Cornelia Street Cafe
Encyclopedia
The Cornelia Street Cafe, in New York City
's Greenwich Village
, first opened its doors in July 1977. It quickly became a magnet for the artistic and highly creative folk who loved their art just off the beaten path. On any given night, one might hear writers, poets, or musicians, spilling their musings to a standing-room-only crowd in the tiny cafe. Exotic and edgy art hung from freshly painted white walls. The tables and chairs were wooden.
The Cornelia Street Cafe was also the birthplace of the Monday night songwriter's workshop started by singer/songwriter/and then cafe waitress Carolyne Mas
, in December 1977. The group became known as The Songwriter's Exchange, and released an album on Stash Records in 1980. The one rule for the songwriters was that the song had to have been written — or at least heavily worked on — within the past week. The song was performed and then critiqued by fellow songwriters. The following week, the song was brought back in its improved-upon, and hopefully final stage. The cafe was a venue in which songwriters like Suzanne Vega
, the group's most famous alumna, perfected their craft, sometimes receiving private comments from other songwriters, but often just having a chance to watch reactions to the song in a supportive environment. The Songwriter's Exchange, over time and under the guidance of Jack Hardy
eventually evolved into the cooperative
that formed the Fast Folk Musical Magazine.
Other regular contributors to the workshop included Carolyne Mas
, Jack Hardy
, Tom Intondi
, David Massengill
, Ray Korona
, Cliff Eberhardt
, Steven Brant, Lucy Kaplansky
, Rod MacDonald
, and Michael Fracasso
.
Today, the Cornelia Street Cafe has expanded its walls, and is a successful gourmet restaurant and nightclub, showcasing great musicians, poets, writers, and artists. Robin Hirsch, a successful author himself, and who nurtured the cafe's artistic reputation over the past 31 years, is still one of the owners and continues to display a unique flair for finding and presenting the finest talent that New York City has to offer. Singer/songwriter/pianist Valerie Ghent now runs The Songwriter's Beat, the current incarnation of The Songwriter's Exchange.
The Pink Pony open mic poetry series is also held at the Cornelia Street Cafe, and Jackie Sheeler is the host. Spoken word
and Poetry Slam artists are featured.
Lady GaGa
has stated on several occasions, including interviews and her performance on Saturday Night Live, that she used to work there as a teenager.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, first opened its doors in July 1977. It quickly became a magnet for the artistic and highly creative folk who loved their art just off the beaten path. On any given night, one might hear writers, poets, or musicians, spilling their musings to a standing-room-only crowd in the tiny cafe. Exotic and edgy art hung from freshly painted white walls. The tables and chairs were wooden.
The Cornelia Street Cafe was also the birthplace of the Monday night songwriter's workshop started by singer/songwriter/and then cafe waitress Carolyne Mas
Carolyne Mas
Carolyne Mas is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and producer. Mas broke out of the Greenwich Village music scene boom of the late 1970s, along with other artists such as Steve Forbert, The Roches, and Willie Nile...
, in December 1977. The group became known as The Songwriter's Exchange, and released an album on Stash Records in 1980. The one rule for the songwriters was that the song had to have been written — or at least heavily worked on — within the past week. The song was performed and then critiqued by fellow songwriters. The following week, the song was brought back in its improved-upon, and hopefully final stage. The cafe was a venue in which songwriters like Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Nadine Vega is an American songwriter and singer known for her eclectic folk-inspired music.Two of Vega's songs reached the top 10 of various international chart listings: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"...
, the group's most famous alumna, perfected their craft, sometimes receiving private comments from other songwriters, but often just having a chance to watch reactions to the song in a supportive environment. The Songwriter's Exchange, over time and under the guidance of Jack Hardy
Jack Hardy (singer-songwriter)
John Studebaker "Jack" Hardy was an American lyrical singer-songwriter and playwright based in Greenwich Village, who was influential as a writer, performer, and mentor in the North American and European folk music scenes for decades...
eventually evolved into the cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
that formed the Fast Folk Musical Magazine.
Other regular contributors to the workshop included Carolyne Mas
Carolyne Mas
Carolyne Mas is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and producer. Mas broke out of the Greenwich Village music scene boom of the late 1970s, along with other artists such as Steve Forbert, The Roches, and Willie Nile...
, Jack Hardy
Jack Hardy (singer-songwriter)
John Studebaker "Jack" Hardy was an American lyrical singer-songwriter and playwright based in Greenwich Village, who was influential as a writer, performer, and mentor in the North American and European folk music scenes for decades...
, Tom Intondi
Tom Intondi
Tom Intondi was an American singer-songwriter first based in Greenwich Village and later in the Northwest. Intondi recorded three solo albums, and toured and recorded with a collaboration called The Song Project that also included Lucy Kaplansky, Frank Christian, and Martha Hogen.Intondi died of...
, David Massengill
David Massengill
David Massengill is an American folk singer/songwriter, guitar and appalachian dulcimer player. His best-known songs include "On The Road to Fairfax County," recorded by The Roches and by Joan Baez, "The Great American Dream," and "My Name Joe," about an illegal immigrant restaurant worker...
, Ray Korona
Ray Korona
-Music and Activism:Ray Korona writes folk and folk rock songs about working, the environment, peace and social justice issues along with songs on the more traditional themes of love and friendship. A founding member of the Travelling Musician's Union, Local 1000 of the American Federation of...
, Cliff Eberhardt
Cliff Eberhardt
Cliff Eberhardt is an American folk singer-songwriter. He is a founding member of the Fast Folk Music Cooperative in New York City. Eberhardt joined Red House Records in 1997 and has recorded five albums for the label, the most recent in 2009, 500 Miles: The Blue Rock Sessions...
, Steven Brant, Lucy Kaplansky
Lucy Kaplansky
Lucy Kaplansky is an American folk musician based in New York City. Kaplansky also has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.-Biography:...
, Rod MacDonald
Rod MacDonald
Rod MacDonald is an American folk singer/songwriter. He was a "big part of the 1980s folk revival in Greenwich Village clubs," performing at the Speakeasy, The Bottom Line, Folk City, and the Songwriter's Exchange at the Cornelia Street Cafe for many years. He co-founded the Greenwich Village...
, and Michael Fracasso
Michael Fracasso
Michael Fracasso is a singer-songwriter based in Austin, Texas. His music spans country and rock as he sings in a high tenor that evokes the "high lonesome" sound of early country....
.
Today, the Cornelia Street Cafe has expanded its walls, and is a successful gourmet restaurant and nightclub, showcasing great musicians, poets, writers, and artists. Robin Hirsch, a successful author himself, and who nurtured the cafe's artistic reputation over the past 31 years, is still one of the owners and continues to display a unique flair for finding and presenting the finest talent that New York City has to offer. Singer/songwriter/pianist Valerie Ghent now runs The Songwriter's Beat, the current incarnation of The Songwriter's Exchange.
The Pink Pony open mic poetry series is also held at the Cornelia Street Cafe, and Jackie Sheeler is the host. Spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
and Poetry Slam artists are featured.
Lady GaGa
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
has stated on several occasions, including interviews and her performance on Saturday Night Live, that she used to work there as a teenager.