Tom and Chris Kastle
Encyclopedia
Tom and Chris Kastle are a maritime music
performing duo based in Chicago. They first began performing maritime music in approximately 1977. In the mid 1980's they were known for running "whale watching" concert cruises on Lake Michigan on the sailing schooner
Charlotte Ann.
The Kastles have been associated with various maritime-themed festivals and music festivals in Chicago over the years, including the "Chicago Maritime Folk Festival" also in the mid-1980s. They were also involved in the various Tall Ships festivals in Chicago from at least 1994. They have also been artistic directors of the Chinquapin Folk Music and Storytelling Festival since its beginnings in 1995. In 2003 they founded and became directors of the Chicago Maritime Festival
.
The Kastles have also appeared on numerous radio shows including The Midnight Special
and television shows and have toured internationally, appearing at the Shanties Festival in Poland as well as at the National Maritime Museum in New Zealand. They have also performed at numerous tall ships and maritime music festivals around the United States.
Tom Kastle's song, Cold Winds was covered by Midwestern folk musician Lee Murdock on Murdock's 1991 album, "Cold Winds."
Sea shanty
A shanty is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels. Shanties became ubiquitous in the 19th century era of the wind-driven packet and clipper ships...
performing duo based in Chicago. They first began performing maritime music in approximately 1977. In the mid 1980's they were known for running "whale watching" concert cruises on Lake Michigan on the sailing schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Charlotte Ann.
The Kastles have been associated with various maritime-themed festivals and music festivals in Chicago over the years, including the "Chicago Maritime Folk Festival" also in the mid-1980s. They were also involved in the various Tall Ships festivals in Chicago from at least 1994. They have also been artistic directors of the Chinquapin Folk Music and Storytelling Festival since its beginnings in 1995. In 2003 they founded and became directors of the Chicago Maritime Festival
Chicago Maritime Festival
The Chicago Maritime Festival is a maritime music and culture festival held in Chicago, USA, every winter, usually the last weekend in February, usually at the Chicago History Museum. It is not uncommon for over 500 people to participate. It has existed in its present incarnation since 2003 and...
.
The Kastles have also appeared on numerous radio shows including The Midnight Special
The Midnight Special (radio)
The Midnight Special is a syndicated radio show broadcast on Chicago, Illinois radio station, WFMT-FM since 1953. It is a showcase for folk and roots music from historical and contemporary artists. The show also features comedy sketches and show tunes...
and television shows and have toured internationally, appearing at the Shanties Festival in Poland as well as at the National Maritime Museum in New Zealand. They have also performed at numerous tall ships and maritime music festivals around the United States.
Tom Kastle's song, Cold Winds was covered by Midwestern folk musician Lee Murdock on Murdock's 1991 album, "Cold Winds."
Tom and Chris Kastle
- Let the Waves Roll High (1981)
- O'er the Stormy Sea (1983)
- Helm's Alee! (1986)
- Work and the Waterways: An Aural History of Midwestern Workers (1987)
- Burnham Harbor (1989)
- See the Sea: Songs for Younger Sailors (1991)
- Earthways Waterways (1993)
- Strike the Bell (1995)
- That Time of Year: Songs and Stories of Christmas (1995)
- Stories and Songs of Simple Living (with accompanying book) (1997)
- Me For the Inland Lakes (1999)
- Rivers (2000)
- Familiar Waters (2005)
Chris Kastle
- Some Here and Some Now Gone (2011)
- Down Below the Waves (2011)
- The Roaring Rhinoceros and Friends (2011)
Video
- The Mermaid and Other Sea Songs (1995)
- Chicago Stories: The Race to Mackinac, WTTW Channel 11 Chicago (video soundtrack) (2000)
- Ted Ashbey: Big Rig of the Gulf, Gaffrig Productions, Auckland, New Zealand (video soundtrack) (2003)
External links
- Official website
- YouTube video of the Kastles performing their original song Cold Winds at the 2008 Chicago Maritime Festival.