Retro Fair Haven Folk Singers’ Patriotic Beat

Hey, Mr. Tamborine kid, play a song for us!

It wasn’t all about the guitar strumming, singing and parading on patriotic holidays only.

Back in those ’76 Bicentennial times, the Fair Haven Folk Singers were particularly patriotic and playing to their own … tambourines and ukulele, too, for any given opportunity. Play was the operative word. And playing with their hearts and collective folk song souls was the beat they marched to in parades. For which was this pre-pose? We’re not certain. But, it was likely the Fourth, Memorial Day, the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair starter or the just plain Bicentennial Parade.

No matter. According to Robin Drake (left), it was, in fact, a Fourth of July parade. The patriotic part was a mainstay, though — all in the red, white and blue attire and sparkler attitude. Yes, no matter the parade or occasion, the Fair Haven Folk Singers always had their dress red, white and blues. There were blue jeans or shorts, a red and white gingham sash, crafted by Nancy Drake, and a white shirt. They paraded it all — the song, strum, the look, the soul. And they prepped.

And while most in the group walked to the iconic Whistle Stop to get those guitar lessons from Barbara Leslie and prep for “shows” with those to basic chords she taught them, some were guest appearance imports — just because those Folk Singers were so groovy.

This Retro Pic of the Day features one of those imports who’s now a Fair Havenite with all her Folk Singer heart — Katy Badt Frissora (right).

Frissora, a cousin of the longtime Fair Haven Drake family, like many other Fair Havenite’s relatives, loved her family visits to the borough and was turned into an honorary Fair Havenite at a young age.

With that, she grabbed a tambourine and walked the walk with her cousins and the Fair Haven Folk Singers.

She’s still proudly walking that Fair Haven walk as an avid volunteer with the Fair Haven Fire Department and anywhere else she can help.

As the Folk Singers would sing, “She’s got the whole world in her hands” as do others when they’re walking that Fair Haven walk.

Now, most of those Fair Haven Folk Singers were Fair Havenites with a guitar. Who else marched to the beat of that tambourine? And was Robin Drake (left) the only ukulele player?

— Photo/Katy Badt Frissora