Pike Place Market’s quietest voice goes silent
By Danny Westneat, Seattle Times columnist
Pike Place Market famously has strict controls on street musicians, from permits required to how it delineates 15 spots, marked by red musical notes on the sidewalks, where buskers are allowed to stand.
Just as famously, Jeanne Towne was in a league of her own.
“Her favorite spot was in front of Michou’s deli, where buskers are not allowed, but what was anyone going to do – shoo the blind woman with the soft voice away?” said one of Towne’s many Market friends, Rhonda Guilford, a day-stall jewelry merchant there for the past 38 years.
“She could set up and play wherever she wanted,” echoed Artis the Spoonman, another busker, who went on to play with world-famous rockers during the grunge heyday. He called Towne a “legend.”
Towne, who played 12-string guitar and later autoharp on Seattle streets for more than 40 years starting in the 1970s, died Jan. 1 from complications due to cancer, Guilford said. Records show she was 72.
Generations of Market-goers may recall a small-framed blind woman with an ethereal voice, quietly singing ballads, folk tunes and covers of songs by artists such as Joni Mitchell. Longtime musicians say she stood out in the rambunctious atmosphere of the Market precisely because she didn’t loudly demand attention, but she demanded it nevertheless.
“She was like a bird,” says Artis the Spoonman. “You practically had to put your ear up to her harp to hear her, but you did. There was nobody like Jeanne. At 73 years old I’ve listened to a lot of music, and she was just iconically rare.”
Recalled Jack Strubbe, who has worked at the Market stalls: “The energy (of the Market) is so influenced by who is busking, and her presence always took the crest off the bumps.”
Towne lived off her busking, friends say, and did it almost daily up until the coronavirus first shut down the Market in 2020. Guilford said Towne was asking to be driven there to play as recently as a few weeks ago, but was too frail to go.
For years Towne also wrote stories for the Pike Place Market News, chronicling the merchant community with eclectic articles such as “What is Kosher Anyway?” and “Can Algae be Tasty?”
Friends say she was emphatic that blindness shouldn’t define her. This was difficult because for decades she was known as “the blind harpist at the Market,” and was promoted that way by some Market books and brochures.
“You’ll often be treated to a string quartet or a folk song sung by blind street musician Jeanne Towne,” said a 1992 Market cookbook.
She wrote a letter to The Seattle Times in the 1980s explaining that she felt “underestimated” by the city because passersby would assume her young son was leading her around as she busked, rather than vice versa.
“My proud independent nature balks, and I have to bite back an urge to loose a scalding tirade on my capabilities to the well-meaning person, who knows no better than the way things apparently look,” she wrote. “Dodging obstacles and general navigation are my responsibility, not his.”
The headline on that letter: “Blind street musician: My son is my son, not my guide.”
STREET CORNER ANGEL (Kate Stanton) 2/5/2022
(for jeanne towne)
it was long long ago
when the city was young
on every street corner
our stories were sung
some grew in the sunshine
some died in the shade
and under an awning
a blind girl on the autoharp played
street corner angel
pinpoints of light
stars telling stories
on frescos of night
strumming serenely
in a state of grace
cradling an autoharp
against her face
her blind eyes are fixed
on some heavenly isle
when you stop to listen
she breaks into a smile
she stands still as a statue
transfixed in a glow
the song comes to a end
and she whispers. "hello"
street corner angel
pinpoints of light
stars telling stories
on frescos of nights
strumming serenely
in a state of grace
cradling an autoharp
against her face
one night you see her
crossing town on a bus
you sit down beside her
in a bonding of trust
her effusions were honest
her words were austere
and that moment in time
remains vivid and clear
street corner angel
pinpoints of light
stars telling stories
on frescos of night
strumming serenely
in a state of grace
cradling an autoharp
against her face
music and performance by Kate Stanton
lyrics by Bill White
@nancycunning Mar 2022
What a great tribute. Thank you for writing and singing the song and sharing the story.
@andrea Mar 2022
I listened to the song first and absolutely loved everything about it. The liner notes made it even better. Jeanne Towne is an inspiration and model for others. This song is a wonderful tribute to her. Kate's voice is angelic, which is a perfect fit for the lyrics. I love this! Awesome collab.
@berni1954 Mar 2022
This song really brings this busker back to life for those who never knew her. I was filled with admiration for the protagonist and with sadness too that she seems not to have been as appreciated as she might have been.
The comments made about her in the Liner Notes could be a Buskers' Manifesto sent out to every town councillor in the world.
I usually enjoy buskers wherever I go... but I would cheerfully strangle the guy who attempts to play bongos in an underpass just 30 metres from my flat... and continues failing in the attempt for three to four hours. ;-)
@dzdandcunfsd Mar 2022
I listened to this before I read the liner note... then had to listen again. I can't say that made it better as it was already quite chilling.. and the story is perfectly told by the lyric and the performance. These harmonies are ethereal... hell this whole package is breathtaking.
@sherrycanary Feb 2022
Bill tells the story so poignantly and poetically, it could stand alone.
Kate's voice and musical treatment is divine
Bravo on the collab
@n24 Feb 2022
This is a winner with an amazing backstory! The linear notes alone are super interesting. These vocals are just sublime, I’ve said it before but it’s a a threat showcase of your voice with the stripped back piano. I’m loving hearing the gentle reverb and harmonies. Such a powerful song. The lyrics are just gorgeous, the ‘street corner angel’ chorus is inspired it really paints the picture. I love the almost ghostly mix, particularly in that final verse as it builds to the last chorus. Absolutely magnificent. #Tit4Tat
@jayjay Feb 2022
Every one a winner. Amazing stuff
@rkeeling75 Feb 2022
Oh My. Your voice is amazing. I'm getting more than a little bit of a Tori vibe. I had to go back and listen to the song again just to hear the lyrics and piano because I was so focused.
WOW!
@djevans53 Feb 2022
Love a woman who won't be defined by circumstances. Kudos to her.
@andygetch Feb 2022
Wonderful story and description in the lyric with heavenly vocals and piano. Beautiful song!
@majormajormajormajor Feb 2022
All around great. Effortless vocal performance of a stunningly evocative set of lyrics. The backstory makes them poignant, but on first listen, before I read the notes, they landed just as strongly.. such a great chorus, and it stirs a series of different memories: luminaries in the snow, the first appearance of Orion overhead in the fall, Ginsberg's Howl, etc.
Excellent combination :)
@oswlek Feb 2022
Stunning. A total homerun.
Fittingly, Kate's voice is angelic (can it be anything else?) and the melody is wholly captivating. Even if I wanted to listen as background music, I would have had to stop what I was doing until the song was over. The chord choices are on point, I particularly dig the major that shows up third in the verse. Gorgeous piano.
The lyric is word perfect. I would point out specific things I like, but I'd probably have to go line by line! It's really impressive writing.
Outstanding!
@taracraig Feb 2022
What a beautiful tribute!!!
@jonmeta Feb 2022
This is just all around beautiful, everything about it is lovely and worthy of the celebration of a well loved musician. Autoharp is an undervalued instrument, so thanks for celebrating that along with the singer. I love how the lyrics come from closely observed reality - at least that's how you masterfully paint the picture, Bill.
@crisp1 Feb 2022
Beautiful words, music, and vocals for someone who obviously made a deep impact on the world around her. Lovely tribute, you two!
@jerrypettit Feb 2022
Nothing I enjoy more than a Bill & Kate collaboration!
I am beyond jealous of Bill's poetry--really trying to incorporate into my own stuff...one of these days'. Kate, your vocals are always perfect--but this one is PERFECTLY perfect!
@ferry0123 Feb 2022
These strong lyrics are so well transformed into what I'm hearing. You've sung this with passion, the vibrant feel adds lots to this. This is a very nice, great collab for sure.
@heliosonorous Feb 2022
Awesome piece, vocal layers blend so well and great storytelling lyrics.
@richaaaay Feb 2022
Almost missed this one. So glad I didn’t. Thanks so much for those liner notes. It was helpful background information in terms of appreciating the sentiment of this song. However, it was so darn interesting on its own. Just such a fascinating story of a life lived. You two definitely made a fitting tribute with this song. The lyrics singing in music are all wonderful!
@mctown Feb 2022
ooooooooooooo.....eeeeee... some chills... sweeeeeet.... sing that thing...Nice lyric, Bill. David
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
This is magical and marvelous in all respects. I loved the liner notes. The lyrics tell an amazing story and are a loving tribute. Music is gorgeous and the vocals are absolutely stunning - the well placed layers of background vocals are perfectly placed. Incredible collaboration. Beautiful!!
@gwyn1234 Feb 2022
Two supreme artists at the top of their game delivering a hauntingly beautiful tribute to another artist of seemingly similar gravitas...an awe-inspiring piece...
@seanbrennan Feb 2022
What a touching tribute. You've done her memory justice. And just like Jeanne Towne, the song retains an immense power while remaining startlingly quiet. What a great collab.
@musicsongwriter Feb 2022
So beautiful, sad, poignant and special. Very beautiful, moving collaboration. Amazing to listen to. It took me into another world. Thank you both so much.
@nadine Feb 2022
Kate's rather classical approach to vocals works so well with these lyrics and the piano. Heavy lyrics.
@greengrassgirl Feb 2022
What a beautiful song! You captured it! I know the Pike Place Market in Seattle (my former city.) This is a wonderful tribute.
@davidtaro Feb 2022
She sounds utterly otherworldly. Thank you for sharing all that context in the liner notes, Bill. And your lyrics make a poignant tribute. ‘Stars telling stories on frescos of night’ is fabulous. And then there’s Kate’s music and performance - it’s the sort of thing you just sink back into and let it wash over you. That melody on the first two lines of the chorus is so beautiful, really refined and classy. Amazing stuff!
@cts Feb 2022
Y'all make a great team! I appreciate the backstory to the song and then to hear it played out on this audio stage. I honestly can't hear anyone else rendering these words with elegance and honesty. Simply beautiful.
@sbs2018 Feb 2022
This is way beyond beautiful! Ethereal. Heart touching lyrical story. So meaningful, I feel a bit silly with my music. But this is not my gift. I celebrate yours and the ability to blend your gifts in such a collab.
@timfatchen Feb 2022
This is just gorgeous, heartfelt, beautifully delivered from a hugely empathetic lyric. Makes one feel there's still love in the world. Great collab you two. Now I'm reading the liner notes. I think the song as well as a a lovely standalone, is a fitting tribute.
@writeandwrong Feb 2022
What beautiful vocals against the gentle piano; so fitting with these visual lyrics. Angelic all around. Kudos on an amazing collaboration!