Folk Singer-Songwriter David Wilcox Carries His ‘Musical Medicine’ Back To The Concert Stage

Folk singer-songwriters have long been recognized for creating music that plays like hearts hanging on the sleeves of love, life, and everything in between. They are observers of the human condition, of the world around them, and of the intersection between the two. As listeners and even admirers, we frequently see ourselves in those lyrics. Their music is indeed universal.

Veteran folk singer-songwriter David Wilcox certainly has the pedigree. The Ohio native with the warm baritone first came to the attention of audiences and critics when he won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival in 1988. Thirty-plus years and twenty-plus albums later, Wilcox won top honors in the 23rd annual USA Songwriting Competition in 2018 for his effervescent “We Make the Way by Walking” from his most recent album release, The View From the Edge. In between, he’s earned praise in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, and Rolling Stone, to name a few.

And like all folk singer-songwriters worth their lyrics and melodies, Wilcox shines before an intimate audience. He returns to the stage March 10 at 7:30 pm, at Soulful Sundown Concerts at the Unitarian Universalist

Congregation of Shelter Rock, 48 Shelter Rock Road, Manhasset. Admission is free; all ages are welcome.

It is music, whether performed live before an audience or recorded for posterity, that Wilcox deems cathartic, even medicinal. In fact, if you check out his website, you’ll find a “Musical Medicine” section that features songs ready to heal heartbreak, depression and addiction. But also, there are songs to appreciate life, beauty, and “enjoying the bliss of the moment.”

That, in essence, is the power of original folk music. Wilcox taps into the reveries of humanity and turns out vignettes that we can all relate to. But most important, these are tunes that make us feel, think, laugh, and cry. And even at its most deeply personal, Wilcox’s songs are universal.

“I’m grateful to music,” he says. “I have a life that feels deeply good, but when I started playing music, nothing in my life felt that good. I started to write songs because I wanted to find a way to make my life feel as good as I felt when I heard a great song. I don’t think I’d be alive now if it had not been for music.”

—Submitted by By Mario Tarradell, Michael J. Media

Robert is survived by his half sister Betty Hayner, paternal cousins Bonnie Hobbs and Paula Purcell, and maternal cousins Ann Ringia and Deborah Sears.

Robert was able to stay in his beloved, familiar home, where he had lived since 1960 with his mother and grandmother following his parents’ divorce, due to several factors which came together. His mother’s sister, Doris Sears, paid o the tax lien when the house was about to be sold out from under him and her elder daughter, Ann, was appointed by the Supreme Court of Nassau County to be his legal guardian in 2011. A huge factor was the constancy of his loyal caregivers: Beverley Zamore, Octavia George, Roger Grand-Pierre, Jeanne Bien-Aime, Janet Lambert, and Noureen Zeeshan. He had 24-hour care in recent years. Beverley had worked with Robert since January 2012. He called her “Bevs” and trusted her completely. Robert’s family is extremely grateful for all of their kindness. Other people crucial to Robert’s well-being were Terry Scheiner, guardianship attorney; Valerie Gaus, psychologist specializing in adults who have autism; Kathleen Quinn, his care manager; Linda Wilk, his Medicaid services coordinator; and Elizabeth Purtz and Shane Winkler, who were in charge of his case at Independent Support Services. These people helped his cousin Ann keep Robert in his home. Kathleen was the heroic one who got Medicaid to pay for round-the-clock care. Robert’s family is grateful for all the Medicaid services he received from the State of New York and all the good treatment he received at St. Francis Hospital of Roslyn during numerous stays over the years and at the Sands Point Center in his nal days.

Robert’s life was also enhanced by his church, Trinity Episcopal, where his mother used to sing in the choir. Reverends Margaret Peckham Clark, Joanne Izzo, and George Sherrill were very involved with Robert. Church member Helen Oehrlein, recently deceased, faithfully visited Robert every week for a number of years. She and Beverley became good friends. Other church members, Ann and Manual Mingorance, were very generous to Ann and her husband, Fred Ringia, on some of their numerous guardianship visits. Beverley and Ann were a team throughout the whole time - family forever! In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Trinity Episcopal Church

1579 Northern Blvd., Roslyn, NY 11576