My guest today is Tony Falco. Tony is a visionary club owner, community builder, art and music promoter, and a facilitator to support living artists. Tony began hosting house concerts in 2001, in a structure behind the Falco home that was built from all recycled materials. The intimate listening room was a remarkable space with fine acoustics, a grand piano, stage lighting and seating for nearly 100. In a couple of months Tony was providing high level musicians an intimate space to perform for enthusiastic audiences. Using a donation box and potluck meals for contributions, plus Tony, his wife Julie, and their children's gracious hospitality, musicians felt warmly welcomed, valued and respected. Bursting at the seams, four years later Tony purchased a 19th century button factory, perched over the Marlboro (NY) Falls once used to power the factory, and converted it into The Falcon, a vibrant music club. Tony's club has become the "Village Vanguard of the Hudson Valley" with artists on a regular rotation with New York City's most respected venues; a rural Mecca for the finest in multiple genres; including jazz, blues, rock, gospel, world music and contemporary chamber music. Tony's humility, philosophy and vision is captured in this Humanist Manifesto declaration written by the Humanist International general assembly: "Humanism values artistic creativity and imagination and recognizes the transforming power of art. Humanism affirms the importance of literature, music and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfillment." Check out the links below for The Falcon to see their rich roster of music events. I encourage you to support Tony's vision by supporting this incredible venue. Enjoy the podcast! Links: Live at The Falcon Amsterdam Declaration NY Times article on The Falcon