Pat Wictor
Encyclopedia
Pat Wictor is a Venezuelan-born
American
blues and folk
musician, guitar
ist, singer/songwriter
, and recording artist. His father's career in the oil industry led to his family living in not only Venezuela but also, Holland, Norway
, Texas
, and England
before returning to the United States in his teenage years. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.
His career as a musician was interrupted by two other careers. The first was a stint as an activist; working on electoral reforms, opening up the ballot to independent candidates and opening up the debate process. He then became a high school
global studies teacher
.
Before finding his metier in folk and blues Mr. Wictor played rock, heavy metal and jazz. He started playing the guitar, switched to the bass, then the saxophone before returning to his original instrument.
He was a winner of the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
New Artist Showcase in 2006 and as such toured on the 2007 Falcon Ridge Preview tour along with Red Molly
and Ellis
. He was a finalist in the prestigious 2007 Kerrville Folk Festival
New Folk Competition. He was also nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year in 2006 by the Folk Alliance.
Pat's ethereal style has led to him being called a "Zen Bluesman" by John Platt of WFUV
.
While primarily a solo artist he often is accompanied by percussionist Cheryl Prashker or dobro player Abbie Gardner.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues and folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
musician, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist, singer/songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, and recording artist. His father's career in the oil industry led to his family living in not only Venezuela but also, Holland, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
before returning to the United States in his teenage years. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.
His career as a musician was interrupted by two other careers. The first was a stint as an activist; working on electoral reforms, opening up the ballot to independent candidates and opening up the debate process. He then became a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
global studies teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
Before finding his metier in folk and blues Mr. Wictor played rock, heavy metal and jazz. He started playing the guitar, switched to the bass, then the saxophone before returning to his original instrument.
He was a winner of the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival and dance festival formerly held at the Long Hill Farm in Hillsdale, New York, USA. In 2006, the event moved to nearby Dodds Farm, just off Rt. 22, five miles north of the Rt. 22/Rt. 23 intersection in Hillsdale, on...
New Artist Showcase in 2006 and as such toured on the 2007 Falcon Ridge Preview tour along with Red Molly
Red Molly
Red Molly is a folk trio consisting of Laurie MacAllister , Abbie Gardner , and Molly Venter . They perform original works composed by each of the group members, as well as covers of other songwriters including Hank Williams, Gillian Welch and Ryan Adams...
and Ellis
Ellis (singer-songwriter)
Ellis Delaney is an American singer-songwriter based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She performs under the name Ellis, having found early on that her last name is frequently mispronounced...
. He was a finalist in the prestigious 2007 Kerrville Folk Festival
Kerrville Folk Festival
The Kerrville Folk Festival is a music festival held for 18 consecutive days in the late spring/early summer at Quiet Valley Ranch near Kerrville, Texas. The event has run on a yearly basis since 1972. In November 2008, the Kerrville Folk Festival and Kerrville Wine & Music Festival were acquired...
New Folk Competition. He was also nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year in 2006 by the Folk Alliance.
Pat's ethereal style has led to him being called a "Zen Bluesman" by John Platt of WFUV
WFUV
WFUV, 90.7 FM in New York City, is Fordham University's 50,000-watt, non-commercial radio station, with studios on campus and its antenna atop nearby Montefiore Medical Center. First broadcast in 1947, WFUV has an airstaff which includes such New York radio veterans as Pete Fornatale , Dennis...
.
While primarily a solo artist he often is accompanied by percussionist Cheryl Prashker or dobro player Abbie Gardner.
Discography
- Temporary Stay (2003)
- Waiting for the Water (2005)
- Heaven Is So High...And I'm So Far Down (2006)
- Sunset Waltz (2008)
- Living Ever-Lovin' LIVE (2010)