Ramblers on Stage at Tanglewood's Ozawa Hall 5-15-04
The Berkshire Ramblers are made up of a group of unlikely folks who love folk songs of the "old style." The founding Rambler partners are Joe Browdy and Alan Chartock. The group has been playing together, in one form or another, for well over forty years. The participants are Joe Browdy (lead singer, guitar), Alan Chartock, (banjo, guitar, singer), Roselle Chartock (singer guitar, and tiny percussion instruments) and Octavio Hernandez, (stand up bass player). Also appearing with the group is singer instrumentalist Bob Salzman and sometimes guest artist Seth Rogovoy. From time to time, others join the group. The Ramblers believe in the Weavers old credo that they rehearse on stage while playing a gig. The Ramblers play when they have the spirit or fortitude to do so and they play primarily at events for not for profit institutions.
History: The Ramblers began with the meeting of Joe Browdy and Alan Chartock at the Bronx House Emmanuel Camps. Joe was the music counselor, followed later by Alan. Joe was featured in a concert at what was then known as "Carnegie Recital Hall," along with other greats like the Traum Brothers and Winnie Winston in a 1960's early Hootenany. Joe went on to be one of the top New York City lawyers with the distinguished law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Garrison and Wharton. When he retired he moved to Hillsdale, New York where he had always maintained a second home with his wife Sue, and his children. Joe is a graduate of Oberlin College and NYU Law School. He earned his jurist doctorate at NYU. At Oberlin he hosted a folk music radio show. Alan Chartock says of his old friend who now serves on the WAMC Public Radio Board of Trustees, "I always knew that he rather be playing ‘Midnight Special' than practicing law.
Lead female singer Roselle Chartock is Professor of Education at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She has written extensively on the Holocaust and has published a book, "Can It Happen Again? Chronicles of the Holocaust," on the subject. She holds a BA from Skidmore, an MA from Hunter College and an Ed.D. From the University of Massachusetts. She has also edited a text book, "Educational Foundations: An Anthology" published by Prentice Hall now in its second edition. She is currently working on another Prentice Hall project on multiculturalism . She is the Rambler least likely to want to play a gig and was highly insulted when playing on top of a truck at a gathering when Joe Browdy said, "Boy did we stink." She has never quite forgotten that even though she agreed.
Alan Chartock, the Rambler's banjo player, is President and CEO of WAMC, Northeast Public Radio. He is a political scientist who thought up and is now publisher and project director of "The Legislative Gazette; The Newspaper of State Government" that takes students from many colleges and universities and allows them to cover state government under a professional editor. Chartock earned his BA at Hunter College, an MA at American University and a Ph.D. at NYU. Chartock is now professor in The University at Albany communication department. He is a columnist and participates in several public radio programs. He is considered the premier public radio fund raiser in the United States.
Octavio Hernandez is a graduate of The University of Mexico School of Law. He is married to Dr. Jennifer Browdy Hernandez, daughter of Joe Browdy and is probably the most serious musician in the group. He is employed at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington where he is in charge of outreach with the Hispanic population, and also works as a free lance translator of legal and financial documents. Jennifer and Octavio have two children.
Bob Salzman is former head of the Berkshire Hills Regional School System music program and serves as lay leader of a small but important congregation in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
You may read more about Seth Rogovoy by following the provided link to his home page.
The Ramblers Live At the Linda Norris Auditorium in the WAMC Performing Arts Studio
