Maine folk musician returns for FisherPoets Gathering
Bok is a renowned creator,
preservationist
BY SARAH DOYLE
The FisherPoets Gathering brings peo-
ple from across the world together every
year to celebrate the maritime industry
through poetry and prose.
This year, since the event will be held
virtually, a legendary folk musician and
composer from Maine will return to the
stage.
Gordon Bok has been writing and per-
forming music for over 60 years. He pro-
duces eclectic blends of cultures from
across the world that celebrate maritime
life, telling stories and bringing experiences
together. His love for folk music stems
from his love for people.
“It’s music that’s not selling anything —
it’s music about people’s lives,” Bok said.
“It’s just like going to the movies for me,
singing long ballads. It’s a very connective
form of communication.”
Though Bok continues to write and per-
form, he stopped touring a few years ago to
focus on his health and settle down in his
hometown of Camden, Maine.
Bok’s last performance at the FisherPo-
ets Gathering was about six years ago. He
wouldn’t be joining this year’s event if it
were held in-person, he said.
“We have found a lot of positives these
days in this, because I am a fairly solitary
person, and not having to travel anymore,
there’s a lot I miss,” Bok said.
Bok recorded an original song for the
event. He plans to perform something live
as well.
Bok’s passion for music began early
with influences from Scottish, German,
Italian, Australian and American songs
he and his family sang and learned from
places lived in. He spent some time work-
ing in boats and heard sea shanties and bal-
lads, which inspired his musical career.
“I’ve been around fishing during my
youth. My brother was a fisherman,” Bok
said. “I’d go out on the boats with them,
but never (had) a permanent spot.”
In his 20s, Bok gained a new influence
from a unique but small culture. A mass
immigration of Kalmyk Mongols to Amer-
ica after World War II resulted in small
Kalmyk communities — including one in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, Bok
became embroiled in their music, dance
and culture.
On the Kalmyk community’s 50th anni-
versary of immigrating to America, Bok
was invited to return to the city and cele-
brate with them. He realized they had not
8 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
Photos by Kathy Pease
ABOVE: Gordon Bok. BELOW: Bok plays guitar.
been able to continue singing and dancing.
“They kept their language somewhat.
They kept their music somewhat. It is mul-
ticultural within one dimming culture,” he
said.
To help the Kalmyk’s keep their culture
alive, he is working on maintaining his col-
lection of their music, which is the only
accessible collection now. It has doubled in
the last 15 to 20 years, he said.
His love for the human experience has
motivated him to collect and preserve cul-
ture and heritage, which he is doing for the
Kalmyks and for fishermen in the North-
east. He was honored with an honorary
doctorate from the Maine Maritime Acad-
emy for his preservation work.
This love is also what brings him to
events like the FisherPoets Gathering.
“It’s a wonderful way to see some
glimpses of the world that sustains you,”
Bok said. “It’s a lovely thing to see the
camaraderie and the energy they produce
and they’re talking about doing some pretty
useful things.”
Though he considers himself retired,
Bok is still hard at work performing and
composing. He has a barn on his property
which doubles as his studio.
To improve safety during the pandemic
but continue playing music, he built a rig
that allows him and his friends to play
together but be separated enough that they
don’t share much air but can still see and
hear each other. They keep it heated by fir-
ing up a wood stove.
“You can’t stop a musician from learn-
ing and keeping playing music,” Bok said.