The 3 great seminal influences on me, musically speaking (and philosophically speaking as well) were Joan Baez, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Bob Dylan in that chronological order. It's hard to say which one influenced me most. I became aware of Joan shortly after her first album came out, and my parents bought all her 60's stuff, while I continued buying everything else she's ever done.

I was so in love with her in my early teens that I would probably happily have died for her, had the need arisen. Then I found out about Buffy (around 1964) and fell even more madly in love with her, cos I've always been crazy about anything having to do with Native Americans (generally called "Indians" at that time...even by the Indians themselves). My love for Buffy Sainte-Marie simply passed all boundaries what might be termed within normal sanity.

Meanwhile, I was becoming aware of Bob Dylan, mainly through recordings of his songs by Baez, PPM, and numerous others. I loved the songs, but couldn't take his voice (I was a real folk purist in those days). It wasn't until 1969 that Matthew Clark, my American draft-dodger/guitar teacher/all round amazing guy made me sit down and listen to Higway 61 Revisited that I realized that nothing sounds better than Dylan singing Dylan.

I became the truest Bob Dylan fan I have ever met. Bob can do anything as far as I'm concerned. He is my blood brother. Nobody says it like Bob. Except Buffy. She too is simply beyond compare. I've had the pleasure of a couple of lengthy conversations with Buffy, and she is a very sweet and likeable person in every way.

All 3 of those singers have shown great courage and loyalty to their own heart and their muse. Live forever, Bob, Buffy & Joan!

Now as to strange influences...well, I guess someone might find Dylan, Baez or Buffy strange at times...maybe.

The strangest thing I ever heard was a kazoo orchestra from San Francisco. Over 300 people playing kazoos did the theme to the movie "2001 - A Space Oddysey". It was one of the funniest things I've ever heard in my life. I hasn't influenced me though...I hope.

Tiny Tim was pretty strange (and VERY talented, BTW), but he hasn't influenced me much either.

Zappa is strange...he hasn't influenced me at all.

My strangest musical influence nowadays is a slender, lovely little woman, the Good Witch of the South, who can play quite a variety of instruments, who has a pet whose name is a description of its owner, who shines like the moon and stars...and I consider myself a very fortunate man to have those beams shining down on me.

Many thanks to all my musical influences!