Yes, Blake seems to have the hang of it. Wonderful musician. I first ran across Norman at Bean Blossom c. 1972. As I recall he wasn't really booked but did guest appearances in somebody's set. In talking with him after one of his performances I learned that he was employed on the Johnny Cash TV show as a rhythm guitarist. I checked out the show when I returned home and, sure enough, there he was way in the background. Kind of like the way Bobby Thompson used to be treated on Hee Haw. I've been a Blake fan ever since.

At that time he was using what Michael K. refered to as "two-fingered flatpicking." He'd hold the guitar way up high with the sound hole aimed at the vocal mic. and just "be all over" that guitar. We'd never seen anyone play just that way before.

M.Ted, I'm well aware of Everly and Rager. I was lucky enough to see Ike in person at the University of Chicago Folk Festival way back when. Unfortunately, the only music of theirs that I have is a video tape I made long ago of the PBS special on the Everly Brothers Reunion Concert. They start out talking about Kentucky and the roots of the music and there are some short clips of Mose and Ike. Not enough to be satisfying, just enough to make you sit up and say "Wow, where can I get more of THAT?" Do you know whether any film or recordings of these two still exist?

      - Mark