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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Wet storm will bring mountain snow, valley rain ... A question of intent ... New police chief named in Talent ... Wet storm will bring mountain snow, valley rain ... A question of intent ... New police chief named in Talent ... JACKSONVILLE A 'Gold Rush' of song and stories Former opera tenor continues his music and education series Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 7, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 7, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News After a career as a world-traveling opera tenor and music educator, David Gordon has returned to his folk-music roots to present history in story and song in his new hometown of Jacksonville. He'll perform “Stories and Songs from the Gold Rush” at 2 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 13, in the Naversen Room of the Jacksonville library, 340 W. C St. Admission is $3, and proceeds will be dedicated to maintaining and preserving historic structures in town and bringing their history to life. “It’s not a lecture, it’s not a concert. Half the time I’m telling tales,” said Gordon. “I want people to laugh and get a tear in their eye.” Gordon has been focusing on music from the 1840s to the 1880s. A January performance focused on the Oregon Trail, while in February he highlighted the Victorian parlor. “I look at their lives through the music they loved and what the songs of the time say about it,” said Gordon. “All the songs I'll perform were actually written and sung during the gold rushes in California and Oregon from 1849 through the 1850s.” Gordon stopped performing opera 10 years ago following a 40-year career that included 60 principal roles with the San Francisco Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Hamburg State Opera in Germany and other companies. He’s also recorded 15 classical CDs. For the past 27 years, he has worked with the Carmel Bach Festival as a soloist, dramaturg, lecturer and teacher. He has been a voice instructor at Sonoma State University, San Francisco State University and University of California, Berkeley. Gordon’s love for music began as a teenager during the folk-music era of the 1960s with “singers in white shirts and ties," he said. He developed a love of guitar, banjo and bluegrass during that time, before moving on to opera. “All the time the guitar was hanging on the wall,” said Gordon. “It’s like psychotherapy for me. I hug that to my heart, and it makes me feel good.” Gordon performs songs that are well known, such as those of Stephen Foster, as well as little-known tunes. Gordon said many folk songs had their origins as published sheet music, such as “The Old Log Hut,” whose chorus the audience will recognize as “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” “I love giving people those 'ah-ha moments,' ” said Gordon. With packed houses for previous shows, Gordon scheduled two presentations for March 13. Gordon and his wife, Ginna, moved to Jacksonville a year ago and are busy with their publishing company, Lucky Valley Press. “We realized not only was it a historic town, but there were a lot of historic activities going on,” said Gordon. That prompted him to envision the series. A presentation scheduled for April 10 will focus on the Civil War, while “Gold Rush Saloons: Songs of Cheap Whiskey and Fast Women” is planned for May 8. Following a summer break, Gordon plans to resume the series in the fall or winter. For more information, email [email protected] or call 541-245-3650. Tony Boom is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected] . By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 7, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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