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by rick grant
rickgrant01@comcast.net
WHO: Sam Pacetti with John Borka
WHEN: Friday, March 9th
WHERE: Cafe Eleven, St. Augustine
Sam Pacetti is an established folk singing legend who is a renowned fingerpicking guitar wizard and intelligent songwriter. His 1997 debut album Solitary Travel was critically acclaimed. “This guy is very good indeed,” said the highly respected UK magazine Folk Roots and Dirty Linen gushed “Although the woods are full of young guitar virtuosos, few have developed the style, technique, and artistic wisdom of Sam Pacetti.”
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Sam grew up in North Florida and at age 13 he saw Chet Atkins on TV. That served as his inspiration to learn a fingerpicking style of playing. Then he witnessed Gamble Rogers play and Sam was hooked. Eventually, Gamble became Sam’s mentor. The master and student then played together for a year, which served as Sam’s Gamble University degree. When Gamble tragically died in 1991 trying to save two tourists in the ocean, Sam carried on Gamble’s legacy, but with his own original music.
Martin Simpson, Leo Kottke, and the late Merle Travis have playing styles similar to Sam’s artistry. Indeed, Sam is devoted to American roots music applied to his original style. He has traveled to numerous folk festivals and plays the regional scene in St. Augustine and Northern Florida. Sam also travels to Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Wisconsin spreading his original songs, which are little stories that grab the listener with catchy hooks and well-written lyrics.
When I chatted with Sam via cell phone, he said he would continue performing and has a new album in the works. However, he is exploring a new paradigm of consciousness and living.
“Music is still a sacred experience for me, yet I’ve become involved with learning body therapy, that is healing–spiritual and holistic, which, in turn, expands my musical horizons. There are many important things going on in the world that require a higher level of thought and study,” Sam said.
Within the national folk scene, Sam is well known as an exceptional picker and songwriter that draws inspiration from American grassroots traditions. From tapes and CDs passed from friend to friend, Sam’s popularity continues to grow exponentially. His music and words spread from folk festival to folk festival. Through it all, Sam is comfortable with his status as a folk legend. Now he’s learning new ways of thinking and living which broaden his musical scope and stay true to his roots music traditions.
“I am busy with other things, but I’m keeping up with my music and writing new songs, which are within the realm of my grassroots style. Yet as I go further into my studies, my music expands. It’s new way of looking at my world and music, which is very exciting and fulfilling,” Sam said.
Since Gamble Rogers died, Sam distilled Gamble’s spirit into his own style, finding his niche in the folk scene. Sam’s upcoming tour dates in Florida include his gig at Café 11 in St. Augustine, the Florida Folk Festival, Gamble Rogers Folk Festival in St. Augustine, Magnolia Music Fest in Live Oak, Hilltop Tavern, South Florida Folk Festival and the Spirit of the Suwannee Festival.
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