Good people, tonight I am truly in shock. Word has reached me that a huge flame of life, Captain Dennis Trone, died today when his plane crashed.

Dennis Trone designed and built the steamboat Julia Belle Swain. As a mentor to John Hartford, he guided John through the process of securing his river pilot's license. There was no better pilot on the river than Denny. On a personal note, he hired me to sing and tell tall tales on both of his boats -- the Str. Julia Belle Swain and the Twilight -- for ten years on the Mississippi River and the Illinois River. For me, it was like a dream job---and it allowed us to get Chris through college without anyone owing anything.

Friends, I'm just speechless. What a pleasure it was to know this man, and to watch him orchestrate the mesmerizing machinations of his life on the river! What a marvelous symphony he created for so very many of us. It was glorious to be able to watch him in all his outrageousness! I will most assuredly miss this man.

Our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Libby, son Robert, and daughters Amanda and Lisa. I've no other details...

Art Thieme