, 1995
- Kevin Stack
Discography
11 CDs to date. "Someone You Don't Know" my first. Original songs, 5 covers plus 4 Fiddle tunes. "Celtic in the Courtyard", Traditional Celtic melodies played solo on the fiddle. Small Stuff Kid Songs" 20 songs for Kids and Big Kids Too, 'Puff the Magic Dragon', 'The Eensy Weensy Spider', 'You Are my Sunshine' and more and a couple of originals. "Olde Stuff Family Songs" songs from before the turn of the last century, 'Grandfather's Clock', 'Blue Tail Fly'... "Christmas Carols" Traditional Carols performed cleanly and unadulterated on the guitar with vocals. "I Always Fall in Love Alone" Guitar and Vocal Originals. "Collection", "Collection 2" & "Collection 3" Many of the songs I love and people request mostly from the 70s. "Love Songs" Self Descriptive and "White Christmas" Songs of the Christmas Season from 'Frosty' to 'Winter Wonderland'.
Photos
Bio
Classically trained, Jazz schooled and Folk rooted, John Tercyak entertains with the Fiddle, Guitar & Vocals. His repertoire consists of over 700 songs that he has listed for your requests. Professionally performing for more than 30 years, his styles range from Irish to Folk, Kids Tunes to Jazz Standards, Holiday Favorites to 70's Songs, Country, Originals & More. Bar Harbor is his year-round residence and he plays for concerts, cruises, club dates, parties, weddings, etc. on Mount Desert Island mostly or just about anywhere, actually. He also gives lessons on Fiddle and Guitar and occasionally is engaged to perform school programs. You might see him playing on the Schooner Margaret Todd on Frenchman's Bay, Bar Harbor, Maine. He can be hired for recording sessions, compositions by commission and personal songs. Eleven CD releases to date:” Someone You Don't Know” originals, covers and 4 fiddle tunes, “Celtic in the Courtyard” solo fiddle compilation of Traditional Celtic Melodies, “Small Stuff Kid Songs” 20 songs for the young and young at heart, “Olde Stuff Family Songs” sequel to “Small Stuff” popular songs from before the turn of the last century, an American Heritage Collection, “Christmas Carols” Traditional Carols, "White Christmas" songs of the Season, “Collection” 70s songs, 'American Pie', 'Homeward Bound', etc,“I Always Fall in Love Alone' all originals. And “Collection 2” & "Collection 3" more songs mostly from the 70s and "Love Songs" 'What a Wonderful World', 'Amazing Grace', 'Wonderful Tonight', 'Wind Beneath my Wings' and more. Samples of his music can be heard at his web site www.johntercyak.com as well as viewing his song list and performance schedule, purchasing recordings and more.
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