Many a Musing from Tom Hunter's Song Growing Co

[Tom Hunter - The Song Growing Co.]

Greetings to you from The Song Growing Co.  This is very difficult for us to write.  Some of you may not have heard that Tom passed away on Friday, June 20th of this year.  In May some friends set up a blog (tomhunterblog.blogspot.com) where there is a lot more information.  When Tom found out that he was dying, he urged folks to "keep it going" -- and people are.  There have been numerous tributes and more are planned.  There was an hour devoted to Tom on KGO radio in San Francisco, church services have been held all over the country, and tribute concerts have been put on in CA, OR, and WA.  (If you are among those who participated in tributes to Tom, we'd love to hear about them.)

Washington Sate Governor Christine Gregoire has declared Friday, October 24th "Tom Hunter Day: A Day For Singing!"  The proclamation will be presented to us (Gwen, Aeden, & Irene) at a tribute concert at the Washington Association for the Education of Young Children (WAEYC) annual conference in Tacoma, WA this Friday.  (The text from the proclamation is at the end of this email.)  We're very grateful for Sandi Dexter's work with the governor's office to make this possible.  Jeanne Herrick, who mentors teachers in Rochester, NY, has created a beautiful DVD slideshow tribute to Tom and to early childhood education featuring Tom's very important song "As Human As They Can Be."  It will be debuted at the Friday evening concert.

There will be a tribute concert at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) conference on November 7th in Dallas, TX.  We will be attending this event also.  The DVD slideshow will be shown and will be available to purchase.  Circle of Songs with Hugh Hanley (www.hughhanley.com) has offered to help us sell Tom's CDs and essays in the exhibit hall during the conference.  We'll be at the booth most of Friday the 7th so please stop by to say hi.

Tom's recording called "Love Heals" will be re-released in CD format next month.  It's a CD of songs for the spirit -- some that use explicit religious language and some that don't.  Many of them have really hit home lately.  Here's an excerpt from the liner notes: "Each [song] also reflects the belief that love really does heal -- not by making everything 'all better' or even 'okay' but by being present to comfort and embrace, challenge and change."  There are several other CDs, a booklet of essays written by Tom, and a book by Bev Bos of chants, fingerplays, and stories (appropriately titled "Chants, Fingerplays, & Stories") available -- go to www.tomhunter.com/store.htm to learn more.  The DVD slideshow will be available to purchase on our website soon.  We plan to re-release in CD format Tom's LPs and cassette tapes that haven't been available for a while and are hoping to publish more of his essays.  We will let you know when they are available.

That's all for now.  Treasure one another and keep it going!

-- Gwen and Aeden



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Tom Hunter Day: A Day For Singing!

WHEREAS, Tom Hunter nourished the hearts of teachers, parents and children for decades around Washington State, the United States and overseas; and

WHEREAS, Tom Hunter was a brilliant folk singer, song writer, minister, minstrel, educator, and champion of teachers and children; and



WHEREAS, Tom Hunter had an encyclopedic knowledge of folksongs and when no suitable song existed, was most willing to write a great one; and



WHEREAS, Tom Hunter was widely beloved for his ability to celebrate teachers' everyday interactions with children; and



WHEREAS, Tom Hunter encouraged generations of children to sing and value community; and



WHEREAS, Tom Hunter was a loving husband and father, son, brother and stalwart friend to many; and



WHEREAS, we honor Tom Hunter's teachings, generosity, vision and talents, by keeping his music and stories alive, and continuing his legacy of singing out loud. In short, following Tom's wise advice to KEEP IT GOING;



NOW, THEREFORE, I Christine O. Gregoire, Governor of the State of Washington, do hereby proclaim October 24, 2008, as



Tom Hunter Day: A Day for Singing!


in Washington State, and I urge all citizens to join me in this special observance.


Signed this 30th day of September, 2008


Governor Christine O. Gregoire 



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THE SONG GROWING CO.
1225 E. Sunset Dr., #518
Bellingham, WA  98226
(360) 738-0340
fax: (360) 734-0295
songgrow at tomhunter.com
www.tomhunter.com

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