Hello -

   I am in SE Alaska now, but lived in Portland and Seattle at the times Howlin' Gales and Bob Kotta were active. In fact I knew Bob pretty well, and was just searching on the internet for what has become of him, when there
were three distinct knocks on the wall which could NOT have been done by anybody in this house.
   You can think I'm crazy, but it was just after that - that I ran into this antiquated thread here about Bob's early demise. I am reeling from the news - and even more freaked out about the three knocks on the wall!
   Bob was a brilliant man - one of those individuals who is masterful at whatever they do. He had the richest voice I ever heard. I cannot count the times that I saw him and Howlin' Gales and Copperfield, on 2 hands and both my feet. We went to see a movie - Canterbury Tales, whereupon my eyes were opened to just how crass humor has been since the Middle Ages. Once, when I was really young, a friend and I were broke, but drove up to Vancouver to see the FolkLife Festival anyway. On the way back, we ran out of gas in Seattle, about 2AM, and - after spending the night in the car playing the pennywhistle all night, I called Bob and he gave us ("lent us"?) 20 bucks to get back to PDX. So, technically, OMG - I still owe him 20 bucks!!! I had totally forgotten! No wonder he knocked on the wall!
   I'm really NOT out of touch with reality whatsoever - in fact, I don't know how many,if any people I would tell about the three knocks on the wall. And in fact I don't even know whom I'm relaying this to. But - since it just now happened - I thought it best to let people know that - in my current estimation - there appears to be an afterlife. And somewhere out there among the stars, Bob continues to exist, indubitably filled with music and singing sea shanties wherever we go next.
   I would say "may he rest in peace", but I'm sure he's doing excellently. already.
   Thankyou for the information - maybe I'll hang out for awhile...
all my best,
valerie
http://www.aflow.net