Critically-Acclaimed Americana Singer Songerwriter Joel Rafael To Perform Benefit Concert For O Street Museum Foundation In Washington, DC On June 2

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Critically-acclaimed singer songwriter Joel Rafael, known for his 5-decade folk career of original Americana music, as well as for being a natural interpreter of Woody Guthrie's lyrics and songs, will perform to benefit the O Street Museum Foundation at The Mansion on O Street on Tuesday, June 2^nd. Doors open at 6:00pm with the music set to begin at 7:30pm. The Mansion on O Street is located at 2020 O St NW in Washington, DC. For tickets and information visit:  http://www.omuseum.org/museum/programs/sro/

"For many years I've heard musical friends talk about the Mansion on O Street," said Rafael. "Having heard that it is one of the most unique places to stay or perform in Washington, D.C., I'm excited to finally visit it and play my songs in our nation's capital."

Rafael released his 9th studio album, Baladista, on April 14 on Jackson Browne's label, Inside Recordings.  The album landed on three separate Billboard charts: #18 on the Top New Artist Albums Chart, #21 on the Folk Albums Chart, and #70 on the Independent Current Albums Chart. Rolling Stone France recently gave the album a 4 star review, with the U.S. Rolling Stone giving a respectable 3 stars.

People are talking about Baladista:  

"Joel Rafael's songs are filled with passion and compassion. Passion for social justice, and compassion - for those among us who have to struggle for a place at the table of American prosperity. His voice is unmistakably his own, big, warm and strong, and a conductor for the human emotions that connect us all." – Jackson Browne

"Joel Rafael is a disappearing breed: a Guthrie-Dylan-Llewyn Davis-style folk singer and Vietnam draft-dodger armed with a harmonica rack and acoustic guitar, who sings tales of love and history flickering with ache and political outrage." – Rolling Stone

"The must have Americana album of 2015." - Boomerocity.com

"It is an album overflowing with gentle, melodic grace." - No Depression

Joel Rafael has been writing and performing since 1974, and over the past decades has released a stunning collection of nine Americana albums, including a 2CD Woody Guthrie collection with five Guthrie/Rafael co-writes. As a solo performer and with his band, he opened shows throughout the southwestern United States for artists including Crosby, Stills & Nash; Sheryl Crow; Laura Nyro; Joan Baez; Taj Mahal; Iris DeMent; Emmylou Harris; and John Lee Hooker.

For more information, visit www.joelrafael.com

About the O Street Museum Foundation:
The O Street Museum Foundation promotes and embraces life, from every culture, resulting in a wide - ranging collection of paintings, photographs, sculpture, books, artifacts, and music, from all over the globe. These works celebrate life, culture, all religions, science, education, and more. The only museum of its kind, O Street Museum has always been dedicated to exploring the creative process. The collection rotates and changes daily. From the art, to the music, to the surroundings, no visit is ever the same. From artist's letters, to animation stills, to written manuscripts, to one of the largest "raw and exposed" music collections, our galleries are not limited to one genre.

SOURCE Inside Recordings