| LLS members can register at the links here. Non-members call (Jupiter 561-799-8547) or (Boca Raton 561-297-3171) to register. Either attend live In-Person or sign up for Video Catch-up, available 2-3 business days after live lecture. You will have approximately two weeks to view the video. Separate registration is required for each lecture. |
Music
Americana fall
lectures:
1."The
Great Protest Songs"Jupiter (Tues 2:30 pm) 11/18
Boca Raton (Wed 3 pm) 11/19
2. "The Sound Of Her Voice: Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris
Jupiter (Tues 2:30 pm 11/25)
Boca Raton (Wed 3 pm 12/18)
Boca Raton 12/4/25 7 pm
Jupiter 12/11 7 pm
Experience the timeless music and poetry of Bob Dylan in this unforgettable concert! Arriving in New York in 1961 with a guitar and a head full of Woody Guthrie songs, Dylan quickly became the voice of a generation. From folk anthems like Blowin’ in the Wind and The Times They Are A-Changin’ to the poetic brilliance of Mr. Tambourine Man and the groundbreaking Like a Rolling Stone, his songs continue to inspire. Join Rod MacDonald & The Humdingers as they bring Dylan’s early masterpieces to life, celebrating the legendary songwriter’s enduring impact. Don’t miss this night of music, storytelling, and lyrical genius!
"Engaging, enjoyable, and very professional musicians" OLLI Patron
Live In-Person with Video Catch-up. Available 2-3 business days after the live lecture.
Rod MacDonald
Recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Faculty Award
Protest songs have been a powerful force for generations, from I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier in 1916 to the iconic tunes of the ‘60s by Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and others. Today, even as media consolidation has diminished their visibility, independent composers continue to create inspiring songs of justice and freedom. Join Rod MacDonald, Music Americana lecturer and co-producer of The Greenwich Village Folk Festival, for a dynamic video and live presentation of both historic and contemporary protest songs. This program will feature music full of humor, passion, and commitment to justice in today’s world. With 14 albums to his name, Rod has toured globally and was named Distinguished Faculty Member at FAU. Don’t miss this captivating blend of music and history!
The Sound of Her Voice - Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris
Join Rod MacDonald for a captivating journey through the legacies of Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, pioneers of country rock who reshaped American music with their unforgettable voices. Ronstadt’s powerful vocals earned her 13 million-selling albums, while Harris’s "crystalline" tone earned her 13 Grammys and the title "Godmother of Americana" from Rolling Stone. Both artists ventured beyond country rock, exploring operettas, jazz, Mexican folk songs, bluegrass, and progressive country. This biographical video presentation offers a deep dive into their careers and enduring influence. A celebrated folk artist with 21 songs in the Smithsonian Folkways collection, MacDonald has performed since the 1970s and served as Music Americana lecturer at Osher/FAU Lifelong Learning since 2006.Rod MacDonald is a Greenwich Village-trained singer/songwriter with fourteen solo CDs—including 2023’s Rants And Romance—and 21 songs in the Smithsonian Folkways collection. He’s a celebrated performer and longtime OLLI instructor known for his music history series and honors from South Florida media.
"Rod was great! Extremely well prepared. Entertaining and informative." - OLLI Patron
Live In-Person with Video Catch-up. Available 2-3 business days after the live lecture.
BIOGRAPHICAL
INFORMATION: Rod MacDonald, guitar/vocal,
Rod MacDonald began his career as a singer/songwriter in
Greenwich Village in New York City in 1973. He has 21 songs
in the Smithsonian Folkways collection and 14 solo albums,
including his 2023 cd Rants And Romance, which made the top
ten on national folk music charts. He performs in festivals,
concerts, and clubs and throughout North America, Europe,
solo and with the bands Big Brass Bed and Rod MacDonald
& The Humdingers. He was named Best Local Acoustic
Performer by New Times and one of the "10 Magnificent
Musicians of Palm Beach County" by The Palm Beach Post.
Previous Music Americana courses include "The Birth of Rock
& Roll," "The Great American Songbook," "Folksinging in
Modern Times" and "Mastery of the Art." Brad Keller, piano, has toured with Maynard Ferguson and The Ink Spots, played the Montreux Jazz festival, and written the jazz instruction book used by many county schools.
Doug Lindsey, bass, performs with the Mario LaCasse Band and several Palm Beach County groups.
Mario LaCasse, lead guitar, playing roots, blues, or jazz, has refined his sound as a member of Misbehavin, Flight, the Mario LaCasse Band, Lowdown 13, and the NattyBos, Groove Merchant band, and Copland Davis.
