Folk singer and folklorist Ellen Stekert has released a new single, “I’ll Give You Any Mountain,” a song with roots deep in the early 1960s folk revival. Written by her friend Tracy Powers more than six decades ago but never previously released, the piece is finally being shared with the world.
“I’ve chosen to sing this song for you because of its captivating melody,” says Stekert. “In places, the words soar with the music, while in others, they are a sentimental mix of ‘If I Were a Carpenter…’ and the ancient drama of Icarus. I find it an unforgettable piece. It moves me well beyond sentimentality or drama.”
Stekert and Powers first met as graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia during the early 1960s—a time when the concept of the singer-songwriter was just beginning to emerge as a cultural force. Bob Dylan arrived in New York City in 1961, and soon became the archetype of the role, while Connie Converse, a visionary but tragically overlooked songwriter, left New York the same year, disappearing into mystery.
Though Powers had the talent to stand among them, her path led elsewhere. “I always thought that Tracy, who was a very good singer and player, could have become a successful writer of songs or a good singer-songwriter herself,” Stekert reflects. “But Tracy went on to get her degree and be a teacher. And the world lost a fine composer and musician. And with time, I lost track of Tracy.”
What remains are the recordings Powers left with Stekert during visits to Detroit, where Stekert began her own teaching career. “I treasure those tapes,” Stekert says. “On them, she patiently gives me the chords she used in composing her songs.”
Producer Ross Wylde shares: “Listening to the masterful songs of Tracy Powers, I’m reminded of how many brilliant artists remain unknown, either because their art was never shown or because they were overlooked. I think there are many female songwriters of the 1960s who remain shrouded by the residual effects of sexism. I’m glad the recordings of Ellen and Tracy exist, but it makes me sad to think about all of the songs that were never put to tape.” With this release, Ellen Stekert brings “I’ll Give You Any Mountain” into the light. It is available now on all major streaming platforms including Bandcamp.