September 9, 2025

Category: Music

Music / Personalities

Michael Lydon (1942 – 2025) An Appreciation

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Music Writer and Cultural Historian Michael Lydon Has Died

The Rolling Stone Magazine founding editor and NYC music mainstay was 82.

A New Yorker’s New Yorker who lived the hippie life as a Yale educated historian and journalist in the heart of 1960s counter-culture California and London, England, Michael Lydon was a friend and inspiration when I came to know him though his wife and long time collaborator, the composer Ellen Mandel. Michael died on July 30 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease.
An absolute prince of a guy, Michael shall be missed by all who are lucky enough to have known him. I so enjoyed jamming with him at the studio apartment he and Ellen kept as a creative work space near their East Village apartment.
We connected through our lifelong admiration of Bob Dylan, and Duke Ellington. As the first American journalist to interview a young Lennon and McCartney, and then founding editor of Rolling Stone Magazine, who toured with the actual Rolling Stones, and knew Janice, and the Dead, I found it delightful that Michael preferred singing gentle jazz standards, and composed songs in the same vein.
I was privileged to do the art direction for his final CD, coming up with a great many colorful designs before Michael and Ellen made their choice for the disc and cover.
Michael Lydon final CD designed by T Spoon Phillips
With his long silver ponytail and rakish goatee and mustache, and svelte, debonair attire, Michael seemed less an old hippie than a timeless chevalier, if not a musketeer. I would have cast him as the retired d’Artagnan in Rostand’s “Cyrano” in a heartbeat. But he never lost the ’60s idealism that buoyed his dedication to encouraging others to love and love music.
He was even more cheerful and joyful than his music or his art. And he made others feel that way too. That is what shall remain in us long after grief and sorrow have receded.
Peace, music man, to you, and for Ellen and all who suffer your loss.
~
Acoustic Guitars / Events / Music

Martinfest 2025 – Under New Management

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Guitar & Friends’ first annual Martinfest was a huge success

A new hotel and many new and old friends

Now under the umbrella of the new not-for-profit Guitars and Friends, Martinfest has been given a new lease on life and it looks like it will be every bit as fun and successful in the coming years as it ever was.

These collages are made up of videos captured during the nighttime song circles by Maury Rutch, interspersed with my personal phone videos, and sublimed with some phone videos from other attendees.

The Phoenix Arises

Martinfest began in 2002 as a gathering of members of the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum, in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Starting this year, the event was planned, orchestrated and successfully put on by a group of Martinfest enthusiasts, with the blessing of the UMGF administrators, who were ready to give up the reigns after more than two decades of laborious love, which set an example we continue to follow.

Under the tireless leadership of Jim Fortmuller, a small planning committee set out to create a new not-for-profit organization, Guitars and Friends, which is dedicated to perpetuating the comradery that keeps bring so many back to share their music and laughter with people they would have never encountered if it weren’t for Martinfest.

For many of us, it is like a family reunion. For others, who are relatively new citizens of Martinfest, it is a rare opportunity to indulge in their love of fine acoustic guitars, while getting a chance to play and sing for the most welcoming, accepting, and non-judgmental group of music lovers one could hope for. Jim Fortmuller is one such singer/songwriter/guitarist.

Jim came to his first Martinfest shortly before the COVID pandemic broke the 19-year streak. But it had heard about it for years from some now-former coworkers. Upon his retirement, he made the pilgrimage and had fantastic time. So much so, that when it seemed there wouldn’t be a Martinfest in 2024, Jim volunteered to help the UMGF admins give it one last go – and then by the sheer will to keep the Martinfest flame lit, Jim took it upon himself to recruit like-minded diehards, and tour some 8 hotels  in Eastern Pennsylvania, to find what is clearly the best hotel Martinfest ever had.

The official days were Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, although some people arrived as early as Wednesday, and some left as late as Tuesday. There was an opening night receptions, where people at their first Martinfest were singled out for welcome. And then there were loose song circles in the two conference rooms, and looser jamming in the lobby and a suite we rented as a hospitality room. Earlier that day, many people visited the Martin Guitar factory and museum and took the tour.

On Saturday, many of us attended the Martin on Main street fair in downtown Nazareth. Others stayed in the comfortable climate control of the hotel. On Sunday, we gathered at the long pavilion in Nazareth Borough Park, were we had a memorial sing-along for dearly departed attendees, and enjoyed an open mic, as well as a fun auction to help raise money to cover a portion of our operating costs. But really, it was the all-night party at the hotel that is what we look forward to all day long.

That hotel loved us, and are eager for our return in July of 2026. For more information, please visit guitarsandfriends.org.

To learn more about Martinfest and its uniquely magical spell it casts on so many, who come back year after year after year, here is an old article from its heyday.

Grand Gathering of Martin Guitar Lovers