It is with a paned expression that I attempt to capture a true reflection of No Windows members Carol Deaver, Joanne Adler, Marianne Tucker, and Denise Mitkus. No windows of opportunity will be overlooked!
These versatile ladies have been together through 10 years of riotously funny rehearsals, widely varied concerts and performances, and just a few life changes. Ok, and a couple of changes of life too! They have survived with absolutely no jalousie toward one another, rather, they think of each other as sisters in spirit and song.
In addition to No Windows' crystal clear vocal harmony, they are known to include mandolin, autoharp, harmonica, whistles, dulcimer, and recorder in their instrumental accompaniment. You'll have to come and see their
percussion instruments to believe them.
What, you may ask, does the name, "No Windows" mean? Well, these are four busy, creative, talented, young (hey, we're all friends here, right?) women. They're too busy to be bothered with mundane things like
housework. Between the four of them they can do just about anything but they don't do windows!
D. M.
Joanne Adler moved to Bucks County in Pennsylvania in 1991. Rounding a corner of a barn at a craft festival, she came upon Carol who was there singing for the Bucks County Folksong Society. She picked up a brochure, joined the Society, and the rest is history. As the Folksong Society has become Joanne's second family, No Windows have become her sisters in song.
Joanne has taught school and has held various jobs in the computer industry. She is currently an owner of a computer business in New Jersey. A songwriter for over 30 years, Joanne particularly loves writing something for No Windows to arrange and sing. She grew up singing in choral groups and listening to her mother sing in a folksinger duo. Among her influences are Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Simon, Nanci Griffith, John Gorka, Cheryl Wheeler, James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, and Mary Chapin Carpenter (to name just a few!). She plays guitar and mandolin and is trying to master the fiddle enough not to scare anyone within earshot.
In her spare time, she enjoys woodworking, planting things to grow in the garden, baking, reading, and writing new songs.
Marianne Tucker has been performing music and puppetry with her husband, Tom, for longer that she is willing to admit. Her interest is in traditional, Celtic and acoustic folk music and her joy is in singing harmony with friends. She also likes to design costumes for No Windows performances.
She is a co-director of Tuckers' Tales Puppet Theatre (http://www.tuckerstales.comdowland steam cs 1.6) a touring puppet company. Tuckers' Tales Puppet Theatre, the Performing division of Puppet Perceptions, Inc., is a Philadelphia area based performing company founded in 1981. Co-directors Marianne and Tom Tucker have performed at puppet, folk, ethnic and street festivals; and at craft fairs, shopping centers, theaters and schools around the country.
Marianne makes traditional and original dolls under the name Tuckerdolls. These she sells on Ebay.
Marianne is also a member of Spiced Punch, a historic music quartet. With them she performs 19th century (and older) holiday music, 18th century pub songs and an extensive maritime repertoire. Information on Tom and Marianne and on Spiced Punch can be found at http://tuckersmusic.com.
In addition she is president of UNIMA-USA, the USA chapter of the international puppetry association, a former board member of Puppeteers of America, Inc. and has served as president of the Bucks County Folk Song Society.
Carol was born and raised in Langhorne, PA where she still resides. She has a husband (Norm), two grown children and two cats. Buffy Saint Marie, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, and anyone playing at Levittown's old "Cellar" club were her early folk influences. She enjoys writing songs for the group and gets much satisfaction when others (especially kids) sing along.
Carol is a software instructor for a publishing company, though she would much rather be gardening or singing or sewing or baking or arranging flowers or whatever. She does enjoy the luxury of a warm bed, food, and decent clothing, so software instructor it is.
A Bucks County Folk Song Society member since 1972, Carol made her first public singing appearance at a society spring concert. She met Norm at a meeting and they appeared as a duo for several years. She also met Joanne and Denise through the society (Marianne lived up the street from her when she was a child).
Though young at heart, Carol is due to become a grandmother in March 2004 when daughter Mandy has her baby.
Denise finds harmony in her busy life through making music with her sisters in song, Carol, Joanne and Marianne. In earlier days she was influenced by Joan Baez, Judy Collins, and Peter Paul and Mary. In addition to being a "Pane" in No Windows, she enjoys sharing her music with her first grade students at Groveland Elementary School in Doylestown. She is also a cantor and choir member in her church, St. Joseph's in Warrington.
She and her husband John, and their five children enjoy the diverse experiences they find through blending their talents and unique senses of humor. They always have a lot of pun together.