Photo by Chuck Morse

     

     

 

 

Side by Side

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Doris Justis and Sean McGhee will celebrate their 30th Anniversary in May 2014.  Doris is planning something to celebrate but will not be able to announce details for awhile!  They were in Maine in May with Dave Rowe at his annual celebration to honor his dad, Tom, of Schooner Fare.  Noted for their close vocal harmonies and guitars backing their original songs and original interpretations of the best folk/acoustic songwriters, they have shared the stage with a "who's who" of folk such as Tom Paxton, Nanci Griffith, the Chad Mitchell Trio, Noel Paul Stookey and Peter Yarrow, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bill Danoff, Jon Carroll, Schooner Fare, Christine Lavin, the Limeliters and the list goes on.  They have been the "houseband" for Music Americana and WFMA since 1984 and continue that role by performing at the Second Sunday El Golfo Showcase from time to time.

Brought together by the music of John Denver, it’s appropriate that Doris and Sean performed with John Denver's band in two tribute concerts in Aspen CO and are featured on the CD from that event.

With that in mind, Doris recently produced “Celebrate John Denver!” featuring Side by Side, on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, MD.  The Gilman School of Baltimore presented the program we did with them in November of 2007 with additional songs and beautiful artwork.  Proceeds benefited the Montgomery County Humane Society's Rockville, MD shelter and the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church.

Doris Justis (vocals and guitar) and Sean McGhee (vocals and guitar) create the close harmonies of Side by Side.  This folk duo will charm you with warm and intimate songs that range from original contemporary sounds to classics from the 1960's.  Side by Side has often performed with Bill Danoff, a long-time performer and writer of Denver’s hit, "Take Me Home, Country Roads."

Side by Side has seven recordings.   See the MUSIC page for listing of all the CDs.

Photos of Side by Side over the years:  PHOTOS

 

Doris:

Doris, along with Chuck Morse, have recently become Co-Presidents of WFMA, as Dick Cerri retires after 29 years.  (see wfma.net.) She has been a mainstay of the folk and acoustic music scene in the Washington area for several years.  She also has appeared in Nashville and at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village among other venues.  She has been on radio as a performer, producer and DJ with Dick Cerri's "Music Americana" and her own "Folk Alley" program.  Doris is a recipient of the Appreciation Award from the World Folk Music Association, honoring her years of supporting the music and musicians by producing showcases, coffeehouses and concerts featuring local, regional and national performers.  Doris has three solo CDs, Who To Turn To, Doris, featuring Sean on guitar and her touching song "Rainbow Bridge" and Bright Paintings, with Pete Marinovich.  See the MUSIC page for a complete listing.

Sean:

Besides having quick wit and an irreverent sense of humor, Sean McGhee is a master of the 12-string guitar and has an engaging tenor voice.  He has been featured at the Birchmere as one of the "Three Folk Tenors" and performs with Ja Keating.