Hi, Susan: In answer to some of your other questions. We sing gospel, not in a historical sense, but for the spiritual strengthening and joy that we find in the messages. When we first started singing, we tended to closely approximate (copy) arrangements on records. Much like we all started as folk singers. As time's gone by, when someone brings a song to the group (I almost always end up suggesting a song that I feel will fit a particular member,) we may listen to the original recording once or twice, and then strike out on our own. I've also written many songs for the group, and there's no original recording to listen to. Just like in folk music, the song usually dictates whether or not we use accompaniment. Some of the older songs that we do just seem to flow more freely and rhythmically when not locked into a guitar accompaniment. How did I come to this music? I suppose it goes back to the rare gospel tunes that were popularized back in the 50's. A inter-racial group, the Mariners, did a version of You Must Come In At The Door, and I bought an old ep of the Four Lads and Frankie Lane doing gospel, including a wonderful version of Didn't It Rain. The Four Lads, when they were still on the O.K. label recorded The Mockingbird..a gospel song. I heard very little real black gospel... mostly white singers doing versions. When I first started to hear folk music, I was drawn to some of the gospel on the Anthology of American Folk Music, and first heard Blind Willie Johnson. I was living in the Village, and had the chance to hear Rev. Gary Davis countless times. The last black gospel I really heard in full bloom was the gospel that I love most... the old quartets like the Swan Silvertones, the Five Blind Boys, the Harmonizing Four, and all the rest... had a chance to hear the Fairfield Four when their lead singer of many years was still alive.. can't remember his name off the top of my head.

You asked...