Mariide Widmann Memorial Plaque

Can you spare a little. Mariide's legacy deserves to be recognized and celebrated, and a plaque in her honor at Pike Place Market would ensure that her memory lives on for generations to come. For this, we need to raise $5k. By donating in any amount, you can help ensure that Mariide's contributions to Seattle's history are not forgotten, and that her story inspires future generations to sing sea shantys and make a positive impact in our communities. Let's come together to honor this remarkable woman and show our gratitude for all that she has done for us.

About Mariide....

Mariide Widmann was a beloved musician and friend in the Folk community who passed away in November 2022. She was a self-made woman who honed her musical skills in Seattle's coffee houses and clubs that nurtured the folk movement in the 1960s to 1970s. Mariide was a versatile musician who played concertina, mandolin, guitar, and sang traditional and contemporary folk songs, sea shanties, and her own compositions. She performed in a wide variety of settings, from solo to large groups, busking in Seattle's Pioneer Square and Pike Place Market, Northwest coffeehouses, festive holidays, homes, and song circles. Mariide's musical journey began in Seattle's booming Folk Club scene in 1963, where she learned to play guitar and began writing songs. During the late 1960s and 1970s, Mariide moved away from Seattle to Colorado and Nebraska, but she still found small clubs to present her traditional and contemporary songs. After learning a lot of music theory from Rusty Gaston and Greg Harbury in Wenatchee, Mariide returned to Seattle in 1977 and became the musician that most knew for decades. During the late 1970s, Mariide found maritime culture and music and became a tireless volunteer to promote this genre. She was a support person for the group "Morrigan" and from these connections, an ad hoc group Shanty Seattle was formed to spread the genre around Seattle. One of the results of her work was an anthology of maritime music in a syllabus format to help newcomers learn maritime music.

We are collecting her videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@mariidewidman3415. wikipedia page coming soon!

Thank you and Blessed Be!