Remembering Bruce Piephoff

Location: R.A. Fountain

Tonight’s tribute to Bruce Piephoff and his musical legacy brings to town a fine band of solo artists who’ll gather to sing Piephoff originals. Our lineup of performers will also be in Greensboro on January 10, where a memorial service will focus more on memories than on performances.

To commemorate this weekend and in respect for Bruce’s extraordinary songwriting legacy, these friends are also releasing a memorial / tribute CD, Riding the Stream, which will be available at tonight’s show.

Mike Harris for UNC-G magazine writes that Bruce “wrote and performed songs and poetry for five decade.” He recorded 25 CDs and published two books of poetry. 

Harris summarizes Bruce’s literary and musical roots:

His start? After two years as an English major at UNC Chapel Hill, he dropped out and followed his passion: music. Bruce played cafés and bars around the country and in Europe. By age 27, he had landed back in North Carolina, working at John Umstead Hospital as a music and recreation therapist while playing his music on weekends. 

Next, he enrolled at UNC Greensboro, where he finished his bachelor’s in English and then completed an MFA in Creative Writing. He studied poetry with Fred Chappell (who is referenced in his music) and with Robert Watson (the spoken-word “Greetings from Holden Beach” is particularly memorable) before entering the N.C. Arts Council’s Visiting Artists Program. This program made him artist-in-residence in several community colleges across the state. To the students and local communities, he was a teacher, mentor, and inspiration. He appeared at thousands of performances through this program. 

His songs capture an era of this city and the region – from “Tate St. Blues” to the Walker/Elam focused “Christmas at the Laundromat” to “Greensboro Blues.” And many of the places and people are ones UNCG alumni will recall, or will wish they had known. 

Performers tonight include Claire Holley, Sam Frazier,  Jason Harrod,  Scott Sawyer, and Jim Clark.

Bruce played RAF twice, once solo & once with Mary Rocap. We talked about a return engagement with a couple of other mutual friends but never got it done, till now–thanks to Claire & Wilson Jim Clark–although it’s just the friends this time.

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Bruce Piephoff
March 28, 1949 – April 1, 2024

William Bruce Piephoff, beloved husband, father, friend and musician, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2024. Born March 28, 1949, in Greensboro at St. Leo’s Hospital, Bruce was the son of William Byrd Piephoff and Ann Shuffler Piephoff. He grew up in Greensboro in the Garden Homes area and later on Larkwood Drive near Guilford College. He excelled in basketball at Grimsley High School and pursued higher education at UNC-Chapel Hill. He left UNC to pursue a notable career as a folksinger/songwriter, then earned an English degree and an MFA in Creative Writing from UNC-Greensboro. [What we always heard, and surely believed: Bruce was such a talented songwriter that he didn’t need another degree–a talent recognized and nurtured by Fred Chappell.]

In 1983 he married Laura Dodd, and they welcomed a son, David, in 1985. Throughout his career, Bruce worked in the Visiting Artist Programs of North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida from 1986 to 2001; recorded 25 albums of original folk/blues songs and poetry; and published two books of poetry.

His performances have taken him across the US and Europe to prestigious venues like the Kennedy Center, the Bitter End, Merlefest, and the Kerrville Folk Festival.

In 2024, the City of Greensboro honored Bruce’s enduring legacy by naming him the “Father of Songwriting,” a testament to his contributions and influence in the realm of folk music and beyond. His journey reflects a life dedicated to the craft of storytelling through music, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Danny; and his mentor, Fred Chappell. Bruce is survived by his wife of 41 years, Laura; his son, David; his brother, Dale; and a close circle of family and friends.

Tags: acoustic Carolina, Concert