Todd Rundgren was honored with the key to the town of Woodstock, New York, on Wednesday, October 23, during a ceremony held in front of the Bearsville Theater. October 23 also was proclaimed “Todd Rundgren Day” in Woodstock.
The presentation coincided with the lauded singer/songwriter’s sold-out two-concert engagement at the venue on October 22 and 23.
Rundgren has a long association with the Woodstock area, where he lived and worked during the 1970s and early 1980s. Todd recorded many of his own albums and produced records by many other famous artists at Bearsville Studios, a facility founded by late music manager Albert Grossman that was part of a complex that included the theater.
Video footage of the ceremony was posted on the YouTube channel of the local newspaper the Daily Freeman. Woodstock town supervisor Bill McKenna presented Rundgren with the key as well as a small-sized replica of Todd’s favorite guitar, his foam-green Fernandes P-Project Strat-style model.
[RELATED: Listen to Todd Rundgren Sing on a New Cover of the King Crimson Classic “21st Century Schizoid Man”]
McKenna also revealed that the town had passed a resolution changing the name of nearby Mink Hollow Road, where Rundgren used to live, to Mink Mahalo Road for one day. “Mahalo” is a Hawaiian greeting, and the street name apparently is a nod to Rundgren being a longtime Hawaii resident.
After receiving the key and the guitar replica, Rundgren joked to the crowd, “I’m coming to your houses now.”
More About the Ceremony
According a pre-ceremony news item posted on TimesUnion.com, landmark plaque also was to be dedicated during the event recognizing the Rundgren did at Utopia Video Studio, which also was part of the Bearsville Theater complex. At the studio, Todd produced early music videos for his solo songs and for tunes by his band Utopia.
In conjunction with the ceremony, Rundgren’s Spirit of Harmony Foundation charity partnered with the Hungry for Music organization to launch a local musical instrument drive. The campaign encouraged people to donate used instruments that will be used to support music programs in the Hudson Valley area and nationally.
More About the Proclamation
The proclamation honoring Rundgren has been posted on Woodstock’s official town website.
The document praised Rundgren as “a pioneering creative force in the establishment of the Bearsville Center and Utopia Video.” It also recognized Todd as “an important contributor to establishing Bearsville and Woodstock as a global nexus for all genres of musical creativity.”
In addition, the proclamation referred to Rundgren as “a pillar of musical and technical creativity for over fifty years, inspiring generations of artists.” It also acknowledged his charitable work with his Spirit of Harmony Foundation.
Rundgren’s Upcoming Tour Plans
Rundgren is winding down his 2024 ME/WE Tour. The 76-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has two more shows left on his schedule. The concerts will take place on October 25 in Portland, Maine, and October 26 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Tickets for Rundgren’s concerts are available now via various outlets, including StubHub.
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