In a concert featuring his own original songs, songs written and performed by Larry Hoyt, and other songs that Larry held dear, noted local singer/songwriter Dana Cooke will honor the memory of one of the most important figures in the history of folk and acoustic music in Central New York. This concert takes place on the eve of Larry Hoyt’’s birthday; Hoyt, who died last March, would have turned 76 on March 9.

Cooke will be accompanied, as always, by Judy and Jeff Stanton — who, as it turns out, also served in Larry Hoyt’s longtime side combo, the Good Acoustics. And Cooke will be joined by Joe Cleveland, who, as the talent coordinator at Happy Endings Cake and Coffeehouse and later the Folkus Project, pioneered with Larry to the ascension of folk and acoustic music in the Syracuse-area market almost three decades ago.

Larry Hoyt was already a well-known and oft-seen performer of his own songs and great songs by the likes of Dylan, Guthrie, and Cash when, in 1997, he created the “Common Threads” radio show on WAER-FM. He continued to present folk and acoustic music on “Common Threads” for 27 years. All that while, he was a beloved and reliable musical performer, giving literally hundreds of concerts in the area.

As both the Common Threads deejay and a local music journalist, he championed the music of Cooke (among many, many other local musicians). It is fitting that on March 8, at the Steeple Coffeehouse, Cooke (along with the Stantons and Cleveland) will present songs that Larry valued — Cooke’s own songs, some of Larry’s best remembered compositions, and cover songs by an assortment of national artists that Larry considered flame-keepers of great folk music.