My dad, who was a band sergeant in WWI, and who played lullabys on his cornet; my mom's sister's husband, who played in a local country dance band for awhile in the 1930s, and who kept a contraband guitar hidden in the rafters in the attic so he could play when my aunt was gone to town; an African American woman who tended to me when I was very small and who played barrelhouse and blues on my deceased grandmother's Chickering concert grand piano (when no one else was there); Frank Crumit records (Billy Boy, Grandfather's Clock); my first guitar teacher (when I was 9) who played old-time tunes and is still the best rhythm player I know; Roy Rogers; Carolina Cotton; Dylan and Baez; Dave Prine; Harry Belefonte; Andy Griffith; and countless friends pickin' on countless porches and in countless kitchens.

I think we're all comprised of bits of everyone we've heard, selecting little actions or phrasing to emulate. It's just so much FUN, isn't it? I've never made a dime, or wanted to, playing music, but I sure do like it.

Mary ~:o)