David Mallett (born April 21, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter best known for his authorship of the "folk standard" composition "

Garden Song "Garden Song" is a popular children's song and American folk song written by David Mallett in 1975. The song has been recorded by Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary, John Denver, Pete Seeger, Fred Penner, David LaMotte, Makem and Clancy, ...

". He has recorded for

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

s for most of his career.

Biography

A resident of Maine for most of his life, in the 1980s Mallett relocated to

Nashville Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...

, and released two albums with the folk and blues label Vanguard. He has since moved back to Maine and established his own label, North Road Records. Mallett's songs have been recorded by more than 150 artists, including: Pete Seeger, Alison Krauss,

John Denver Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, activist, and humanitarian whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singe ...

, Arlo Guthrie,

Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including ...

Peter, Paul & Mary Peter, Paul and Mary was an American folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival phenomenon. The trio consisted of tenor Peter Yarrow, baritone Paul Stookey, and contralto Mary Travers. The group's reperto ...

, Bok, Trickett, Muir, and

Makem and Clancy Makem and Clancy was an Irish folk duo popular in the 1970s and 1980s. The group consisted of Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, who had originally achieved fame as a part of the trailblazing folk group The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in the 1960s ...

. "Garden Song" was even recorded by the Muppets.

"Garden Song"

Mallett wrote "Garden Song" when he was in his early twenties. He'd been listening to the radio when he went to help his father plant the garden at his homestead in

Sebec, Maine Sebec is a town in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. The population was 665 at the 2020 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and is water. Demographic ...

. With "music in his head and work at his hands," the first verse came while planting: ::Inch by inch, row by row ::Gonna make this garden grow ::All it takes is a rake and hoe ::And a piece of fertile ground Mallett walked around the yard humming it. The next day, he wrote the second verse at a friend’s house. Being only the third or fourth song he'd written, Mallett regards "Garden Song" as a gift, one that altered the course of his life. It was recorded by

, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul and Mary, and other acts. The song is likely why the University of Maine gave Mallett an honorary degree in 2014.

Performance

Mallett frequently performs with violinist Susan Ramsey and bassist

Michael Burd Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...

, with sound by Tom Gordon. He has recorded 17 albums, including ''The Fable True'' in 2007, based on Thoreau's last expedition in 1857. and ''Alright Now'' a collection of songs including "Beautiful," dedicated to his daughter Molly. He has performed in town halls and folk clubs across America and Europe in addition to major venues such as Barns of Wolf Trap, Newport Folk Festival, and '' Prairie Home Companion''. The '' Bangor Daily News'' recognized him as one of the 58 most memorable Mainers of the 20th Century. The readers of '' Folkwax'' voted him "2003 Artist of the Year" and his album ''Artist in Me'' as "2003 Album of the Year".

Legacy

His sons, Will and Luke, perform as The Mallett Brothers Band. The Mallett Brothers Band have a new album, "Live in Portland, Maine" available March 2019.

Discography

David Mallett has released seventeen albums:
1986: Vital Signs
1988: For a Lifetime
1993: This Town
1999: Ambition
2003: Artist in Me

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mallett, David 1951 births Living people People from Piscataquis County, Maine American male singer-songwriters Vanguard Records artists Singers from Maine Songwriters from Maine American harmonica players Foxcroft Academy alumni Flying Fish Records artists