American singer-songwriter Dave Mallett will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 23, at the Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 Washington St. in Bath.

Mallett may likely be best known for his authorship of the “folk standard” composition “Garden Song.” This iconic song has been recorded hundreds of times and performed around the world and has found its place amidst the lexicon of American folk songs.

“It was never that big a hit,” said Maine native Dave Mallett, according to a news release from the arts center, “never blared at you, 10 times an hour, on the radio. It’s gotten around but in a very human way, through the mouths of children, campfires and wedding ceremonies. I’m so proud to be associated with such a simple and beautiful thing.

“It’s like every kid in America and a lot over the world learns my song at one time or another.”

In a career spanning four decades, Mallett has recorded 14 albums, had several hundred covers of his songs performed in clubs, concert halls and festivals across the U.S., Canada and Europe. He has appeared on numerous broadcasts, including National Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion. Known for his carefully written, poetic offerings, his body of work has provided material for an eclectic list of artists that includes Alison Krauss, Pete Seeger, Hal Ketchum, Emmylou Harris, John Denver and the Muppets.

After living in Nashville in the 1980s, he moved back to Maine and established his own label, North Road Records. Unwavering, Mallett’s songs are filled with passion, evocative imagery, and a sense of the inevitable passage of time. The struggle of the common man and the loss of American towns and landscapes are the subject of many of his songs.

Tickets cost $23 in advance or $27 at the door. For tickets, visit www.chocolatechurcharts.org or call 442-8455.

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