Caroline Paton

Caroline Ann Paton (née Swenson), aged 86, of Sharon, CT died on March 18th, 2019. She was a singer of traditional and contemporary folk songs with a bright, beautiful voice, an amazing recall of lyrics, and a talent for harmony. She would often sing a cappella or accompany herself on the Appalachian dulcimer or the autoharp. In 1961, Caroline, her husband Sandy Paton, and business partner Lee Haggerty, founded Folk-Legacy Records in Huntington, VT. Folk-Legacy became her life's work and passion for the next 57 years. The Patons and Haggerty moved the business and their home to a large, remodeled barn with a concert hall, recording studio, and eight bedrooms on a rural hillside in Sharon, CT in 1967. In November of 2018, Folk-Legacy was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution which will preserve the label and its contributions to traditional folk music, culture, and history. Folk-Legacy's recordings are available in many formats, including vinyl LPs, cassettes, CDs, and online streaming. A full list of Folk-Legacy recordings is available on Folk-Legacy.com. Folk-Legacy produced over 120 albums, capturing the music of a wealth of traditional singers from the Southern Appalachians to the Ozarks, and from Scotland and England to Canada. Folk-Legacy also contributed to the development of emerging American folk music by recording tradition-inspired contemporary folk singers, songwriters, and musicians over time since the 1960's including Rosalie Sorrels, Gordon Bok, Lorre Wyatt, and Bill Staines. The recordings are a major contribution to the preservation and development of the repertoire and culture of American folk music after the American Folk-Revival. Caroline grew up in Whiting, Indiana near Chicago. She first became intrigued by folk music at summer camps where she was a counselor. By the time she started college her interest in folk music was well-established. She studied for two years at Oberlin College before transferring to the University of Chicago where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology. Wanting to experience the Western United States, Caroline took a job at the University of California library in Berkeley, CA, at the same time exploring ways to pursue her interests in literature, music, and culture. She met her husband, Sandy Paton, at a concert in 1957 after she asked him for lyrics to the song he had performed that night. The song was "Perry Merry Dixi Domini," which is a variant of "The Riddle Song/I Gave My Love a Cherry" from Linscott's book Folk Songs of Old New England. They connected immediately over their love of folk music and soon after travelled to Britain, performing in clubs and studying British traditional folk songs. Over the next fifty years, Caroline and Sandy brought music and joy to thousands through performances, special gatherings and sales of the traditional and contemporary folk recordings they produced. As performing artists, and in keeping with the folk tradition, the Patons encouraged the audience at their own concerts to sing along on choruses and be active participants in the folk music experience. The preference was, as they put it, "to sing with people, rather than at them." She and her husband Sandy Paton sang together for many years before being joined by their musical sons and singing grandchildren. Folk-Legacy's home-based operation and music was featured in the New York Times in 1981. The Patons were given the honorary designation of Connecticut's State Troubadours in 1993. Caroline Paton is survived by her two sons David Paton and James Paton; daughter-in-law Marian Paton; siblings Victor, Edward, and Linda Swenson; grandchildren Linnea, Shannon, Juliana, Erik, and Hannah Paton; former daughter-in-law Catherine Paton, and great-granddaughter Adaline Paton-Marceau. She is predeceased by her husband Sandy Paton and grandson Kaelan Paton. A potluck memorial will be held on May 12th at 2PM at Silver Lake Conference Center 223 Low Road in Sharon, CT. All are welcome to attend. RSVPs at folklegacyweekend.com are appreciated. Condolences for family and memorial contributions may be sent to Kenny Funeral Home at 41 Main Street Sharon, CT 06069.Video about Folk-Legacy: Folk-Legacy 1975 Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7d_TYaDNkA