Help Folksinger Mark Ross after loss of his Jenny

Hi, my name is Kate and I am fundraising to help local folksinger, Mark Ross, recover after the loss of his dear partner, Jenny Church. Mark and Jenny were together for over 20 years. Mark spent the last 3 years caring for Jenny as she experienced declining health. Mark was unable to teach or otherwise supplement his income due to Jenny needing constant care. Mark is now in the process of getting his affairs in order and must vacate the house that he has lived in for over two decades. Mark needs help with moving costs and bills, as well as funds for the future to make sure he does not experience homelessness.

Mark has been playing music for our community and passing on tradition for many years, so let’s all dig deep and see what we can give back. We’ll call this a folksinger’s pension!

Mark’s bio, for those who don’t know him:

America's most famous unknown folksinger, described by Utah Phillips in the liner notes to their 1997 album "Loafer's Glory" thusly: It is no exaggeration to say that Mark Ross is the best tramp I know, the only one in my experience to survive a train wreck. Mark is the Official Troubadour of the Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa, where I'm a Grand Duke myself. Now, you could count on the fingers of one hand those folk musicians making their living sharing the traditional repertoire. Mark is, to my way of thinking, the best. Song, Harmonica, guitar, banjo, mandolin, blues to bluegrass, Appalachia to the Labour movement, Mark has delved into and mastered an enormous amount of traditional American music which he performs with style, panache, and vast élan. He's simply the best, so latch on to him now. he ain't getting any younger.

Mark is also an Oregon Folklife Network

Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Awardee. His TAAP bio is here: https://blogs.uoregon.edu/folklife/program-services/tradition-keepers/traditional-arts-programs/mark-ross/

Mark is now accepting new students and can teach guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, harmonica, dobro, heck, if it’s a stringed folk instrument, he can probably teach it. Call Mark at 541-two two one-3174