Cliff Eberhardt This Old World

Cliff Eberhardt performs at the Rose Garden Coffeehouse Sept. 21, 2024. https://cliffeberhardt.net Cliff Eberhardt knew from age seven that he would be a singer and songwriter. Growing up in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, he sang with his brothers while his parents played instruments. His dad introduced him to the guitar, and he quickly became self-taught. Living near the Main Point, a prominent folk club, he absorbed music from legends like James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen, and Bonnie Raitt. This exposure, combined with his appreciation for pop songwriters like Cole Porter and the Gershwins, shaped his talent for melody and lyrics. At fifteen, Cliff and his brother Geoff began touring as an acoustic duo. After moving to Carbondale, Illinois, and then a brief stay in Colorado, he settled in New York in 1978. There, he honed his craft in a vibrant music scene, performing at clubs like the Bitter End and Folk City, and collaborating with artists like John Gorka and Suzanne Vega. Though he worked as a taxi driver, Cliff continued performing and recording, even singing advertising jingles, which allowed him more time for songwriting. Cliff’s big break came in 1990 when his song “My Father’s Shoes” appeared on Windham Hill’s Legacy collection, leading to a deal with the label. His debut album, The Long Road, received critical acclaim, followed by two more records on Windham Hill. In 1997, he released 12 Songs of Good and Evil on Red House Records after meeting the label’s founder at John Gorka’s wedding. His 2007 album, The High Above and the Down Below, produced by Eric Peltoniemi, was named the #5 album of the year by USA Today. This marked his return to music after recovering from a car accident. With renewed energy, Cliff released 500 Miles: The Blue Rock Sessions in 2009, an intimate album featuring originals and covers. His song “Memphis” was included on Cry Cry Cry’s collaborative album, and his songs have been covered by artists like Richie Havens, Shawn Colvin, and Buffy Sainte Marie. A collection of his work is available in The Cliff Eberhardt Songbook. In 2011, the Folger Theatre and Shakespeare Library hired Cliff to write songs for The Taming of the Shrew, set in the old West. Cliff, cast as a blind saloon singer, received critical acclaim, and the production won multiple Helen Hayes Awards. He released Shrew Songs, featuring music from the play. In 2018, Cliff collaborated with Aaron Posner and The Roundhouse Theater on a modern adaptation of Sophocles’ Philoctetes, titled The Heal. It premiered at the Getty Villa in Malibu in 2019. Cliff spent a year composing and recording the soundtrack, which is available on his website. In 2021, Cliff released Knew Things, a new album of original songs, some from The Heal. It reached #4 on the Folk Alliance International’s Folk Radio Chart. Cliff is a sought-after songwriting teacher, producer, and arranger, and continues to tour extensively.