About the project ...The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association encouraged musicians throughout the 11,000-mile middle Susquehanna watershed (including all areas that feed into the North and West branches of the river) to share songs inspired by the river for our first Songs of the Susquehanna project.
We wanted to provide musicians an opportunity to showcase their music after a tough year of pandemic-cancelled gigs. We are also looking to engage new people about the benefits and needs of our river and its tributaries. We received 46 songs from 36 different musicians/musical groups representing a variety of genres. They all focused on the river -- from its history and therapeutic benefits to the challenges it faces. Musicians obviously put a lot of time and effort into this project -- a good reason to support their work by donating via the form in the right column and listening to their work to help us develop the most engaging playlist possible. Help us evaluate songsPlease take some time to listen to the following songs and then use the form below them to provide your feedback. Please note that this is not a competition -- everyone has a different opinion of what makes a song resonate well. We are looking for impactful songs that inspire people to care about our waterways. We want pieces that people will want to listen to over and over and share with their friends.
So, we ask you to let us know which songs are the most impactful for you? If you were personally selecting songs off this list to put on a CD to play in your car, or in an online album to blast while taking a shower or relaxing after a day of paddling, which would they be? Songs were uploaded in a random order and artist names have not been included at this time so each piece can be assessed on its individual merit. Please note that these songs are copyrighted material of the artists who submitted them and are not available to download for personal use. The deadline for feedback on these songs is Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Those that take the time to provide feedback and fill out the full form will be eligible for a random prize drawing to be announced the first week of March. Please share the link and encourage your friends to help us develop our most impactful final playlist! |
Donate: Help musicians, Riverkeeper AssociationDonations specifically to the Songs of the Susquehanna project will be used to cover costs for the project (creating CDs/albums) and the rest will be divvied up among musicians whose songs make the the final playlist -- as a way to offset a tough year of lost gigs. Donations specifically to this project so far include:
Donations specifically for the Songs of the Susquehanna project will be accepted through Feb. 28 using the form below. If you want to donate to the general Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association to help protect and promote our river-based resources, click here.
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1. Headwaters
William Keller |
2. River Savior - Grace on the Water
Flora Eyster |
3. Susquehanna River Rag
John Fries |
4. West Branch Lullaby
Doug Banks |
5. Maybe ... This Can Be It
James Longo |
6. Storms
William Keller |
7. Susquehanna Silent Night
Bill Dann |
8. Happy River is a Clean River
Don Shappelle with Floating Classroom students |
9. Watershed Wildlife
Summer Evans |
10. Confluence
Stu Shrawder/Steve Catania |
11. Tugboat Song
Don Shappelle |
12. Home to You
Grace Kenny |
13. Down at the River
Don Krech |
14. She's Williamsport
Steve Hulslander |
15. Oh, Susquehanna
Thomas Jones |
16. Return to Blue
Johanna Kodlick |
17. Chesapeake Dream
Don Shappelle |
18. Walking in that River
Eric Barnhart |
19. Fanny in the Susquehanny
Tim Walker/Terry Wild |
20. Susquehanna Suzy
Janie Meneely |
21. Miss Susquehanna
Todd Cummins |
22. Up and Down the River
Don Shappelle |
23. Paddle On
Ricky Murphy |
24. Dear Susquehanna
Laurel Sanders |
25. If This River Had a Voice
William Ryan |
26. The Banks of Susquehanna
Jason Sherwin |
27. The Watershed Song
Georgia Young |
28. Susquehanna
Doug Hess |
29. Out on the Water
Don Shappelle |
30. Otzinachson
Barbara Duncan |
31. Down to the Sea
Steve Hulslander |
32. Susquehanna Pirate
Fire in the Glen/Tom Knapp |
33. Watching the River Run
Mike Lundy |
34. Susquehanna Skies
Don Krech |
35. Susquehanna & River
Hannah Bingman |
36. Susquehanna River Song
Don Shappelle |
37. Susquehanna (Here it Comes Again)
Paul Loomis |
38. Memory Bank
Larry Lawson |
39. Tree Stand Stan
Stan Vitzakovitch |
40. The River Run Down
(The Knox Mine Disaster) Gary Gyekis |
41. Down to the River to Pray
Don Shappelle |
42. Susquehanna (The River Called Her Name)
KJ Reimensnyder-Wagner |
43. Susquehanna Home
Doug Madenford/Chris LaRose |
44. New Song for an Old River
Van Wagner |
45. Susquehanna
Chris Whitmer |
46. Come Around
Nicholas Horner |
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Project feedback so far:"One of the coolest things about this project is just seeing this amazing group of people it has pooled together. The river unites us. Pretty cool." -- Van Wagner
"These songs are incredible. Thank you for the idea. Amazing." -- Flora Eyster "Impressive participation! Thanks for all your work getting this up and running." -- Larry Lawson "What a great project. The songs are awesome. Thanks so much for doing this." -- Don Shappelle "What a great collection of songs!" -- Janie Meneely "I was glad to hear of a fun and creative song project for the Susquehanna River." -- Bill Dann "I am definitely on the side of keeping water clean. I pretty much only drink water, so it is important to me to keep the sources clean." -- James Longo "I grew up and attended school close to the Susquehanna. When I heard about this opportunity, fond memories flooded my mind. I enjoyed learning more about the river’s history as well as its challenges, and composing a song that reflects the river’s gifts to us and the challenges she faces. The pandemic has caused me to spend more time enjoying our regional waterways, increasing my appreciation for their beauty and importance in sustaining life. Thank you for recognizing musicians as a way to celebrate our wonderful river!”" -- Laurel Sanders "The opportunity to tell a story stretching over 140 years and many miles of the Susquehanna River was truly a treat. I thank the factors of chance that led me to hear your announcement on WVIA. I thank you for this opportunity." -- Jason Sherwin "It has been fun on our end, and hopefully we can contribute our voices to your worthy cause." -- Eric Burkhart "The process of writing my song for this project has been profoundly cathartic for me, and it has been for my family, too, as they have heard it. I offer my greatest gratitude to you for nurturing this idea into fruition." -- Johanna Kodlick "So much talent on display in expressing a love of the environs of the Susquehanna." -- Jeffrey Speck "This is an awesome project you have going, and I hope it raises some awareness (and funds!) for the issues facing the Susquehanna. It’s great that you partnered that with a method of supporting local musicians, too, and I’m thrilled to be among those represented in the running. Can’t wait to hear the final product!" -- Tom Knapp "This is a great campaign to raise awareness for the river. Keep it up! Once the playlist is over you should invite the winners to do a live socially-distant concert on the river!" -- Andrea Niederman "Everything around us is impactful from life experiences to nature and music. We are fortunate to have the talent of the contributors and all the beauty of Penn's woods and waterways right in our own backyard. The convergence of it all inspires a project like this." -- Julia of Shamokin, PA "Wonderful project for a great cause while also providing some enjoyment." -- Kelly Kramer "A superb mix of art and conservation!" -- Ken Rogers "Very special project. The river came truly alive for me listening to these songs." -- Rob, of Muncy "I think it’s amazing. Hope to get to purchase the final product! Thanks for making my cold winter day a little brighter while listening to some great local home grown music about our history and the beauty that surrounds us here in the Susquehanna River Valleys!" -- Kimberly Harvey "I think it's a great idea and you have plenty of excellent music to choose from. I hope it can encourage people to support the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper's work." -- Norman Lunger "I think this is a really great idea! I would love to be able to snag one of the CDs to listen to for summer days at the river!" -- Jordynne Harvey "This is a wonderful project. Using songs written and sung by local musicians is a great idea. There is a lot of talent in this area." -- Patricia Knapp "What resonated most was the solid musicianship and the heart of the songs -- things you can feel, and not always explain. We need more songs around like this these days!" -- Cory Shelly "What a great idea! In the age of electronics and media, we can reflect on what makes us human. Sites and sounds, emotions and thoughts. I hear it all in this music. Many thanks to all that participated in this experiment. I hope more people can hear and see what we, as humans, can learn and understand what is all around us." -- Benn Keller "This was a wonderful chance for the talented musicians to spread their wings and write about something that people care about. Some were funny, some were serious but all were written and performed by some talented people. The project calls attention to how important the river and its tributaries are, how it inspires artists and others and feeds the souls of the people that use it." -- Thomas Jones "Wonderful project revolving around a river that is close to my heart. I kayak this river, and swim and picnic at the line of rocks below the Rockville Bridge. I've brought many of my dogs here to swim and play as well. So a project that celebrates this place in music is fantastic." -- Gretchen Yarnall "I was born in Sunbury, and have lived in Williamsport and Lewisburg, and along tributaries that feed the Susquehanna. I've walked along, sat by, swam and boated and paddled the river throughout my life and feel like I'm home when I'm near it. This effort, and the collection of songs it brought together, is a testament that many are inspired by our river. Thank you for all you do to keep her healthy and flowing." -- Averie Clark "All good songs and great project. I canoed the Susky many times in years past. Songs bring back ond memories." -- David Hulslander "Excellent idea to spark interest in preserving the river." -- Christine Heimbach "These songs capture the feel of the River. The ones with lyrics tell beautiful stories, and the instrumentals capture a feel good feeling as cruising along the river on a beautiful day." -- Christian Mead "It's fantastic. I love this project. It brings awareness to the need to conserve our most precious resource, plus showcases the beauty of the river and the musical heritage and talent of our region. I hope we hear a lot more of these songs and musicians. I'm grateful to all who participated. Thank you." -- Linda Sterling "It is a great idea to raise awareness. I can honestly say, I’ve lived here for several years and never put much thought into the river but this project made me think of the different parts of the river and what it offers to the communities." -- Yvonne "It is imperative that we protect our beloved Susquehanna River. What better way to bring awareness to her many challenges than through this brilliant project! It is evident through their lyrics and rhythms that these musicians are deeply connected to the river and her many moods. Impressive job putting this all together!" -- Barbara Romanasky "I've been saying for years that there are so many Susquehanna songs that they deserved a CD of their own. I'm delighted that you are making this happen." -- Sue Goddard "This is an incredible idea and very important at this time of saving our natural resources." -- Ally Wright "Love for and memories of the river. The river has been taken for granted. The writers expressed their feelings, which are personal, thoughtful, and not just another river ... but theirs ... a home, joy, alive, solace and in their corner of the world." -- Barbara Elliott "I like the mention of so many familiar places and the memories these songs evoke. Thank you to all the artists for their love and appreciation of the Susquehanna River to which we all owe so much. She is a life force that runs through us all no matter where or how far we go away from home." -- Lisa Davis "It is an awesome idea that has been fulfilled with many great songs by many talented and dedicated artists. It gives me a positive outlook for us and the river moving forward. Thanks to all involved in this important project." -- Don Shappelle "The River unites us - this is a wonderful project! We enjoyed hearing all of these songs by favorite musician friends and others we didn't know! We need Rivers! We need Music! Great to put them together!!" -- Loanne Snavely & Gary Gyekis "I was AMAZED at the number of songs and the Quality of the material. You have more than one album's worth of music in this list. So I would continue this project. Seems a great way to raise money, awareness and creative interest in the Susquehanna River! I will buy whatever CD you put together. In fact I will buy three so I can send one to both of my daughters who no longer live on the river." -- Stu Shrawder "My thanks to the creative minds that came up with the idea for this project. It was thoroughly enjoyable to listen to the playlist repeatedly." -- Bruce Jackson "I think it’s fantastic way to bring attention to the Susquehanna watershed and attentive the same time give artists the opportunity to create and build their resumes of music." -- Vince Evans |