Rachel Bissex and Emma Goldberg
Rachel Bissex had been a staple of the Burlington folk scene since before I was aware there was a Burlington folk scene. My big sister used to take me to Rachel's shows at Trinity College where she was booking gigs for her dorm. Knowing with certainty that anything she liked was sure to be cool, I became a fan. My love for folk music was born which was a good thing because my friends were listening to a lot of New Kids on the Block and Tiffany at the time. I discovered how much I love live music, and folk music was really accessible, and Rachel’s was the best.
Rachel had an active philosophy of being completely attentive to the person she was with. She took time to talk after her shows, and I grew to love her personality as much as her music. I became babysitter to her daughter, Emma, often when Rachel was touring. Emma tirelessly listened to the Aladdin soundtrack and eventually brought home a violin and would play Hot Cross Buns which I politely listened to...over and over and over. I remember Rachel's joy that her daughter was developing her own passion for music.
Eventually, Rachel took to driving me along to some of her instate gigs. I’d play the chicken-shake and sing along to her songs while she warmed up on the way there, and she’d ask me about her stage presence on the way back. What the heck did I know about stage presence?! But she was attentive; treating me as an equal at a time when I was to so many others “just a kid”. This attitude led me to believe that I could have an opinion not just on folk music, but so much more. I became empowered in her passenger seat.
It was in that seat that she told me about an exciting camp that had just started for families called Camp Common Ground. She suggested that I might be a good fit for the children’s morning program. She sold the idea by dreamily describing late-night campfire singalongs along with details about the camp’s workshops from sailing, to singing, to massage. I worked at that camp for a few summers during a time when I needed to explore a different world. It was a great opportunity to try out pottery, sunrise yoga, reiki, pastel drawing at night, and kayaking. She was right, though. Singing along at the late-night campfires was my favorite part.
David and I often went to Rachel’s shows at local coffee shops or in the park. After the CD release concert of Don’t Look Down, we went to David’s apartment where he proposed. I don’t know what the date was. I only remember it from this event. Was it really 1995? I guess we were engaged for a long time!
I was pregnant with Nora when I found out that Rachel had breast cancer. Wrapped up in new-motherhood, I didn’t get much of a chance to see her. The last time I did was at the Champlain Valley Folk Festival where she passionatly sang new songs from her latest album In White Light. She sang that album's title song; one for her son who she knew she may soon leave and her signature song, Dancing With My Mother, which tells of the generational love that mother's have for their daughters. Each song, new and old, continued to convey the love that Rachel showed for family, friends, and music.
Seven years have passed since we lost Rachel. Her daughter, Emma, is now a beautiful woman teaching violin in Brooklyn (I can only hope it’s Hot Cross Buns). Knowing the struggles and joys of the life of an artist, she continues to radiate Rachel’s light in her passion and adventure with her own musical projects. Gathering those artists touched by Rachel, Emma organized a tribute concert to benefit cancer victims called Dancing with Rachel Saturday night.
Some of the artists, including the 2011 recipient of the White Light Fund scholarship, Giovanina Bucci, never met Rachel. However, listening to her sing one of Rachel’s songs made it clear that her music lives on.
Carol Abair
The most emotional performance for me was Carol Abair’s Whistle Me Dixie. This song, poplularized by Rachel's recording, was written by the imensely talented Abair. The beauty with which she sang it brought forth the love that Carol has for Rachel. Sitting next to my sweet daughter, who I used to rock to sleep singing that song, made clear the strength that music has in connecting those touched by it.
Linda Bassick and Emma Sky
Linda Bassick showed the passion that Rachel had for music by singing Rachel's Passion. That's Linda, on guitar, who I met as a collegue and was Nora's Infant teacher. She is passionate about everything from quality early education to music. She showed her range by skipping the children's music to sing Passion. The f-bomb is tossed in there, and I remember one of those drives with Rachel when she was wondering what to call the un-named album that included this track. She was talking about how her older stuff was so sweet, and that "she used to be nice." I stopped her and said that that would be a great title for her CD.
Mitch Barron, Rik Palieri, Rebecca Padula, and Emma Sky
I was thrilled to hear my friend, Rebecca Padula, sing one of my favorite Bissex tunes, Eve of Construction, a witty song about spring driving in Vermont. It reminded me of all the miles I traveled with Rachel. Rebecca’s own Campfire Light with Rik Palieri’s banjo, Mitch Barron’s bass, and of course, Emma Sky’s violin was exactly the kind of moment that would have had Rachel harmonizing along.
