HISTORY OF THE FALCON by Fern Franke

The Church

The Falcon’s story begins with a church in the Hudson River Valley hamlet of Marlboro, NY. It had been built by a Methodist congregation in the early 19th century, who stuck it out till the 1960s and left when they merged with another congregation. In the mid 1990s, the Knights of Columbus, to raise funds for the homeless of Newburgh, NY, brought some life to the old building by hiring a rock band, with the impossible name of “The Wild Animals of North America” fronted by Tony Falco.

Falco, naturally hip by virtue of his musicianship, and naturally civic-minded, by virtue of his homeownership in Marlboro, saw a community center with endless possibilities. He bought the tired architectural relic and rented half to the Marlboro Children’s Center, a day care service, reserving the other half for various music performances. It was a money pit.

Relief came by way of the United States Postal Service of Marlboro, NY. They made Falco an offer. Now here’s the messy but magical part. They wanted the land, not the church. Falco set about dismantling the place, carefully removing and storing each architectural detail for its next destination.

“If you build it, they will come”

A magnificent building began to grow behind the Falco home. Exquisite stained glass windows, imposing doors and beams were employed to create what appeared to be a well proportioned “carriage house”. The real magic, though, was concentrated in the upper floor; an intimate listening room of a concert hall.

So Tony Falco became an art & music promoter, forming Falcon Music & Art Production, Inc. in 2001 and began the, now legendary, private house concert series. Gallery walls were made available to painters & photographers. The remarkable space with its fine acoustics was outfitted with a studio grand piano, stage lighting, a sound & PA system and seating for nearly 100.

It wasn’t long before The Falcon was “discovered” by the upper echelon of the music world. These well regarded players, many of whom were Grammy Award nominees & winners, had found a “home away from home”; an intimate space where they could play without restriction to an appreciative audience, generous with hearty ovations. The response to these private performances was unbelievably enthusiastic! The community attended, listened and supported living artists, using a donation box and a pot luck table for their contributions.

If there’s an award in the music world for hospitality, it goes hands down to Tony & Julie Falco and their children. The world over, one can find musicians who have not only played well at The Falcon, but have eaten and slept well in the Falco home.

The Factory

The success of the series strained the small facility. In 2005 Falcon Music & Art Productions, Inc. purchased a 19th century button factory in the center of the hamlet of Marlboro. 1348 Route 9W, Marlboro, New York, is perched over the Marlboro Falls, once used to power the factory. The main floor of the building had also functioned as a roller-skating rink, community center and a cabinet factory.

Now it’s poised to be the “Village Vanguard of the Hudson Valley”; a rural Mecca for the finest in jazz, blues, rock and contemporary chamber music.

Renovation of the 3,500 square foot main floor is nearing completion. The Falcon will provide an acoustically correct, live performance venue with a 24’ X 16’ stage, home to a Yamaha C7 grand piano and world class light & sound systems. Gallery spaces on the main floor and the level below will present the work of artists & photographers from NYC and throughout the Hudson Valley. The bar room was created entirely with recycled materials; even using a shuffleboard table as the bar. Kitchen facilities were designed to support catered events on the lower floor as well as creative, affordable food for the live musical performances.

Support Living Artists!

The donation box will remain as both a democratic symbol and a way for patrons to pay what they can, if they can and continue their support of living artists.