George composed music, wrote lyrics, improvised catchy tunes and sang with heartfelt gusto since childhood. As an adult, he was well accomplished as a folk-rock guitarist playing six and twelve string guitars, banjo, fiddle and violin. “The Bleeker Street Three” was his popular St. Bonaventure folk trio, leading him to open as a solo guitarist for Pete Seeger at Case Western Reserve and for Sha Na Na at RPI. He performed on stages and in coffee houses throughout New York, occasionally sitting in with the Kingston Trio & The Brothers Four. George loved playing blue grass music, was a headliner at the Copper Kettle, and had a large following playing the folk-rock circuit in NYC.

George loved his music and the fabulous life-time friends he made: Don Johnston, Andy Anka, Jay Unger, Tom Paisley to name a few. His 1972 album “Time to Wonder Why”, recorded at the RCA studios in NYC, hit the charts with his “Candle River” love ballad and his politically infused “Wake Up Your Mind”.

All-time family favorites to this day of the “The Magic Garden” children’s television show are his composition of the “Open Window Song” and the goodbye “See Ya” song. Carole Demis and Paula Janis, the stars of the 12-year run on WPIX, brought George’s songs to generations of children and adults worldwide. I remember George humming and whistling his tunes in our mom’s kitchen when he came to visit. My son was 2 years old and sat at George’s feet clapping to the rhythms of these songs that we eventually sang along with watching the Magic Garden on TV!

Hearing “Candle River” on my car radio driving through Saratoga Springs in the 1970’s forced me to pull over on Broadway. I basked in the memory of being in the RCA studios hearing my brother and his studio musicians pour their hearts out during the recording of this song.

Timeless lyrics and sentiments still warm our hearts and question our sensibilities. His long list of compositions can be found through ASCAP and BMI, all copyrights reserved.