In response to a diminishing number of requests, I have agreed to post my musical history. It's hard for me to believe that someone is interested, but here it is.

I was born in the Eastern most county of Maine within 50 miles of the Canadian border. We had an ancient battery powered radio that would only pick up two or three stations; CHSJ Saint John, New Brunswick, Bangor Maine and another on Prince Edward Island.My earliest influence was the music of Don Messer and the Islanders who played old time music.
Very early in my life I heard the singing of Wilf Carter from Guysborough Nova Scotia. He later became Montana Slim, but he is still Wilf Carter to me.
When I was 16, my Mother gave me a second hand guitar for Christmas. It was a Gene Autry model, and I learned a few chords on that man killer. Wish I had it today.My Brother, Erlon also got a guitar, and we spent many happy hours making music. I went folk and he stayed country, but we still like what the other does. His version of Sunday Morning coming down is my favorite country song.
My Cousin, Gene Hooper, taught me a few chords, and later on he invited me to perform with him on stage at what were then called "Cowboy Shows." Gene had broadcast all over the Maritimes, and eventually to WWVA in Wheeling West Virginia.
My first performance for pay was for the Knights of Pythias at the grange hall in Machias. I was hooked. Making money while making music.

About this time I heard that my idol, Wilf Carter, was doing a show in St. Steven NB which was only 50 miles away. I piled into an old Hudson Terraplane and away I went with a buddy.
At the intermission, I boldly asked Wilf if I might play his custom made Martin and he said "Sure." It was a work of art and what a beautiful tone.I never saw him again but I will never forget what a gentleman he was.
My Mother used to sing on rare occasions,but Father couldn't carry a note with a co signer, but he used to whistle dirty tunes.

I joined the Coast Guard at the age of 19 and spent many days on weather patrol in the Atlantic. In the Davis Strait there was only one station that the radio would receive, WWVA, Wheeling West Virginia. Loved all those performers
While in port I ended up performing on the radio with Elton Britt. He asked if I would like to come back but I never did.

I got a new Gibson J-45 for my first anniversary. What a change from that piece of junk that I threw overboard somewhere north of Bermuda!

I took a job with the State of Maine dept. of Sea& Shore Fisheries, now called the Dept. of Marine Resources, and I was assigned to the patrol boat Explorer in the summer of 1959.
Going aboard her for a patrol, we had to cross the main deck of the 80 foot schooner, Alice Wentworth. There on a hatch was a young man playing the most beautiful music I ever heard. As the summer passed we often crossed paths and got to be very close friends. His name? Gordon Bok. He talked me into performing with him and I was hooked again. He was instrumental in getting me recorded on Folk Legacy records. We will be on the same bill this Thursday, March 15,2012.

In the past 30 years or so, I have met and got acquainted with many excellent musicians, such as Pete Seeger, who gave me my first banjo lesson,Tom Paxton, Tommy Makem and Utah Phillips,Gordon Bok, Sandy and Caroline Patron and David Mallett. He liked my old Gibson so much I gave it to him.

I've always thought of myself as more of a humorist than a musician, but I have had some very lucky breaks. This "Hobby" has taken me from Florida to California to England and Scotland. Imagine a poor boy from rural Maine being able to travel all over, and get paid to do it!
I have at least half a dozen Tapes, CDs, DVDs and books to sell.

I started to lose my voice about 10,or 12 years ago, but lucky for me, I met Jacqui and she sings while I tell lies and play backup for her.
The number of people I have met and became friends with is too high to count. Voice or no voice, I'm still one lucky old goat.