Back in 1977 I was living just outside St. Louis for a year. I went to Mel Bay's shop in Kirkwood as he was the only dealer for Gallagher guitars in the area. I tried one and did not like it enough to buy it, but he did have a nice looking Classical guitar on the wall. I tried it, playing the Prelude No.4 in E minor by Villa-Lobos. At this point Mel Bay himself came from the back room to listen, we talked for an hour about guitars and players an such. I treasure that moment, as he was one of the nicest people I ever met, he took time out of his day to chat with a nobody who liked to play guitar. I ended up not buying anything from and left town shortly after our meeting but I wish I could have run into him again.

Bob