ARTIST BIOS
Mark Morganstern is a graduate of the City College Writing Program. His work has appeared in Prima Materia, volume 4, The Crescent City Review, Piedmont Literary Review, New Southern Literary Messenger, Hunger Magazine, Expresso Tilt, Mothering Magazine, and other journals. He received an honorable mention for his story," Tomorrow’s Special," in the Chronogram’s 11/06 Fiction Contest, selected by guest judge, Valerie Martin. Mark subs at the local high school and books concerts for The Rosendale Cafe. He has lived in the Hudson Valley all his life.
Story behind the song:
"Hudson River Girl" - As I remember it, the tune and words came at the same time. It was in my head for a long time. Finally I wrote down the verses. I kept singing it in the car. Eventually, I picked up a guitar and learned that it took only three chords to play the song. I found that disappointing. After a great deal of indecision I decided to record it. I was lucky that Abby and Brian Hollander were available that day and we met up at the Make Believe Ballroom, Tom Mark’s legendary studio in Shokan. By that point I was convinced that the song sucked and that my ego had gotten free of its corral. I remember feverishly rewriting the last two verses that day before the session. I showed Brian and Abby the song by singing it. Tom wisely suggested that I shouldn’t try to play the guitar in front of them. They picked it up immediately, the tune and the spirit. I think it only took them two or three times to nail it. Listening to it afterwards we decided that we needed some Hudson River Girls to sing back up. I drove down to the High Meadow School and picked up my daughter Lily and a few of her friends. I explained the project to them on the way back and they seemed a bit wary. Once in the studio they became ultimate professionals, insisting on recording their part until it was perfect. After it was a done deal they got all official about the release date and the royalties. This river valley inspires most of the short stories I’ve written. This is my place, and I think that Hudson River Girl is a musical version of one of my stories.
