Magpie: Science + History = Music!

Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner began to play music together in Kent, Ohio in September of 1973. They chose the name Magpie for their band, a name which grew in personal significance for them as the years went by. Terry was a student in her senior year at Kent State University in the fall of ’73, and when she graduated the following spring, she and Greg packed Greg’s VW bus and moved to the Washington, DC area. In the years since then, they have traveled and toured extensively, performed in concerts, at folk clubs and festivals around the world, and recorded many times. Greg began to play music in the early sixties as a direct result of the Civil Rights Movement. Terry also began singing at that time and spent many of her childhood summers with her mother’s family in the Deep South, where she witnessed the cruelty of racism and the power of the movement. Terry and Greg continue to reflect on these experiences in their own work in support of the ongoing struggles for civil rights, freedom, justice, and peace.

From the beginning, Terry and Greg’s interests in various musical styles have led them to be eclectic in their repertoire. Magpie has always embraced a musical rainbow, which includes traditional, classic country, swing, blues of the 1920s and 30s, and contemporary songs written by themselves and others. Terry is a gifted singer of jazz and blues in the tradition of Connie Boswell and Billie Holiday but is equally comfortable with traditional folk and contemporary songs. She is also an excellent player of the harmonica, mandolin, fretted dulcimer, and rhythm guitar. Greg, a high baritone vocalist and guitarist, plays a wide range of styles, including ballads, ragtime blues, and swing.

Magpie is well known as a regular performer on Phil Ochs Song Nights, organized by Phil’s sister, Sonny Ochs, since 1984. Over the years, Terry and Greg have also become distinguished for producing programs of music for museums (including the Smithsonian Institution), schools, and other special events. They are master artists with the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, and in that capacity, have worked in many residency programs and teacher training workshops, demonstrating their methods for utilizing music effectively as a tool for early childhood education. Terry and Greg have many years of experience working in schools, performing for children and families. They have developed several special school programs for students of all ages, including two on the environment and others on historical themes such as the Great Depression and the 1960s.

Terry and Greg are internationally known as well for their musical work in the environmental movement. Throughout their career, they have devoted a tremendous amount of their time, energy, and music to environmental causes. Their musical work has supported the work of such groups as the National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Park Service, and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Earth Day 1998 found them performing at Harpers Ferry National Park, where their well-known anthem, “We Belong to the Earth,” was a perfect finale to a speech by President Clinton. They have been featured presenters for statewide environmental education associations around the country.

Artist’s website: Magpie: Terry Leonino & Greg Artzner