Carol Williams talks with Fred Swann

[@felixhell.organist]

What a legend. May he rest in peace.

[@BellVideo]

Yes indeed.

[@KSL1972LLC]

Very insightful interview. Glad you were able to interview him and get a sense of who he was as an artist as well as a human being. No pomp, airs or stuffy attitude. Just humility. RIP Fred, you left an amazing musical legacy.

[@BellVideo]

Thanks so much.

[@stevenschrier4207]

Wonderful interview! A tremendous musician, a superstar diplomat without a "prima donna" attitude. The musical synergy he developed at Riverside Church in New York City then extended to his lengthy tenure as principal organist of the landmark 5/300 organ of Crystal & Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. Dr. Williams captures Fred's personality very effectively. Fred Swann modestly says he's performed 600 organ dedications and about 3,000 recitals, an astonishing (phenomenal) blessing for sure! Really good to have quality legacy recordings and interviews of exceptional musical artists of the 20th & 21st centuries for future generations to study. Thank you for sharing Dr. Carol Williams, appreciated!

[@BellVideo]

He was a dear friend and a wonderful musician.

[@WilliamMitchell-sc3fe]

@DrCarolWilliams, I enjoy playing the pipe organ, April, the 7th of last year I was given the great pleasure of being able to play the Mormon conference center pipe organ with five manuals and 7,708 pipes, The concert organist was Andrew Unsworth, I brought my black backpack that had my organ shoes in it, my very first pair that I still have and several books of classical pieces and hymnals written for the organ, and after the concert he said okay. Now you have about a 1 minute to play the organ...... Well, who can play the pipe organ in 1 minute? Well anyway, that 1 minute ended up becoming a good 5 minutes, and I was playing Great Is Thy Faithfulness and got a standing ovation and that was my first time playing a five manual pipe organ! And the concert organist was really impressed!

[@jeffjensen27]

OMG! My Dear, Dear Friend Fred Swann. I LOVE! Your Living Room! WOW! I Would Of Like To Have Seen At Home With Fred Swann. Love That Wonder Looking Organ. Absolutely Stunning. I Would Of LOVED To Of SUNG In YOUR Choir Under Your Direction. Huge Fan Of You, Paul Jacobs, Felix Hell, Mon Levin Tackle, Diane Bish, Samuel Metzner , Thomas Heywood, Thomas Murry, Just To Name A Few. So AWESOME To See You!

[@BellVideo]

Thank you for the kind words. I will look to interview the others although I studied under Tom Murry. Cheers.

[@Chesterbarnes1]

I wished he had given me that Organ in the background 😞