Dan Henkel and his wife Beth are co-founders of the Indy Folk Series, a musical venue located at 615 West 43rd Street, which features live acoustic music in the Butler Tarkington area. He recently composed his musical journey for the Broad Ripple Gazette.

"Inspired as a child by the folk music boom of the 1960s, I started playing guitar at age twelve - strumming chords at first, then picking out melodies and learning simple accompaniments. I found that, as a singer, I made a better instrumentalist. I turned on to classical guitar at age eighteen and began self-study in that compelling and vast genre. In 1976, I opened Renaissance Studios in Broad Ripple with Brett Terrell. We taught and performed, and at one point had more than a dozen teachers on various instruments. Brett went on to operate the studio and to teach at Butler University for many years. By my early thirties, I'd married and started a career in Public Relations and advocacy for non-profit organizations. Not much time for music, though I continued to play fingerstyle guitar (on a steel-string acoustic). I produced several concerts as fundraisers for our church," he explained.

A planned concert proved to be a successful formula in a time of tragedy for the nation. "My friend Janet McCabe (now a top EPA administrator) and I planned a concert at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis, featuring a traveling artist known as Banjer Dan and two local favorites, Brett Terrell and Juliette Nehring. The event was scheduled for mid-September of 2001. When 9/11 happened that month, we wondered whether and how we could proceed with something as frivolous as a concert when the country was in such pain and turmoil. We decided to forge ahead, and the evening proved to be inspirational. We were reminded of the healing power of music. After the success of that event, Janet and I planned several more concerts. We realized we had a winning formula in presenting diverse, creative artists in a welcoming, acoustically warm environment. The Indy Folk Series was volunteer-run from the start. We had a great crew providing top-flight sound reinforcement, refreshments, setup and everything else involved in producing these events," he reminisced.

Their choice of a performance venue has a spiritual and musical connection. "Janet was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis (615 West 43rd Street, just south of Butler University). We realized that lovely space was perfect for these concerts, and UUI has been our generous host ever since. Janet's career pulled her away from co-producing the series after a few years. We continued to attract excellent, hard-working volunteers, and some years ago my wife Beth and I stepped back from leadership roles, handing the reins to a team who's brought the IFS into the modern era. Thanks to Joanne and Joe Smiddie-Brush and to Carla and Phil Slates for making the Indy Folk Series what it is today. They've introduced so many top regional and national artists to our audience; professionalized the promotion and logistics, and ensured a strong future for our little series," Henkel noted.

He rediscovered an early musical genre which struck the right chord, "Early in the pandemic, I picked up the classical guitar after 35 years and have taken a deep dive back into that realm, working systematically on technique and learning some fundamentals I had missed as a self-taught player. This has been a great joy, now that I'm retired. I enjoy playing solo and with my musical partner, flutist John Cornell."

Henkel's musical influences are as iconic as they are legendary. "I grew up singing standards and show tunes around the piano with my musical family. In the 60s, I especially liked the Kingston Trio; Peter Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel and Pete Seeger. Gordon Lightfoot and Bob Dylan were other early influences. Guitar-based instrumentals drew me in (think Pentangle, with John Renbourn and Bert Jansch). I found myself practicing reading music on guitar, working out more and more intricate polyphonic music and learning about classical and other genres. Andrés Segovia and his followers opened the doors for a renaissance of the classical guitar in the mid-to-late 20th century. Christopher Parkening, a Segovia protégé, became a crossover hit, bringing classical guitar to many who were unfamiliar with the repertoire or technique. One of my favorite albums is Choros do Brasil by Turibio Santos-a lively, compelling set of compositions based on the uniquely Brazilian form that integrates native rhythms with European classical tradition. His musical training has also played a key in his career. "I took a few music courses at what is now the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington. That helped with music theory, history and repertoire. I also learned a great deal going to recitals. That's a splendid way to hear so much repertoire of solo and chamber music."

He appeared in a local radio show that was a prelude to a public radio station. "From 1984-85, I hosted a show called "Frets and Fingers" on WIAN radio (now WFYI). I played records from my own collection of music for guitar, lute and related instruments. That was a lot of fun. During my 20s, I performed locally quite a bit, everything from weddings to chamber music recitals and church concerts and few recording sessions."

He reflected on the rewards of playing music. "I haven't been a professional musician for many years, though I was proud to have eked out a living in my 20s through teaching and performing. It's a thrill to introduce others so the music I love and the joy of working out problems through systematically developing technique and musicianship. I have two students I teach by Zoom now. Both had been steel-string acoustic players, and I turned them on to classical. One is my 10-year-old great nephew, and one is an attorney who is, like me, a child of the 1950s and 60s. I enjoy sharing the music I love with my fellow UUI members (the church that hosts the Indy Folk Series) and occasional private recitals and similar occasions-often with my flute partner, John Cornell. During the pandemic, we produced some videos that are on my YouTube channel (www.danhenkelmusic.com). Some of these are trios with John and our cellist friend, Liz Efroymson. I'm just an intermediate-level player, but classical and fingerstyle guitar are so rewarding whatever your skill level or repertoire," he said.

A musical colleague of his, Phil Slates, is president of the Indy Folk Series. Their Butler-Tarkington venue near Butler University's campus presents live acoustic music nine months of the year. Slates is also past president and current member of the Central Indiana Folk Music and the Mount Dulcimer Society, which is more of a club.

Dan Henkel, Phil Slates their board members and volunteers have been instrumental in creating a great place for live acoustic music appealing to generations of listeners. You can hear the fruits of their musical labor at the Indy Folk Series venue. For more information on performances (www.indyfolkseries.org), tickets (www.indyfolkseries.org/tickets) or general information, contact them at: IndyFolkSeries@gmail.com.