Hi Rick,

Bernie became a record producer in L.A. He worked closely with Paul Beaver doing recordings of synthesizer music, avant garde stuff.

RE: Lee's concept of fitting in, I think it's safe to say that after Erik left, the rest of the Weavers never really thought that Bernie or I fit in. I was antsy to push the group toward more traditional folk music and they were into doing what they considered was the Weaver's sound. Lee wasn't sure that I got that. It wasn't that I didn't get it so much as I saw a new direction that would have taken the group more away from the early singer/songwriter and revivalist pop view and more toward traditional folk where my heart was. This of course was my perception. Ronnie understood this more than the others I think.

All this is reflected in the liner notes of the Vanguard CD's where the Weavers talk about that period.

It was really hard to follow in Pete's shoes. His influence in that group was so powerful. Still, Erik did change the sound and give the group a different character. Pete left because he wanted out of the pop folk thing. He needed to say different musical things. I had to leave because New York was a depressing place to live in those days. Also, a bad marriage. No place to raise kids. Besides, the Weavers were about ready after twenty odd years to hang it up anyhow. Freddie I think really wanted to be a record producer. Lee was just getting to ill to travel most of the time. He had really bad physical problems. Lee could be very difficult at times.

Frank