Len Chandler
b. 27 May 1935, Akron, Ohio, USA. Chandler was a popular figure during the '50s and '60s folk revival period. From playing piano, at the age of nine, he moved on to playing the oboe at school, and performing in the University Orchestra in Akron. Owing to the vagaries of the McCarthy era, Chandler's exposure to folk music was limited, although, via a professor at college, he heard artists such as Josh White, Leadbelly, and Bessie Smith, for the first time. Chandler later won a competition for Advanced Orchestral Instrumentalist, which utilised two folk songs in the process, and later on he performed them with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. After working as a lift attendant, and a counsellor for neglected children, Len started hearing people like Dave Van Ronk, and as a result learned more folk material. Failing to get a teaching certificate, Chandler was invited to play at the Gaslight, in New Haven, Connecticut. As a result of this, he was offered work performing in Detroit. For a while he was resident performer at the Gaslight. Towards the '60s, the poetry side of the venue gave way to the growing folk music trend, with Tom Paxton, and Peter Paul And Mary turning up to play. By now, Chandler was performing further afield, including Canada. During the early '60s, he became involved in the civil rights movement and played at conferences alongside Tom Paxton and Phil Ochs. Chandler wrote songs regularly, three a day, for CREDIBILITY GAP, a show on the Californian radio station KRLA, and then for the NEWSICAL MUSE SHOW on KCET. Founding the Alternative Chorus-Songwriters Showcase, in 1971, new and emerging talent was allowed a voice. Chandler has recorded for a number of labels, as well as having poetry published.