Join us as Jack Mizenko and Gary Rice lead their audience in songs from the “hippie” era and beyond on Sunday, October 19th, at 2:00 p.m. in the main library’s auditorium. The “Hippie Hootenanny” is an extension of the Monday evening acoustic jam sessions that have taken place since 2002 at the Lakewood Phoenix coffeehouse. The Lakewood Public Library is happy to give a new forum to these talented musicians. Since it is a hootenanny, the audience is encouraged to sing right along, so please come and participate! This event is free to the public.

Though Jack taught Special Education for the Cleveland Schools for 30 years before retiring in 2006, music has always been part of his life. Born and raised on the west side of Cleveland, Jack still has that first 45 that he begged his parents for at the age of 3 (“Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis). Since then, he has continued to collect and listen to a wide range of music, and his musical heroes are too numerous to list here, especially since Jack is “afraid I’ll leave out someone I truly love.” Jack has been playing guitar for more than thirty years, and has recently branched out to the mandolin and keyboards. In keeping with his love of music, Jack also works part-time for an arts organization called Roots of American Music.

Beginning in September of 2002, Jack and his friend Mark Ronan started playing and singing in public at the Phoenix on Monday nights. Over the years, these popular acoustic sessions have attracted a number of local musicians, both amateur and professional. Currently, the last Monday of the each month is a “come one, come all” jam session, while other Mondays feature Jack and Mark, along with guest musicians. Gary Rice became one of those regular guests after striking up a conversation with Mark when Gary spotted Mark carrying a guitar down the street. Now, a number of Gary’s talented students and friends have also been “brought into the fold.”

Along with the regular Phoenix date, Jack is a full-time member of the group The Flip Side, joining at the group’s request after a few ‘subbing’ gigs, and with the encouragement of his wife, Donna, and their three daughters. Jack loves playing with The Flip Side because of “the high level of original songwriting, cover performances, harmony singing, and musicianship, but mostly because we have fun!” If you are looking to join the fun, bring your voice and your friends to this Sunday with the Friends.

This event is generously funded by Cuyahoga residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and the Friends of the Lakewood Public Library.