Bill Meikle Visiting Artist Fund
The Bill Meikle Visiting Artist Fund was created in 2006 by former FFC board president Barbara Meikle to honor her late husband Bill, a long-time beloved member of FFC. The Fund has given Family Folk Chorale the opportunity to collaborate with prominent musicians at many of our concerts. We've had the privilege of hosting artists including John Carter Cash, Bill Staines, Sol Y Canto, Robbie O'Connell (of the Clancy Bros.), Tracy Grammer, Rani Arbo, Seth Bernard & May Erlewine, folk writer Scott Alarik, now Martin Sexton, and many others. If you would like to help continue this wonderful tradition, please consider a tax-deductible donation.
manner that would remind us of our shared mortality, then on the downbeat of the next refrain encouragingly thrust his arms out to the audience as if to say, “Sing with us now with all your hearts, for this is a life worth living and a moment worth celebrating!” Bill loved the energy of a packed hall. So, with his spirit, let us lift our voices and sing across the generations celebrating the beautiful, ephemeral quality of life!
In the Family Folk Chorale, Bill was a friend to many, a kind mentor, and a gentle fatherly and grandfatherly presence. He was also a riveting performer, a powerhouse soloist and unmistakable with his long white hair and booming baritone voice. Although his lifetime of acting experience--with multiple Emmy awards--gave him many stage tools, most moving and memorable are his generosity and his sincere drive towards the deepest aspects of performance. Bill sought to bring about a very true human connection on stage. Within a song, he could offer a solo verse in a
About Bill Meikle
Bill Meikle, beloved member of the Family Folk Chorale for many years, passed away in December 2006 at the age of 71.
Bill, known to many as “Boston’s Ben Franklin” was one of the preeminent Franklin interpreters of our day. He interpreted Dr. Franklin across the United States and halfway around the world, performing random, question-driven improvisations of Franklin's own time, bringing the modern world to history and history to the modern world.