Musician Todd Rundgren to Be Honored in Woodstock, NY on October 23

WOODSTOCK, N.Y. - Oct. 1, 2024 - PRLog -- The Key to the Town of Woodstock, NY will be presented to Todd Rundgren at the Bearsville Center on Wednesday, October 23, coinciding with a two-date residency at the historic Bearsville Theater in Woodstock.

During his 13 years in Woodstock, Rundgren recorded and produced numerous iconic albums in Bearsville, including: Meatloaf's "Bat Out of Hell", Patti Smith's "Wave", The Band's "Stage Fright" (recorded at the Woodstock Playhouse), XTC's "Skylarking", and Steve Hillage's "L". Rundgren also recorded and produced his own material, including: "Hermit of Mink Hollow", "Healing", and Utopia's "RA", "Oops Wrong Planet", and "Adventures in Utopia".

The same ceremony on October 23 will also dedicate an historic landmark plaque to recognize Rundgren's work at the Utopia Video Studio, adjacent to Bearsville Theater, which Albert Grossman built for Todd in the 1980s.

In honor of the ceremonies, the Rundgren's Spirit of Harmony Foundation is partnering with national non-profit Hungry for Music to conduct a musical instrument drive, encouraging people to donate used musical instruments that will be refurbished and distributed to children in the Hudson Valley area and around the country. According to Rundgren, "Instruments are the most common need expressed by music programs. We get frequent calls from people who want to donate instruments, so we know that attics and basements and closets are filled with musical instruments they no longer play."

Hungry for Music's Founder Jeff Campbell will be on hand to accept the instruments and transport them to his team, who will refurbish/repair them and make them ready to donate to schools to fulfill their wish lists. Campbell explains, "We believe that by sharing instruments and music experiences, children who would not otherwise have the opportunity can experience a kind of freedom and self-discovery that is often stifled in an atmosphere of economic hardship."

Donated musical instruments must be in working condition or repairable. No pianos or full-sized keyboards will be accepted. Instruments may be dropped off at the Woodstock Town Hall (47 Comeau Drive) or The Bearsville Studios (100 Tinker Street) during normal business hours October 1-23.

The Spirit of Harmony Foundation, founded in 2013, is a national grassroots non-profit organization that advocates for the moral imperative of music education for children. https://spiritofharmony.org/

Rundgren is a musician, songwriter, record producer, whose musical career began at the age of 17 in the Philadelphia area. In 50 years as a bellweather of the music industry, Rundgren has produced an abundant and diverse range of recordings, as a solo artist and as a member of the band Utopia and various collaborations including Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. As a songwriter, video pioneer, producer, recording artist, computer software developer, conceptualist, interactive artist (re-designated TR-i), and advocate for music education for children, he has made a lasting impact on both the form and content of popular music, and has inspired generations of artists.

Says Woodstock Town Supervisor Bill McKenna, "Todd Rundgren is an important contributor to Woodstock's long and iconic history as a global nexus for all genres of musical creativity."

Lizzie Vann, who purchased the Bearsville Campus in 2019, has undertaken a large-scale renovation and restoration to bring the Theater back to its glory. She has created exhibits honoring the musical legacy of the Center, recognizing their profound impact on both the community and the global music industry. Vann said, "From studios to stages, Bearsville thrived as a creative utopia, embodying Albert Grossman's vision for artistic expression and innovation. Part of that utopia -  Bearsville Records (1970-1984) - was a cornerstone of musical innovation. Todd Rundgren's groundbreaking debut set the stage for the label's diverse repertoire."

Dayglo Presents, a leading live entertainment and media company led by independent concert promoter Peter Shapiro, now operates the Theater.  Utopia Studios is now owned and managed by multiplatinum studio and live engineer Pete Caigan, who has reconfigured the space to include an API AXS Legacy recording (audio) console.