GVH's Moving Musical Tribute to the Big U

Since her maiden voyage in 1952, the SS United States has been the inspiration for countless works of art, music, and literature. It is always a pleasure to encounter these creative tributes — and a recent recording by singer-songwriter Greg Van Houten (who performs as "GVH") is no exception.

Greg Van Houten is a Vermont-based singer-songwriter and graphic artist, who recently lent his design talents to the current Norman Rockwell Museum exhibit, "Finding Home" — an artistic celebration that features the work of David Macaulay and his recent book about the SS United States alongside artifacts from the Conservancy's permanent collections.

It was at the November opening of the "Finding Home" exhibit that we first encountered Greg, and where we learned of his moving musical tribute to the SS United States.

The penultimate track on his 2019 album, You're the Only One Who Thinks You're Funny, "The United States" is Van Houten's ode to the Big U, from her glory days sailing across the Atlantic to her current status as a "lady in waiting" in South Philadelphia.

As it turns out, Greg's personal connection to the SS United States runs deep. His father, Thomas Van Houten, Sr., was an architectural engineer who'd worked in New York City since the 1950s — beginning with work on the Verrazano Bridge, and eventually leading to a position as Manager of Terminal Construction for United States Lines in the 1970s. 

"Although the SS United States was retired a few years earlier, my father knew the ship well from his tenure around New York Harbor and was thrilled to be part of the company that launched it," Van Houten said. "We had a model of the ship at home, and he kept photos and memorabilia in his office. His fondness for the ship was a result of its outstanding design, unmatched performance, and stunning beauty. The SS United States had no equal."

At the opening gala for the "Finding Home" exhibit, Greg Van Houten admires a model of the SS United States, on loan from the Conservancy and donated by the family of Douglas F. Bushnell. Photo courtesy of Tom Basile.

When Greg Van Houten discovered the SS United States Conservancy, he was deeply touched by our mission. 

"The engineering marvel of New York Harbor was something my dad and I shared, and I wanted to see it shared with future generations," he says. "My father passed in 1987, a few years after the closing of United States Lines shipping, but the legacy of the ship lived on in our family."

Coincidentally, Van Houten has a longstanding relationship with the Norman Rockwell Museum, and his GVH Studio was tasked with contributing promotional graphics to the current "Finding Home" exhibit. Given his familial connection to the Big U, Greg was asked by Martin Mahoney, the museum's Director of Curatorial Operations, if he had any personal artifacts he'd like to contribute.

"My younger brother, Dave, had passed away a few years earlier, and was the keeper of the ship memorabilia that my dad had accumulated. I began to filter through the items of Dave’s that I had inherited," Van Houten said. "Sandwiched between two Norman Rockwell hardcover books was a manila envelope with a United States Lines label on it. Inside were a photo of the ship at sea, an aerial of the ship in New York Harbor, and a travel brochure. The latter two were included in 'Finding Home.' 

"I was treated to not only providing the supporting graphics for the exhibit, but contributing content to an exhibit that connected to my own family."

From left to right: Van Houten's wife Jane Disanto, Greg Van Houten, and Conservancy President Susan Gibbs at the Norman Rockwell Museum's "Finding Home" exhibit. Photo courtesy of Tom Basile.

And then there's the song, "The United States." Clocking in at just under five minutes, it is a stirring look back at the Big U's rich history, as well as an important reminder of the challenge we now face in keeping her legacy alive. 

Here is a sampling of the song's deeply moving lyrics:

She is the SS United States
The pride of the American fleet
She traversed the Atlantic 800 times
With elegance, grandeur, and speed 

She is the SS United States
She's trying to find her way home
40 years dodging the scrap dealer's torch
Awaiting her verdict unknown

Below, find a video performance of "The United States" from GVH's October 2019 CD release show. 

The song can be found on numerous streaming services—find an annotated list HERE. To purchase Greg's CD, CLICK HERE.

Steinway Baby Grand Piano from America's Flagship Now on Public Display

For First Time, Steinway Baby Grand Piano from the Historic SS United States Now on Public Display at Steinway Hall in New York

Piano from America’s Flagship Once Played by Duke Ellington and Other Renowned Musicians Was Recently Acquired by SS United States Conservancy

The ship’s famous Steinway & Sons piano in the SS United States’ first class ballroom, with legendary jazz bandleader Duke Ellington seated at the keys and Broadway star Ethel Merman at the microphone.

NEW YORK, NY (January 29, 2020) – The Grand Ballroom of the SS United States, which once played host to presidents and celebrities of the 1950s and 60s, was filled nightly with the sounds of a custom Steinway. Recently acquired by the SS United States Conservancy, the historic baby grand piano specially designed for America’s Flagship will be available for public display for the first time at Steinway Hall in Manhattan starting February 1.

The new Steinway Hall opened in 2016 at 1133 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan.

 The United States’ baby grand isn’t only famous for the bandleaders and entertainers, including Duke Ellington, who once played it. Its design and materials were once at the center of an unusual and contentious dispute during the outfitting of the world’s fastest ocean liner. In order to make the ship completely fireproof, the United States’ designer, William Francis Gibbs, demanded that there would be no wood on board the vessel. He famously asked Theodore Steinway to craft pianos in aluminum. After Steinway vehemently refused, an argument ensued resulting in Steinway, the company president, dousing a piano in kerosene and igniting it. His stunt demonstrated the fire-resistant qualities of mahogany, proving his pianos wouldn’t be a threat to the ship’s safety. Gibbs finally relented.

“Now thousands of people will be able to see this legendary piano, which, like America’s Flagship, is an amazing feat of American design and craftsmanship,” said Susan Gibbs, President of the SS United States Conservancy, the nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the historic ocean liner and advancing her redevelopment. “We are very appreciative of Steinway & Sons for providing such a wonderful home for this historic piano while our plans for a museum and the ship’s revitalization are advanced. We are also grateful to Conservancy board members Mark Perry and Robert Forbes, whose generosity enabled us to add this extraordinary artifact to our collections.”

The SS United States’ piano has been in safekeeping at Steinway’s factory since its acquisition by the Conservancy, along with a number of other historic pianos. Those include one of the first Steinways ever produced, a Steinway Square Grand, circa 1855, and one of Steinway’s olivepainted “Victory Verticals,” upright pianos that were parachuted into combat zones during WWII to help lift troop morale.

“We are honored to partner with the SS United States Conservancy and to take care of this historic Steinway piano while they plan their museum and redevelopment of the SS United States,” said Anthony Gilroy, Sr. Director of Marketing for Steinway & Sons. “The piano made a stop at our Astoria, New York factory where it was originally built. After visiting its birthplace almost 70 years ago, it was delivered to Steinway Hall in New York City—where it will be available for viewing during the month of February.”

The piano was initially purchased off the ship after the vessel was withdrawn from seagoing service and cared for by collectors Michael Persico and Bob Scofield for more than thirty years before it was acquired by the Conservancy.

Steinway Hall is open to the public Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturdays, 9am to 5pm and Sundays 12pm to 5pm.

ABOUT THE SS UNITED STATES CONSERVANCY
A national nonprofit organization, the SS United States Conservancy leads the global effort to save and repurpose America’s Flagship, the SS United States. The Conservancy raises public awareness and financial resources for the maintenance, restoration, and ultimate reuse of this iconic vessel and works to ensure that the fastest ocean liner ever to cross the Atlantic remains an inspiration for generations to come. For more information about the SS United States Conservancy and America's Flagship, visit www.ssusc.org or the Conservancy’s Facebook page.

ABOUT STEINWAY & SONS
Since 1853, Steinway pianos have set an uncompromising standard for sound, touch, beauty, and investment value. Because of a dedication to continuous improvement, today’s Steinway remains the choice of 9 out of 10 concert artists, and it is the preferred piano of countless musicians, professional and amateur, throughout the world. For more information, visit www.steinway.com. 

MEDIA CONTACTS: 

SS United States Conservancy
Tom Basile
TBasile@EmpireStrategy.com
917-579-2216

Steinway & Sons
Anthony Gilroy
agilroy@steinway.com
718-204-3116

Meet the Conservancy: Emerson Jones, Curatorial Associate

The Conservancy is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the SS United States, with the goal of creating an inspiring future for this magnificent ship.

Today, we’re speaking with the Conservancy’s Curatorial Associate, Emerson Jones, who plays an important role in growing our permanent collections.

Emerson graduated from Columbia University with a degree in the History and Theory of Architecture, excavated at Hadrian’s Villa outside of Rome, and has taken part in the sail training program at the South Street Seaport Museum in New York.

Emerson Jones, the Conservancy's Curatorial Associate.

How did you get involved with the SS United States Conservancy?

I grew up hearing stories of the SS United States from my dad, whose family had a stormy Atlantic crossing aboard her in 1969. As I learned more about the ship, I was inspired to get involved in the effort to save her, and in 2016 I became a Conservancy intern. Last year, after graduating from college, I returned to the Conservancy as Curatorial Associate.

What is your role as the Conservancy's Curatorial Associate?

I facilitate artifact donations to the Conservancy, working with donors to add their SS United States memorabilia to the Conservancy’s ever-expanding permanent collection. Of course, every artifact comes with a story, and that’s the other big part of my job: talking to people who sailed on the SS United States and keeping their stories alive for future generations. I also have the occasional pleasure of helping to plan exhibitions and events and conducting research on the ship’s history.

In your work with the Conservancy thus far, what are you most proud of?

Last fall, I had the opportunity to research the history of the women artists who created ship’s cutting-edge interiors. It was both exciting and humbling to help bring to light the stories of those pioneering artists who turned the SS United States into a testing ground of modernist design.

What are you looking to accomplish with the Conservancy in the future? 

Saving the SS United States means more than saving the ship. It means preserving her history, from postcards to blueprints, swizzle sticks to passengers’ recollections. I want to continue to grow the collection to reflect the experiences of the everyday people — construction workers, cooks, passengers, artists — who are part of the irreplaceable history of the SS United States.