I was so pleased to read all the wonderful things about Monte Dunn. I owned the Bell Book and Candle Coffee House where he played very frequently ... it was in Ridgeway ... about a 100 miles from Toronto. I think he was the finest musician I ever met. After the coffee house closed at night all the performers and some of my close friends always came to my house, sat around a gigantic table at the farm house where I lived and usually played all night. He was so incredibly talented and also one of the most delightful people I ever met. I was trying to raise my three kids alone at the time and they met him, of course, and loved him too. I believe folk singers liked to come because I wouldn't allow any talking during their performances ... it was just a quiet, lovely place for someone who really wanted to reach his audience.
Monty was so very special ... I'm now about 345 ... well, pretty old, but keep in close touch with all my "kids" who worked for me back then in a very small town, and all will be truly interested in hearing more about him. And again, despite the many people who sang in my coffee house, all of whom are mentioned in Don Cullen's web site and most of whom performed for me, he was far and away the best.
Thank you .... Ruth Swayze - ruthswayze@verizon.net